For Jane Castor and Little Fat Bobby

Jane, any more than your fricking dirty guilty mind cops are allowed to blockade my neighrohood BUT ONLY AS I DRIVE are they allowed to blockade the exit I always take on the interstate. All of this is intimidating behavior along with the zooming. How much mileage do you and fat Andy and Robert fat and slim REALLY think you will get out of this pack of losers who for the most part, are completely and summarily ignored for the trash in the street they are. Pigs and trash and troublemakers. Anyway, here's one for you. Keep your dirty cops watching your pool, if you blockade me again in order to intimidate me so I don't further report your dirty cops including the one who slithers up to black ladies house for some koochee koo in between their crack deals ... I will embarrass you. And degrade your repuration. Post a new comment honestwordssliceami­nuteAbuse PolicyCommenting Guidelines Share to: Post 125 Comments glockman4 minutes ago How is what they did any different then what firemen do every night? You don't see firemen out every night looking for fires or even acquainting themselves with each building in their area. These terminations will most likely get overturned - the discipline is not progressive and canning 77 years of experience is going to do more diservice than what they did. Demote and suspend the sergeant, suspend the deputies, dock everyones pay for the time lost. Reply 0 Jammin997 minutes ago Happens more than you think. I see a couple police cars sitting in the back parking lot of where I work for a few hours every other day here is St Pete and doing nothing. Reading the paper, dringking their coffee etc. Reply 0 porknbeans57 minutes ago No worries,if there were no criminal charges filed.So with that being said, I'll bet they get to keep that golden police certification.All these individuals/loafers/slackers will be back to work at another police/sheriff's department before I finish typing.The Criminal Justice and Standards and Training Commission won't lift that golden police certification.That department is no better than the officers in this story. Catbalou33 down below,don't get too upset about your neighbor.You will have another cruiser parked next door soon.It just might be one from another county/city,driven hundreds of out of jurisdiction miles to and from work. Reply +3 robert471 hour ago Seems like the Captain should have been fired also. Reply +4 Bagpiper2 hours ago Thank you Sheriff, about time somebody cleaned up the mess that Rice and Coats allowed to prosper. Go ahead people bring in Rice again and the sloths will celebrate. People should see this for what it is, a sheriff who is cleaning house even at his own political peril. Rice will use this against a man with courage to see that PCSO has been in decline for years. It is only recently that Gualtieri was in a position to take action and he has. You will not last here if your a bum under Gualtieri. Rice will bring in nothing but lazy good ole boys. Reply -1 All smiles2 hours ago Sounds to me like Hagans should be terminated as well! What exactly does he do 8 hours a day and where does he go? Hagans should be held accountable, who watches his GPS tracker? Reply +2 swift932 hours ago How many years has Gualtieri been with this department and he is only discovering these problems now? He doesn't deserve to be elected. Reply +2 Mr Lizard2 hours ago Um I'd rather they go hide out of sight. Instead of roving around like a predator looking for traffic infractions. In fact that's probably why they were fired. Poor revenue generation. Reply 1 reply+1 SmartiPantz2 hours ago Mr Lizard - I agree with not wanting cops roving around like predators. According to this article, these cops supposedly 'didn't patrol or initiate law enforcement work for hours at a time.' - - Didn't Initiate Law Enforcement Work!- - These guys shouldn't be roaming like predators looking for an arrest to generate revenue. I'm no fan of most law enforcers, and it's likely these guys were extensively loafing.... so maybe they deserved to be fired. I don't know the facts or the truth. The truth I do know is that myself and too many people I know have been the victim of a rogue cop who has an agenda of generating revenue.... and this should not be 'law enforcement'. The innocent victim/citizen then must participate in the sham by defending themselves in court. This is the evil side of 'law enforcement'. Reply +3 Observations and analysis2 hours ago No comments on what the guys with the 1 and 2 day suspensions did. Appears they were not part of the group of blatant slackers. IOW, they were not part of an organized effort to goof off. This is something different. Reply +1 WillB2 hours ago Not to worry, the sheriff hired 10 more to replace them, and their patrol cars will also be replaced by 10 new ones. Afterall, there's plenty still in the budget and if not, well, just raise everyone's taxes. Reply +2 hcb3 hours ago "The truth will come out in the end," said Theophilopoulos. "This is politically motivated, and it's nothing more than a ploy to divert attention and present the public with a facade that the administration is cleaning up a scandal-ridden department." One would hope one's lawyer could come up with a little better public statement than one trying to divert attention by saying the rest of the department is "scandal-ridden." However, the "warning flags" Gaultieri mentioned did not include donut stops. Clearly the GPS trackers were disconnected when the cruiser was at Dunkin' Donuts so, for a thorough investigation, subpoena the security video tapes of those places to match to the times the GPS things were disconnected. But - Theophilopolous - here's an idea you might try. They weren't loafing - they were conscientiously saving the taxpayers gas money and reducing the department's carbon footprint by not driving around aimlessly looking for somebody to arrest. They were carefully studying the subtle nuances in the different aromas of growing marijuana and blooming marigolds. Think outside the box, lawyer. Accusing the department of being "scandal-ridden" is so Bush league. Ya know? Reply +4 desert scorpion3 hours ago Wow, this is pale in comparison to what the deputies do in Citrus county led by Sheriff Dawsy.. Circus county as it is known in some circles must have the highest percentage of dormant deputies in the state.... Reply +3 watches4 hours ago can we say "too little too