The Race for Charlotte County Sheriff ’08

Posted by Tammy on Oct 26, 2008 in Denise Amber Lee, Election '08 | 12 comments

I don’t usually blog much in the way of politics…..I leave that to Stacy, Wendy and EM, they do a great job, and I can stay informed just reading them. And if I try to discuss it at work, I end up in fights anyway. But local politics….ok, I’ll jump in.

The big election here in Charlotte County this year is for Sheriff. There’s 4 candidates that I know of. Bill Cameron, Ken DeVries, Jim Gallagher, and Jim Melo. Normally, I pretty much vote along party lines….I’m a registered Republican, so, under normal circumstances, that would mean I’d go ahead and vote for Bill Cameron. This time, though, that’s not happening.

Bill Cameron was the person in charge of the 911 Call Center the night that Denise Amber Lee was kidnapped. He’s backed by John Davenport, who has completely refused to take any responsibility for the way his department handled things that night. In fact, he basically just brushes the whole event off. Here is what Bill Cameron has to say about it:

The kidnapping and murder of North Port stay-at-home mom Denise Lee has become a major part of the platforms of Gallagher, DeVries and Melo, with each calling for a deeper investigation into the Charlotte 911 center and how officials handled information in the case.

Cameron, meanwhile, continues to downplay a mishandled 911 call with information about Lee’s location shortly before she was killed. Michael King, of North Port, has been charged in the case.

“Nobody asks me anything about it,” said Cameron. “Those are the only three guys saying anything about it.”

Herald Tribune

Nobody asks him about it? No one is talking about it?! Bill Cameron must not be listening to public opinion too well, then, because plenty of people are talking about it. And we want this guy running things at our Sheriff’s Department?

There was also a public forum recently where all of the candidates were asked about the Denise Amber Lee tragedy, as well as the controversial DUI checkpoints that Charlotte County has. Here are the questions, along with all four candidates responses. Strangely enough, Bill Cameron stands completely alone on both of these issues. How can three people be wrong and just Bill Cameron (more of the same) be right?

Regarding the charlotte County Sheriff’s Department handling of the 911 call from Jane Kowalski:

Will you request a grand jury investigation into the handling of the Jane Kowalski 911 call in the Denise Lee case?

Bill Cameron:

No. This question was already asked of the State Attorney and the Governor’s Office and both said no. A Grand Jury is not convened for employee performance issues. This incident has already been investigated fully. My opponents have tried to make this tragic case a political issue, for which they should be ashamed. Denise’s father (Rick Goff) was in my office last week telling me he wants people to stop using his daughter’s death for politics. I asked him if he has any unanswered questions
regarding this incident and he said no. He knows everything about this case, and quite frankly it is his opinion that matters the most to me.

**a quick note here….I’ve seen Rick at many fundraising events for the Denise Amber Lee Foundation…the purpose of which is to reform the 911 system. If he were against it, I don’t think he’d be at the events. JMO, of course. I can also pull up video of Rick stating that he has a real problem with the way things were handled that night. So I’m not buying this story.

Ken DeVries:

I have learned throughout this campaign that the community at large is outraged at this horrific event and tragedy. I will review and investigate this incident with a new internal affairs investigation team. If there is any hint of criminal wrong doing or cover up there will be consequences for all those involved including a grand jury investigation if need be.

Jim Gallagher:

Immediately upon taking office I would request the state attorney’s office, other outside neighboring sheriff offices or police departments and maybe the federal government if that was needed to look into all the allegations of misconduct that have been presented to me. I find it
disturbing that the superior officer who conducted the internal affairs on this debacle had recently been reassigned from being in charge of the communications division, she had been involved in the debacle, covered up Cameron’s participation despite his cell phone numbers appearing as two
quick references in report, was responsible for the use of Nextel phones to communicate (thereby bypassing regulated communications which are recorded). I would also look into allegations of possible tampering with 911 calls that I have heard about from past employees of the office regarding other possible incidents.

Jim Melo:

Absolutely, the citizens as well as the family of Denise Amber Lee deserve this. Completing a Grand Jury investigation will remove all doubt as to what transpired. Whenever there is great bodily injury or death involved in any incident there should be an independent investigation. Bringing in an outside agency will show how the agency handled the situation at the same time removing the dark cloud that has lingered from the onset of this tragedy.

Then we have Charlotte County’s use of DUI checkpoints. This is a program that brings together several agencies, who then proceed to pull over EVERYONE who drives by. Whether you’re doing anything wrong or not. Usually it nets a couple of DUI arrests…..and a ton of silly stuff, like tail lights out, etc. There are tons of cops involved. Not only does it seem that it should be a violation of people’s rights to be pulled over for nothing….but who is patrolling the rest of the county while this is going on? The other part that makes it a complete joke is the fact that it’s published in the newspaper IN ADVANCE where the checkpoint will be. Therefore, the drunks take another way home. How stupid is that?

Will you continue the DUI checkpoint program? Explain.

Bill Cameron:

Yes, as Sheriff I will continue the DUI checkpoint program. Sobriety checkpoints change driving habits and save lives. They keep drinking and driving on people’s minds and they deter people from making the decision to drive drunk. About 87 percent of drunk drivers apprehended at checkpoints would not have been apprehended through other means. DUI checkpoints combined with our roving DUI patrols have resulted in a decrease in traffic crashes and DUI related crashes in Charlotte County. And that saves lives, saves money, and saves families.

Ken DeVries:

There must be vigilant DUI enforcement through daily routine patrol procedures. It is a waste of resources to place up to 30 deputies in one location and announce publicly that DUI checkpoint enforcement will be in effect, thereby allowing potential violators to take alternate routes to avoid these checkpoints. Consistent, highly visible patrols are the best tool for DUI prevention and detection.

Jim Gallagher:

A total waste of taxpayer time and money. There are other legal methods to enforce the DUI laws without resorting to draconian measures such as stopping everyone to catch a few morons who didn’t listen to the radio, TV or read the papers about the latest checkpoint. People in the bars tell people when checkpoints are set up, they start the preparations hours before…Duh? who do you catch the way Cameron and Davenport work it? The ones who don’t listen, read or watch TV? Stop 1,000 to get 15 or 20? What about the rights of the 980 to not to be inconvenienced? A little reminder for those who think it is ok to stop everyone: “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Jim Melo:

No, DUI checkpoints will not continue. However, DUI intervention will always be one of my top priorities as your sheriff. I believe that DUI checkpoints are intrusive and violate the rights of the citizens. There are studies that prove saturation patrols are much more effective than checkpoints at a much lesser cost to the taxpayer. Bearing a lesser cost saturation patrols for DUI will be conducted more frequently. This will yield more arrests for DUI and make our streets safer.

I guess most people who know me around here are aware that I’m voting for DeVries. I had already made my decision on this, but his answer to the following question sealed it for me.

Why are you the best candidate for sheriff?

If and when things go wrong, I will own my mistakes and consequences. I will acknowledge mistakes, apologize for them and fix them. I will not hide and disappear when things go wrong to protect my credibility. I will restore trust and confidence through transparency. I recognize the single most important job of a leader is to inspire trust.

And that’s exactly what we need here. Some willing to be held accountable to the public, and someone we can trust. Bill Cameron is not that man. Bill Cameron is Davenport’s man….and Davenport has done a fine job showing how fast he’ll hide from his mistakes….and when finally dragged out into the public eye, will simply deny any wrongdoing. That’s exactly what we do NOT need in Charlotte County.