John Davenport once again shows his true colors
Last night I read the flollowing from Charlotte Sun’s editorial section. It’s a letter from John Davenport, Sheriff of Charlotte County. The letter is below:
05/07/08
Davenport defends sheriff’s office
Editor:
I would like to respond to a recent letter to the editor where a citizen stated that the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has been insensitive to the Lee and Goff families. This is the second time I have heard comments as to how insensitive the members of the Sheriff’s Office have been to these families. This same sentiment was indicated on the courthouse steps when Nathan Lee and his attorney announced their intent to sue the sheriff’s office, and I take great exception to these comments.
From the beginning of this terrible tragedy members of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office went out of their way to help the Goff and Lee families. Not only did they volunteer their time to search for Denise Lee, but they kept the family informed daily as the investigation progressed and offered any assistance they could to help both families.
To show you just how “insensitive” the sheriff’s office has been, the day before Nathan Lee made the comment on the courthouse steps, Mr. Lee was given a check by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $104,000 that the sheriff’s office had collected from the community and from its own members to help this family.
I understand that both the Lee and Goff families are grieving over their terrible loss, but to try and portray the members of the sheriff’s office as callous and insensitive to anyone in this situation, particularly one of our own,is a slap in the face of every man and woman of the sheriff’s office that have given their time and money to try and help both families.
John Davenport
Port Charlotte
Once again, Sheriff Davenport is showing his true colors. The letter is defensive, arrogant, and not a fair representation of Nathan Lee’s feelings, or what caused him to file his lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought about because of the way that the CCSO 911 Call Center handled the call. This was clearly stated by Nathan Lee, and his lawyer. Never did Nathan blame the men and women of the Sheriff’s Department itself. Actually, during the news conference that Sheriff Davenport refers to, Nathan went out of his way to PRAISE the men and women of CCSO. I’ll post the video at the end of this, but wanted to include, in writing, exactly what Nathan said about the men and women of CCSO.
Despite all of this, however, I do want to make note that the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has hundreds of dedicated, hardworking employees that put their lives on the line everyday for our community. They were right beside me and Denise’s dad when we personally searched for Denise that morning, that Friday morning, the 18th of January. I want to thank these men and women from the bottom of my heart, as well as the dozens of other agencies that were there as well. Unfortunately, we were looking in the wrong place.
Does that sound like Nathan is accusing the men and women of CCSO of being insensitive?! No! Yes, he did say that because of the way the CALL CENTER handled the call, that may have contributed to Denise’s death. And it very well may have. If they had responded properly to that call, Denise could very well be here today with her husband and children.
What really galls me about Davenport’s letter to the editor is that he tries to pull money into the whole thing. The Sheriff’s Department handed Nathan a check. From his tone, you’d think that John Davenport personally raised that money. That money came from the community, from numerous fundraisers, from people all over the country. The CCSO was indeed a collecting point for the money, and I’m sure that many, many employees from CCSO donated money. But that has nothing to do with anything, and I really think that it’s crass that Sheriff Davenport dragged that into his complaint.
My best suggestion is expressed on the pins that Nathan and Rick wore at the 911 hearings at the Capitol…perhaps Sheriff Davenport should give it a try.
Below is the video that I referenced above. Give it a listen. And then tell me what you think about this whole thing. Thanks for your time.
How about just an apology from him to the family?! That is something that has yet to happen and is well overdue to them. It is ultimately his responsibility for the actions of his staff and from what I am reading now and have read, the Lee and Goff families have had more than their share of slaps in the face. Be a man and apologize!!
I cannot even believe he brought the subject of money into the defense of his office. No amount of money can be placed on the value of a human being, especially one such as Denise.
I don’t recall hearing that he was out there in the hot sweltering heat with the Firemen raising funds, nor washing cars, or attending any of the other functions going on around the area and thanking the community for doing their part and coming together and that he is sorry that we lost faith that night in the 911 system. Don’t make it sound like your office did all the work, we could have easily set up a separate holding area for the funds and hand delivered it ourselves but we knew Rick worked there and he would get it.
This is just another ‘stab in the back’ and instead of doing his part and being the man in charge and stepping up and saying what he needs to say ‘I am sorry’, he is making the pile higher and everyone needs to put their boots on and hope for a change! If you are going to defend your office, do it the right way and make some changes to make everyone happy!
Wow. I dont even know what to say, it doesn’t suprise me at all though. It appears he knows they screwed up big time and just would like it all to be forgotten. Yes Mr. Davenport it shows the ultimate insensitivity on your part to insinuate that a check in any amount of money could make these families just forget the MAJOR ERRORS that happened that day. It’s a slap in the face to Denise’s family and the whole community that she struggled and fought so hard to be saved and jane’s 911 call being totally “Dropped”??? Why does it all have to come down to money- even when saving lives?? isn’t it ultimate priority in the 911 call center to save lives? not pick and choose what calls to patch through? oh my god she thought it was a child in the car!?!?! Not that it matters who was in the car from the 911 standpoint- all that should matter is that SOMEONE WAS IN THE CAR SCREAMING TO BE SAVED! A car should have been sent. common sense. 911 needs to be fixed nationwide! I proudly wear my pin, have one on my purse and also hanging from my rear view mirror- she will not be forgotten and the community will not forget!!! :(
Davenport needs to come back to reality and man up to his mistakes. Why is it so hard for him to apologize? He has that much pride? We all make mistakes and have to suffer the consequences. Unfortunately these mistakes may have cost a beautiful and innocent mother her life. The 911 dispatchers did not suffer at all for what they did. It is totally a slap in the face to the Lee and Goff family. Davenport should be forced to resign. He should be man enough to resign. Writing this letter to the editor (especially on Nathan’s birthday) just shows what a true scumbag he really is.
God Bless the Lee and Goff family. I am still praying fervently for you and assure you that Denise’s memory will never be forgotten.
Yes, an apology to the family would be more forthcoming, than trying to defend his department’s failings.
Davenport is a disgrace to the Charlotte County Community! I totally agree with Janna that he should be FORCED to resign. He himself is corrupt and has NO business being the Sheriff of our County. Shame on anyone who stands by his side!
Unbelievable. A mother was brutally lost to her family and for any human being to mention 104 thousand dollars like that replaces or assists in the priceless financially irrelevant lose of life. 911 is a joke not just in Charlotte County but across the US of A, What if it was your mother,your wife, your sister,your daughter Mr. Davenport I will pray for you and yours.:-(
What the hell!…I just watched a dateline program about this tragedy and saw this spineless sheriff characterize his department’s half-ass job as a “missed opportunity”. But for his departments misfeasance, that murdererl could have never performed his crime and taken that poor girls life. Why in the world hasn’t he been demanded to resign. I want to call the Sheriff right now and harass them till he resigns.
I can’t fathom that a community that would allow this shit to go down. His spineless, despicable, and cowering face looked so self-serving and it appeared the only thing he cares about is his own self-preservation, not stating the truth, like a man, but wimpering like a dog with his tail between his legs.
Very few things have incited such a uncontrollable degree of outrage in me when I see governmental mediocrity and misfeasance. The community must demand said coward’s resignation and I say where is his reproval and correction?
This moron’s email address is sheriff@ccso.org. I just let him know what a scumbag I think he is.
John Davenport need to be replaced
please replace this insensitive idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!don’t vote him in again.