late"? Gualtieri looks like he's scrambling to keep his cushy job by throwing the lower paid slackers under the bus. Reply +3 Boppy5 hours ago It appears no matter who serves as the Pinellas County Sheriff has and will have his hands full of internal problems. Such problems as these didn't happen overnight. It's probably not only the north county patrol squad who has indulged in these loafing practices. Incidents like this shouldn't cast a shadow on the law enforcement police officers who go out day after day and night after night professionally and sincerely doing their most dangerous task, however. Reply +4 ferris10 hours ago While the TBT is on a roll with reports about PCSO, why doesn't somebody down at the paper (with the exception of John Romano who should stick to writing about sports) investigate the relationship between PCSO and Dr. Cesar Lara - yea, that Dr. Lara. The TBT might find that it is/was an exclusive relationship that began while Gualtieri was the Chief Deputy; that it involved/involves PCSO contracting with Dr. Lara to treat PCSO employees for weight loss (and shutting all other doctors out because they were never given a chance to submit a bid); that the taxpayers foot the bill for this treatment; and that Dr. Lara has made the maximum contribution to Gualtieri's campaign. While I have no hard confirmation that my allegations are true (with the exception of the campaign contribution), I can't think of any good reason why numerous PCSO employees would make-up such a story. And if these allegations are in fact just that - fact - then they are certainly worth investigating and reporting to the taxpayers of Pinellas County. Reply +2 Stacey Pugliese13 hours ago I would not vote for a person that did such a sham. He is making the taxpayers into fools. He did this to win over votes. This man was in officelong enough that he could of brought this to light earlier and if anything he should of went about this another way. I will not vote for such a con artist, he should be the one being investigated. This man is UNACCOUNTABLE. Reply +1 catbalou3313 hours ago One of these officers is my neighbor. He is a wonderful person. It was heartbreaking watching his cruiser being taken away from him today. He just lost his wife a few months ago. My heart goes out to him and his family. I guess I find the sheriff at fault here too. I mean what kind of sheriff allows something like this to go on for 5 months? Why wasn't it addressed right away? Why wait and fire them, why not address it immediately? They could have given them disciplinary action immediately, to give them a chance to correct themselves BEFORE it got to that level? Seems crazy to me. Reply 3 replies+4 EyesOverPinellas12 hours ago Wait a second ... you feel bad for the cop who defrauded the taxpayers but blame the sheriff? Lady, your priorities are out of whack. It's heartfelt he lost his wife but that fact is irrelevant. A "wonderful person" does not defraud the taxpayers. These cops had many years with the Sheriff's Department to "get it right," as you suggest. The investigation revealed this behavior was the norm for these guys and not a deviation. Try and keep a little perspective here. These aren't rookies. You're too close to the situation to provide an objective opinion, influenced and biased by your acquaintance to the man and belief he is "wonderful." Reply 2 replies-2 catbalou3312 hours ago You really have ZERO clue as to my priorities. A good person isn't perfect, WOW I would hate for anyone to watch you for 5 months and see what they decided was your fate. How someone performs at their job, doesn't make them less of a person. I will not presume to understand why people do what they do. Mostly I judge people on what I see, my neighbor is a good person regardless of your opnion. There is one thing I am sure of, I am glad you are NOT my neighbor. Reply 1 reply+4 beakie3 hours ago Look at the bright side, your property value probably went up without that cop car parked on your street all day. Also, your neighbor will now be home much more often. Reply +1 JamesD14 hours ago The seatwarmer better fire everybody he can because pretty soon he will be the one on the receiving end of a pinkslip. Reply +7 Native Floridian14 hours ago They should be charged with grand theft. Since this is a crime committed as part of their official duties, they should lose their pension benefits as defined in the pension laws. Next, the sheriff needs to pursue with the state the removal of there certification as a police officer. Reply 7 replies+1 Ripper62214 hours ago If you get fired, you lose pension benefits. Reply 3 replies-1 Jennifer Wicker-Barrentine11 hours ago No, they don't. Read the F.R.S. guidelines. Reply 2 replies+1 Ripper6224 hours ago Police officers do Reply 1 reply+1 glockman19 minutes ago Ripper - you're wrong. They have to be convicted of frauduently obtaining state funds (and no, their hourly wage doesn't count). The SAO would never touch this case so there won't be a conviction. 0 Spock12 hours ago While it is a little different from loafing while employed in a non-critical public safety job, and I definitely don't condone what they did in any way. I don't think they committed a violation of any State or Federal criminal law, that I know of. I also think it is a bit harsh to lose one's pension over loafing. Fired...absolutely, but let's not forget that most of these guys have families depending on them and that they surely worked many years more than they loafed for those pensions. I'm far from a leo supporter or sympathizer, and perhaps these guys don't deserve their pensions, but not over loafing on the job. Especially since this and other recent PCSO investigations are obviously political moves. Reply 2 replies+4 EyesOverPinellas12 hours ago This dereliction of duty constitutes much more than mere loafing in the eyes of the military or LEO communities. Such behavior in this capacity speaks volumes of one's character. Reply 1 reply-1 Spock11 hours ago Very true, as I stated to begin my comment. I think their actions or rather in-actions are reprehensible as law enforcement officers. And it is a serious breach of the public trust, still it seems extreme to take away their pensions. Now the other deputies that actually broke laws to get convictions, I think their actions were more deserving of being fired without their pensions. Time should fit the crime, type of thing. Reply +1 honestwordssliceami­nute15 hours ago I think they should be charged. Reply -1 CoorCubbie15 hours ago is extreme loafing somewhat like felonious meddling? Reply 1 reply0 SC-Carl5 hours ago What about mopery with intent to gawk? Reply 0 Ripper62215 hours ago I keep reading comparisons to why these former deputies are not arrested to someone stealing something minuscule from any establishment. Just so things are clear..... When a police officer arrests a person for.... lets say for stealing a coke from a McDonalds, it is not because the officer made the decision to do so, it is because the McDonalds manager wants to prosecute. If the manager says I just want him trespassed, than that is what the officer does. Reply 0 patchvader15 hours ago "did not initiate any law enforcement work" is that like not seeking out targets of opportunity? At some point in time, the paperwork, court time, and hamster wheel repitition of a revolving door court system leads to futility. but citizens, fear not, there is an ex st. pete officer fresh out of an early forced secret service retirement who was a real dui rainmaker back in the day. Maybe he will come back to town and set things right. Change from serve and protect to park and pretend. Reply +2 Edward Brantley16 hours ago Pretty soon when you call the sheriff. Barney Fife is going to be the one Knocking on your door. And it will take him so long to get there you will think that he did come from Mayberry Reply 0 grammapoker16 hours ago How is it possible that they could be inactive for hours at a time? What was their excuse?Weren't they sent on any calls? I just don't get it. Someone needs to explain it to me. Reply 3 replies0 Ripper62215 hours ago Bay news 9 reported that they responded to calls when dispatched. Reply 1 reply0 beakie3 hours ago Of course they did - how else do you keep the scam going? Oh, they responded to calls when dispatched, let's give them a medal for valor. Reply 0 honestwordssliceami­nute15 hours ago lol patch vader !!! Too true. As well, this could just be guys that gualtieri doesn't like and HE saw the opportunity to cut ties. This reminds me of Roberto Bautiste's work in TPD IAD. With all the dirt TPD has on their hands he went after detectives for TIME CARD issues which seemed relatively minor. A detective needs time to think and mulll for God's sake (no I am NOT a detective) but now TPD is almost all dirty, all the good guys are gone. Soon the same thing will be true of Pinellas. I think Gualtieri probably needs to go. Reply +4 Hamburger Martyr16 hours ago Moderate this, Mother Times. Worthless rag. Reply -6 NewzKnight16 hours ago ...extreme loafing and idling? Obama's fired next! Reply 2 replies-13 Gov_Tilt_Head13 hours ago Bin Ladin is DEAD GM is ALIVE. Reply 1 reply+4 NewzKnight2 hours ago Bin Laden is a MUSLIM MARTYR, GM's is a MONEY MOOCHER. Reply 0 ididso17 hours ago Why don't they check the odometers on their cruisers before and after each shift? It would be easy, and show how much patrolling that they are doing in their assigned areas? Reply +5 Ben Overstreet17 hours ago Their are slackers in every job. Some get caught and some go on for twenty years and retire. Reply 2 replies0 Le Chifre17 hours ago You need only read Dilbert to see how true that is! Reply 0 johnConnor15 hours ago says Ben from his job at 7-11! "you want a slurpy with your hot dog" says Ben! Reply +4 ididso17 hours ago Maybe our Sheriff should go to Washington D.C. and check out our representatives. There is a lot of "loafing" going on there. Reply 2 replies+2 johnConnor15 hours ago yeah, especially from the Repiggie reps who are masquerading as real life politicians! Reply 1 reply+2 R315 hours ago Sorry ace, but they are doing exactly what is needed. Slamming the brakes on BO and crew is the best thing that's happened in washington since the snow storm. I hate to break it to you, but that's the only reason the economy is even sputtering. The economy will fix itself if the government stays out of the way. Reply -3 ezbreezer17 hours ago Regular loafing and idling still OK. Where's the dividing line? Reply +1 windrider17 hours ago What he is really saying is these guys weren't out harassing citizens and writing tickets for good of the department Retirement fund. Reply 1 reply-2 catherineroberts15 hours ago Just for information and clarity's sake, traffic tickets written in unincorporated county areas (which is what sheriff deputies write) have ZERO funds returned to the issuing agency. City departments get a portion of the fine from the tickets their officers write, but the sheriff's office gets NONE from the tickets deputies write. Just to clear up your "retirement fund" comment. Reply 0 pulsar13417 hours ago Only the tip of the iceberg. Reply 1 reply+2 ididso17 hours ago Tell us what you know pulsar134, or be quiet. Reply 0 dharmalena17 hours ago SPPD can do whatever they want on the clock and they would never get terminated. Their families can use city resources like unlimited gas expenses and that kind of stuff just gets over looked because of the badge of corruption. The fired Sheriff employees should apply for the SPPD where they would never get terminated even for capital crimes..... Reply 3 replies0 Ripper62215 hours ago Heard of former detective Anthony Foster? Reply 2 replies+1 dharmalena15 hours ago The SPPD did not do anything to Mr. Foster. That was the FBI. Probably because he was not the right color. If he were the more Caucasian looking he would most likely still hold a badge along with the other criminals on the force. Reply 1 reply+3 BettyBoop12 hours ago Baloney! Reply -2 jfogel17 hours ago At their ages it seems a real shame to blow a career. Especially over dumb and lazy things like this. Reply +12 Gov_Tilt_Head17 hours ago woops. Reply 0 dan davis18 hours ago How come every reply becomes an attack on our Commander in Chief. What a hateful bunch of nincompoops. Resurrect John Wilkes Booth to rid yourselves of the only Republican POTUS you admire. Or then again do you? Please get a life and let the people who have brains respond to the issues at hand. Can't wait to hear the feedback from those who drink the Kool Aid Reply +5 hookasmoking18 hours ago And to think people want to disarm the public who are relying on these clowns to protect them by repealing SYG. Reply 7 replies+2 lewoo16 hours ago Who wants to disarm the public? You realize SYG isn't the same as the 2nd Amendment, correct? Further, there are deadbeats in any group. Youre lumping these few with others who haved risked their lives to protect the public. Really sad that you'd attempt to advance your gun nut agenda at the expense of heroes. Reply 6 replies+4 hookasmoking16 hours ago In answer to your questions, you and yes, respectively. Reply 5 replies-1 hookasmoking15 hours ago And another thing, SYG is not a gun law, and LEO's shirking their responsibilities are not heroes, minor details huh? Reply 1 reply-2 lewoo15 hours ago First...show me where I've indicated SYG is a gun law. Second, you realize people can defend themselves without SYG, correct? Third, officers who risk their lives to protect the public (including you) are heroes. +3 lewoo15 hours ago No, I don't want to take away your gun. I advocate for responsible gun ownership by non-criminals. Frankly, it's armed and paranoid people like you who worry me. Reply 2 replies+2 hookasmoking15 hours ago I'm following you and I know where you live. -2 cryforyou14 hours ago LOL! 0 ididso18 hours ago Maybe they were just trying to save the County money by not running around burning up a lot of gas. I guess that there is a bright side to every story :-). Seriously, judging by their ages, I'll bet that have a lot of seniority, and are loosing a lot of future benefits, such as retirement, etc. I wonder how long they have been doing this? Reply +4 mr.fabulous18 hours ago So fewer LEOs to harass people at road blocks. I mean, it's not like there's any real crime in Pinellas, right? Reply 1 reply-5 Ripper62215 hours ago The real crime in Pinellas is in St. Pete anyways. Reply -2 KenwoodRez18 hours ago I wish he was Obama's boss as well. Obama is the ultimate champion in extreme loafing and idling. Reply 6 replies-18 catskill18 hours ago Your comment is lame Reply 1 reply+13 ididso18 hours ago No catskill, his /her comment is not lame, he/she is lame and immature. Probably has heard some grown up make that kind of remark, and thought it was cute. Reply +8 EquinsuOcha18 hours ago Do you guys just randomly pick actions of people and just assign them to the President? It's completely nonsensical. You took a story about Romney strapping his dog to the roof, and turned it into Obama eating a dog. You take stories like Governor Scott approving a wasteful new university, and blame Obama for government fraud. You literally try anything and everything that is negative in an attempt to tie it to him somehow. I can't call it pathetic as much as it is depraved. If you showed that same level of persistence in actually FIXING problems instead of trying to point fingers, this country might be on a better path. Reply 1 reply+12 beakie17 hours ago The best way to deal with them is Democratic unity at the ballot box. Living well is the best revenge. Reply +8 jesfla18 hours ago During 2 terms as President, Dubya spent all or of part of 487 days at Camp David, on retreats and made 77 trips to his Crawford Ranch, in Texas, where he spent all or part of 490 days, on his Ranch. The total number of days of vacation or retreat President Bush took, while in office over a period of 8 years was 977 days, or 32% of his total time in office, was spent on vacations or retreats. ONE THIRD OF DUBYA'S PRESIDENCY WAS SPENT ON VACATION!!! Reply 1 reply+9 windrider17 hours ago That was the safest place for him. now if OBUMMER would follow suit Reply -6 beakie18 hours ago Look, not one under 40. These are the guys just marking time until they can leech a fat pension ASAP. Reply +7 jesfla18 hours ago Why aren't they behind bars? Over $24,000 would be considered grand larceny...right? (Meanwhile, a man in Naples was recently arrested for stealing - a freakin' soda from McDonald's...) Reply +8 oldschoolsponger18 hours ago HE WAITED UNTIL IT WAS CLOSE TO ELECTION TIME Reply 1 reply+5 EyesOverPinellas13 hours ago No, he didn't. Read the article. He initiated the investigation last fall after learning about it. Theophilopoulos is also dead wrong, grandstanding and spinning with his comment about this incident "diverting attention." The incident does just the opposite ... commands and attracts attention. For example, have a look at the number of comments and compare it to other articles. Good for Bob! He's the first decent sheriff we've had in many years. Rice is a step backwards and king of cronyism. Many bad cops were hired and schooled under Rice's regime with no regard for anyone except themselves. Reply 0 Spock19 hours ago Hey Gaultieri, don't forget about the dayshift cruiser spooning hangout under the Belleair Causeway bridge! I don't know how long they get for lunch, but I've seen them there on quite a few occasions for at least an hour. Reply +5 conman19 hours ago these r lazy worthless cops. no doubt. a good leader would have caught the first one or two..not let it get to six, seven, more? too many good cops around...cut the head off, let one of them lead. hit the road sheriff. Reply +4 YankeejibXIV19 hours ago One day suspension = new tattoo Reply +5 catherineroberts19 hours ago The extent to which these deputies and supervisors went to conceal their laziness is appalling. If every other taxpaying citizen needs to do an hour's worth of work for an hour's worth of pay, so should they. While I don't think this is indicitive of the work ethic of the typical cop, I am glad this issue was dealt with harshly. It will send a clear message to anyone else who may be sneaking along doing something similar that inactivity will not be tolerated. Good for the sheriff for conducting a thourough investigation and making the tough call to terminate employment for these men. Reply 3 replies+9 bill418513 hours ago Sheriff Gualtieri is posturing for political reasons. It'll be interesting to see what happens with the appeals. "Jerry T" is a good lawyer and he may find holes in Gualtieri's case. In any event, it may not be over by the time of the election. Gualtieri is toast in November! Reply 1 reply+1 EyesOverPinellas13 hours ago If he did nothing people like you would lament his lack of action. I doubt Bob is going anywhere but if he is, he sure isn't handing over the reigns to cooked Rice. Rice is a has-been, a step backwards and sheriff with one of the worst records in Pinellas County in regards to many things. Number of inmate deaths at the county jail, internal affairs investigations clearing officers in practically every incident (of which the law of averages even suggests is not possible to such an extent), not to mention the plethora of horrible (and according to at least one newspaper article, illegal) decisions and behavior by Rice when in office, the list is practically endless. Just say, "No More Rice." Keep[ Pinellas moving forward, not backwards! Reply -1 zilch2 hours ago You had my thumbs up until you mentioned the 'good for the Sheriff' thing --- he dragged it out way too long and CHOSE to let more & more of our tax dollars be wasted. Gualtieri, YOU'RE FIRED!!! Reply 0 True Blue19 hours ago Again a double standard. We'll arrest and lock up someone who tries to steal $4.00 worth of hamburger from Publix, but let these felons go after they steal thousands of dollars from the taxpayers. Reply 3 replies+11 tmurphy18 hours ago One set of rules for us, and a different set of rules for them. Reply 1 reply+9 EquinsuOcha18 hours ago Only pigs are allowed to sleep in the house. /Orwell Reply +4 Ripper62215 hours ago Did you think that maybe Publix wanted this individual arrested? If a store manager doesn't want a thief arrested but just trespassed, then a police officer does just that. Reply +1 JK19 hours ago Typical LEOs,I can't think of anybody I know/knew and I liked that joined law enforcement. The one's I knew who became LEOs were major jerks. Reply -3 thomasito chocolato219 hours ago hmmm, election is coming up! Reply +4 zilch19 hours ago First of all, this is only happening for purposes of re-election. These officers have been doing this UNDER YOUR WATCH, Gualtieri. Also, why the extention of the investigation?? You could've done these punishments after finding out what was going on with one shift - you're just trying to 'trump it up' so it sounds like you saved tax payers all kinds of money. Well, if you watched this go on since July - you need to be fired too. Reply +8 Classical19 hours ago You have to wonder if Gualtieri would have let these good ol' boys slide if he weren't in an election battle with Rice for Sheriff. Time to be holier-than-thou to get those votes. Reply +15 stpetelocalman19 hours ago I bet the one cop was watching the movie Bay Boys.......LOL Reply 0 pnels419 hours ago I wish they would publish the address of these employees. The reason is that for several years I have driven by a home off Belleair Road, near US 19 where there are always 3 or 4 sheriffs vehicles parked in the driveway. Makes me wonder if it's this group. Reply 2 replies+6 JK19 hours ago They intentionally concealed their cruisers, meaning out of plain sight. Reply +9 EyesOverPinellas12 hours ago That could be Harmer or Metro. Harmer lives just west of Keene near that area and Metro lives just east of 19 not far from Bellair. Reply 0 sim20 hours ago First, Deputies are violating citizen rights by illegal search and seizure and now we see some are literally phoning it in on tax payer money...sounds like a leadership change is needed. Reply +10 penelope6720 hours ago Big surprise.....NOT!! Reply +6 Reasonablethinker20 hours ago Typical Obozo-voting leeches......good riddance Reply 1 reply-13 soaktherich19 hours ago po white trash for R. Money. Reply 0 EquinsuOcha20 hours ago In Kenneth City, that would get you a medal. Or a promotion. Or both. Reply 4 replies+7 Edward Brantley20 hours ago All Kenneth city cops are is people who couldn't cut it as a Tyrone Mall security gaurd. Most of them have the IQ of a pet rock. Reply 3 replies+3 SatanHusseinObomber18 hours ago Hey now, don't be so slanderous of Pet Rocks. Reply -4 ididso17 hours ago They have policemen in Kenneth City? I thought that they were school crossing guards. Reply 1 reply-2 itsallpoo17 hours ago They are...school crossing guards given a badge and a gun and a cruiser, same mentality. If you're not old stay out of KC because you'll be harassed and followed if you dare to walk down a public street after the sun has gone down and always be sure you've got id on you too because they like to take you in for no id every chance they get. Reply -4 megaton7420 hours ago so what was the movie? Police Academy? Armed and Dangerous? Reply +3 HL20 hours ago Only the ones who can't spell CHIEF Reply +1 HaleysComet20 hours ago They will go to work for the Spurbury PD. Reply 2 replies+3 Convinced Of The Hex18 hours ago Meow Reply +1 Nicodemus3117 hours ago " You boys wanna go to MEXICO!!!!!!!!" Reply -1 Edward Brantley20 hours ago Should make them repay the time they can prove that they weren't doing there job. Reply +12 joeust20 hours ago These veteran officers, all in their 40s, were the leadership. Reply +3 FloydtheBarber20 hours ago Ghee, if the boys aren't lying, cheating and trespassing they are goofing off. But the cheif would have us believe it has nothing to do with the department leadership, especially the Sheriff. Are people in Pinellas county really that stupid? I guess we will find out soon by way of the election. Reply 2 replies0 catherineroberts19 hours ago As a retired deputy who worked under several former sheriffs, I can tell you FOR A FACT things like this occurred under Coats, Rice and Coleman. If anything, idling and loafing has decreased in recent years due to the increased technology in the cruisers holding deputies accountable for their activity. It has nothing to do with the sheriff. Shame on you for trying to politicize a few lazy deputies. Reply 1 reply+12 FloydtheBarber13 hours ago Oh, did I say the other Sheriffs were NOT responsible? NO. They too were responsible, but just like this one they were not held accountable either. And the ex-#2 Sheriff trying to get the #1 job and acting like he is the anointed one. Well that's ridiculous. Reply 0 TBO_BLOGGER20 hours ago Sad. but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Didn't they have the same story about St. Pete cops getting canned over this just last year? Reply 1 reply+6 itsallpoo17 hours ago I think it was kenneth city, they were driving out of the city to a restaurant on 66th street to have breakfast together but they didn't even try to disable the gps. You have to wonder what these guys did to catch attention, somebody must have po'd the chief or some important person whose complaint couldn't be ignored. Plenty of screwing around going on, sometimes it's legitimate because they're staking out a stop sign or watching the beach for those criminals who might carry a cigarette out there or let their dog run loose or something equally stupid. Reply -4 Subscribe to the Times Click here for convenient home delivery. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT

Jane Castor Colin Breen and the Tent Slashing of FAMILIES

Tampa ready to begin spending convention security funds on police upgrades
By Richard Danielson, Times Staff WriterTampa Bay Times
In Print: Saturday, December 31, 2011


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
xPrintEmailPostRepublish
Story Tools
Comments (17) Contact the editor
Email Newsletters
Social Bookmarking
ShareThis
ADVERTISEMENT


ADVERTISEMENT

Featured

TAMPA — No sooner will the Tampa City Council accept $50 million for security at next year's Republican National Convention than it will begin to spend the money.

Council members are scheduled to vote on receiving the U.S. Department of Justice security grant on Thursday. Then, in their very next item of business, they will consider spending nearly $273,000 of the funds on a new armored SWAT team truck.

Later in the same meeting, they'll consider spending another $1.18 million from the grant to convert the analog video feed from cameras in police helicopters to a state-of-the-art digital downlink.

Police say they would need both upgrades eventually even without the GOP coming to town Aug. 27-30. But officials want both in place before the convention, which could draw an estimated 15,000 protesters.

"It's one of those things where you prepare for the worst and you hope for the best," Tampa Assistant Police Chief Marc Hamlin said Friday.

The city has two armored vehicles now. One is almost 20 years old, the other almost 30. "Both are military surplus," Hamlin said. "We're struggling to keep them going. Parts are hard to come by."

So the city is looking at spending $272,904 on a Lenco BearCat armored SWAT truck. The manufacturer, based in Massachusetts, uses secret proprietary methods to provide protection against assault weapon gunfire at a lighter weight than other vehicles. The BearCat has a turning radius of less than 18 feet, shorter than the length of the vehicle itself.

If the council approves the contract Thursday, Lenco said the vehicle could be delivered by July 12, six weeks ahead of the convention.

How the BearCat might be used at the convention "depends on what happens," Hamlin said, but such vehicles are typically called up to send officers into situations where they might draw fire. Other local agencies have similar vehicles that also are expected to be on hand for the convention.

The video downlink conversion would replace a system the department has used since 1999. It's as obsolete as black-and-white TV, Hamlin said. Agencies in Pinellas and Hillsborough have gone digital, and officials say Tampa needs to convert to be able to coordinate with them.

The new system would be able to stream encrypted, high-definition video to handheld receivers or monitors in police command and hostage negotiation vehicles. The system also would work with a Tampa Fire Rescue heavy rescue vehicle and fireboat.

The contract would go to sole bidder Broadcast Microwave Services of Poway, Calif. Tampa is asking that the company provide on-site technical assistance and support during the convention.

Up to two-thirds of the federal security grant, which was approved by Congress last month, will go toward bringing in, housing and feeding 3,000 or more outside law enforcement officers that the city thinks it will need to work the convention. That's on top of Tampa's nearly 1,000 police officers and Hillsborough's 1,100 sheriff's deputies.

The city also plans to spend up to $2 million installing about 60 surveillance cameras around downtown Tampa for the convention. And city officials say they could have to buy a couple of thousand radios so that officers coming to work the convention from different parts of the state will be on the same communications system as local officers.

Reach Richard Danielson at Danielson@tampabay.com, (813) 226-3403 or @Danielson_Times on Twitter.



[Last modified: Dec 30, 2011 10:18 PM]

Tampa Click here for reuse options!
Copyright 2011 Tampa Bay Times



Click here to post a comment
If you see an objectionable comment, click Report Abuse.
Viewing 1 - 17 of 17 comments Oldest First Newest First Top Rated

cpr1200r Dec 30, 2011 6:00 PM Yesterday A para-military organization with a new credit card w a $50mil limit...WaHoo!!
Reply Report Abuse 2 10
John Connor Dec 30, 2011 10:11 PM Yesterday what a bunch of sh*t! $50 million for these pinheads to p i s s down the drain on new playtoys! all this c r a p about how broke our government is and how we don't have enough money and the debt, etc? What a bunch of garbage! So the next time you hear the Repiggies in DC tell us how dire the nation's economic situation is and how we have to cut SS, medicare and the education budget you'll know it's all a bunch of C R A P! Reply Report Abuse 3 7
Not the Marlboro Man Dec 31, 2011 8:05 AM About 5 hours ago If it wasn't for rioters and Black Flag anarchist protesters along with Occupy morons (supported by the Obama administration I might add)threatening to burn down the city and to disrupt the convention as they have promised, I would tend to agree that this could be construed as wasteful spending. However I would direct your attention to You-Tube and the last convention in Denver and Minneapolis, where these Black Flag idiots burned cars, through acid bombs at police officer and did everything in their power to disrupt the convention. Philadelphia was caught off guard a couple of years ago when they tried to use conventional measures for a summit held there when these scum showed up. So if you don't want your city burnt to the ground and your town made to look like an embarrassment like Vancouver was after the Stanley Cup go ahead and complain. But if you don't know what you are talking about why not trying educating yourself first before you start calling the Assistant Police Chief name Reply Report Abuse 3 1 Pascopilot Dec 30, 2011 6:16 PM Yesterday All the Republicans, in the United States, are not worth 50 million dollars!!
Reply Report Abuse 6 9
windrider Dec 31, 2011 8:30 AM About 5 hours ago and ALL the ●●●●●●●●● are worth even less. Reply Report Abuse 2 0 Pascopilot Dec 30, 2011 6:22 PM Yesterday $omebody i$ making $ome big buck$ for very little effort!

Kinda like Halliburton in Iraq and Afghanistan. A no bid contract winner and Dick Cheney's former employer, who gave Dick a 25 million dollar bonus to run with GW Bush. (THey called him 'W', so he could spell it). They (Halliburton) made BILLIONS from that no bid contract. And here I thought the GOP/TEA was the Honest party. What a shock they aren't!!!!!!!!
Reply Report Abuse 4 8
scott adamms Dec 31, 2011 9:18 AM About 4 hours ago They are trying to get that armored SWAT team truck in time for Gasparilla so Captain Buckhorn & his band of City Council pirates can lead the parade with a giant banner that says TAMPAS STREETS ARE ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THE SAME AS WE DO. The Mayor will soon cordon off entire sections of the city for his Gasparilla buddies & have the cops protect them while he sends the same police to terrorize & arrest other citizens. What a bunch of hypocrites. Talk about Honest Services Fraud imagine how many unemployed homeless they could help with a small part of that money. They abuse the laws in their own behalf while they distort them against their own citizens. Check out Hypocrite in chief Buckhorn online stating: "They can not set up tents in the park, NO ONE is PERMITTED to do that." Soon there will be tents everywhere for the Mayor’s cronies. The video is At OccupyTampa.org under Forums/Themes Tactical Planning/What our elected Officials said- the Mayor Buckhorn Thread. Its half wa Reply Report Abuse 0 3 Steamboat Willie Dec 30, 2011 6:43 PM Yesterday It's going to be one hell of a show. Armored vehicles roaming the streets, helicopters hovering overhead, riot squads armed and ready to shoot to kill if need be. We'll show those godless heathens around the world what the "Land of the Free" and Democracy is really all about!
Reply Report Abuse 2 11
Bleacher Bum Dec 30, 2011 8:10 PM Yesterday yeah! Sounds like there having an open season on Liberals. 15,000 expected. All I can imagine is Los Angeles burning. The streets alive with molotov cocktails, cars on fire, rubber bullets whizzing like a disturbed hornets nest, and "There is nothing like the smell of burning tires in the evening air. Sounds to intense to me, I think I'll just stay at home and watch the mayhem on Faux News. Reply Report Abuse 4 6
ANGRYTAXPAYER Dec 30, 2011 9:04 PM Yesterday Our police will not be as lax as L.A. This is a law & order state. The criminals will be dealt with with as much force as necessary. Reply Report Abuse 8 3
Steamboat Willie Dec 30, 2011 9:55 PM Yesterday "Are there any queers in the theatre tonight Get'em up against the wall There's one in the spotlight He don't look right to me Get him up against the wall And that one looks Jewish And that one's a ●●●● Who let all this riff-raff into the room There's one smoking a joint And another with spots If I had my way I'd have all of you shot" theWall Reply Report Abuse 2 5 windrider Dec 31, 2011 8:36 AM About 5 hours ago The POLICE STATE of the UNITED STATES OF OBAMA CARE. PLEASE Deposit ALL of your personal Items into the bin so we can share them with everyone else who hasn't worked for them. and make sure you Neal to the east each morning afternoon and evening. We will change the name of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA to The SOCIALIST ORDER of the ONCE most powerful country in the world. Reply Report Abuse 4 0
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:20 PM About -1 minutes ago F THAT. THIS IS ALL AROUND THE GOP CONVENTION, loser !!!
Reply Report Abuse moondoggie601 Dec 30, 2011 8:52 PM Yesterday Kid in a candy store.
Reply Report Abuse 1 4 McBob Dec 30, 2011 8:57 PM Yesterday Lock and load! Strict enforcement on law-breakers so that the democratic process can happen without being hijacked.
Reply Report Abuse 8 1
John Connor Dec 30, 2011 10:14 PM Yesterday let's hope McBoob ventures out and gets hit with bags of feces thrown by anarchists! It's gonna be WW3 out there that you can take to the bank. Reply Report Abuse 2 4 Blackbean Dec 30, 2011 8:59 PM Yesterday The Bear Cat sounds a little out of it's element,considering, these are potential political protestors, unarmed,and at best, a nuisance.
Reply Report Abuse 1 7 ANGRYTAXPAYER Dec 30, 2011 9:02 PM Yesterday DO WHAT ALABAMA DOES & GET FREE MILITARY EQUIPMENTS FOR IRAQ.

WHY WASTE $273,000 WHEN YOU CAN GET ARMOR VEHICLES FOR FREE MINUS SHIPPING COST.
Reply Report Abuse 2 4
windrider Dec 31, 2011 8:44 AM About 5 hours ago But it's SO MUCH FUN to spend/WASTE Tax Payer money. Reply Report Abuse 0 1 DontBullShitMe Dec 31, 2011 2:05 AM About 11 hours ago Did any of you idiots see what happened at the last RNC in Minneapolis?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c0CqBVbfXA&feature=related
start watching at the 30 second mark
Reply Report Abuse 3 1 larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 4:05 AM About 9 hours ago year's Republican National Convention than it will begin to spend the money.

Council members are scheduled
SHOULD BE THEN NOT THAN. just sayin ... other than that, thanks for excellent article Mr. D.
Reply Report Abuse 1 1 larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 4:27 AM About 9 hours ago Oh, sheriff. Does this mean when you HOVER CONSTANTLY OVER MY BADLY NEEDED FOR YOUR GAMBLING PARTY PROPERTY you will video downlink what I'm doing in my backyard to all the cops you station at my fence pretending they are pulling over some hapless crack dealer while your classification officer guards the crack houses ????????????????????????????????? Cool. Y'all so nosey. You should have just asked me what I wanted. Now it's gotten ugly. And how's that working out for you? I'm considering suing Duran RIGHT NOW. NOW. And that will mean YOU. Get your stupid sharks ready.
Reply Report Abuse 2 1 Dave in St Pete Dec 31, 2011 7:32 AM About 6 hours ago The police do NOT need an armored vehicle! We need to stop this militarization of the civilian police forces. Swat teams with 'no knock' warrants kicking in the (often) wrong doors, dressed all in black with their faces covered are WRONG! Riot shields, sure; shotguns, sure; Armored vehicles and full auto assault rifles, NO! The police are CIVILIANS we hired to enforce the laws that WE propagate. They are NOT the elected leaders army!
Reply Report Abuse 0 5
windrider Dec 31, 2011 8:49 AM About 5 hours ago They are trying to be Military when we DO become a POLICE State. Disarm the Citizens, Arm the police to the MAX and now they have a bunch of SUBJECTS rather than CITIZENS, Easily controlled. Reply Report Abuse 0 3
amazed11 Dec 31, 2011 10:14 AM About 3 hours ago Thank the GOP for that Reply Report Abuse 1 3 robert47 Dec 31, 2011 8:39 AM About 5 hours ago Amazing the GOP can vote (25 teabaggers) No on a returning Veteran Jobs Program but can pi$$ away $50 million on foriegn made camera equipment, to protect thier sorry programs .
hope these hired crowd beaters just turn thier backs on protecting these a-holes!
Reply Report Abuse 1 4 PalmHarbor11 Dec 31, 2011 8:39 AM About 5 hours ago This all started with Reagan..you remember him, the guy who sold Iran 4400 Tow Rockets? He was our first Fascist President.
Reply Report Abuse 1 4 scott adamms Dec 31, 2011 8:53 AM About 5 hours ago They are trying to get that armored SWAT team truck in time for Gasparilla so Captain Buckhorn & his band of City Council pirates will can lead the Gasparilla parade with a giant banner that says TAMPAS STREETS ARE ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THE SAME AS WE DO. The Mayor will soon cordon off entire sections of the city for his Gasparilla buddies & have the cops protect them while he sends the same police to terrorize & arrest other citizens. What a bunch of hypocrites. Talk about Honest Services Fraud. Imagine how many unemployed homeless they could help with a small part of that money. They abuse the laws in their own behalf while they distort them against their own citizens. Chek out Hypocrite in cheif Buckhorn online stating: "They can not set up tents in the park, NO ONE is PERMITTED to do that." Soon there will be tents everywhere for the Mayor cronies. The video is At OccupyTampa.org under Forums/Themes Tactical Planning/What our elected Officials said- the Mayor Buckhorn Thread
Reply Report Abuse 0 1 Blackbean Dec 31, 2011 9:52 AM About 4 hours ago Much has already been said about this, but I don't think any are naive enough to believe we aren't heading to a time when all this militarization will be used to keep people subjected to a leadership they don't approve of.The people who carried out the original Tea Party,were PROTESTORS.
Reply Report Abuse 0 3 thomasito chocolato2 Dec 31, 2011 10:26 AM About 3 hours ago hahaha! the cameras already has been set up everywhere in downtown for the last few months. Oop soory I spilled the bean.
Reply Report Abuse 0 2
thomasito chocolato2 Dec 31, 2011 10:28 AM About 3 hours ago oh btw,we have the most cameras in tampa than anywhere in the US right now Reply Report Abuse 0 2
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:22 PM About -1 minutes ago thomasito, do you know WHY that is? It's too monitor the frequent drug deals. THAT is about the only reason anyone visits tampa. The MASONS/Dopedealers don't want anyone getting "lost" with all that cash they're carrying.
Reply Report Abuse
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:23 PM About -1 minutes ago Tampa: hope you sink into oblivion with spongebob plaidpants at the oozing bottom. NO INSULT TO MY BELOVED SPONGEBOG SQUARE PANTS.
Reply Report Abuse
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:23 PM About -1 minutes ago Oh, sheriff. Does this mean when you HOVER CONSTANTLY OVER MY BADLY NEEDED FOR YOUR GAMBLING PARTY PROPERTY you will video downlink what I'm doing in my backyard to all the cops you station at my fence pretending they are pulling over some hapless crack dealer while your classification officer guards the crack houses ????????????????????????????????? Cool. Y'all so nosey. You should have just asked me what I wanted. Now it's gotten ugly. And how's that working out for you? I'm considering suing Duran RIGHT NOW. NOW. And that will mean YOU. Get your stupid sharks ready.
Reply Report Abuse
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:23 PM About -1 minutes ago fifty bucks says henry duran retires soon !!!
Reply Report Abuse
larryburnettwhitetrashtenants Dec 31, 2011 1:24 PM About -1 minutes ago

Dill.....

lol ... you notice i never poke fun of your name. Considering you're still diaper stage i figure that would upset you disproportionately. I DID enjoy the jersey cop following me down the interstate to go protect andy forman's trafficker at kmart. that used to be darrell's job !! did she get promoted or demoted?

Bill Dill: 528 and his partner, number 29 and his other partner AO Evans. Probably NOT her real name. She likes to participate with tampa fire rescue in fake car wrecks.

Bill Dill dirty jerz tampa cop (along with bautiste TPD IAD) and TECO .....

Here's Bill Dill and his little OTHER blond partner (dill never works alone the steroid use has left him paranoid and his corruption forces him to have someone watch his back due to the number of people he has fucked over apparently)

You'll note Dill has no real way to get us out of our house as we are not criminals ergo he must just slither into the picture as opportunity presents itself (kinda like officer dejesus) AND so he partners up with his boss, Howard Jenkins in order to get with TECO who claims they have been in the neighborhood for weeks (NOT SO) to pull over the very relaxed and quickly released hooptee driver "at that very moment" .. you'll note the teco truck passing dill as it just left our house. As well, Dill then sat there for 45 minutes with his lights flashing. What a dick. Seriously. I hope you have something more going for you than criminal friends, that tin badge you hide behind and defile and your job. You just pulled some career ending stuff. Go to Tampa Fire Rescue they could use another little stunted DICK like you.

And then here's the properties from the photo .. .lining up with the teco records for our home. TECO keeps their records a secret as that is personal private information as they jack you with their religious zealot board members coincidental with Bill Dill's boss, Howard Jenkins.

Howard contributed SIXTY ONE THOUSAND (known) dollars to the GOP last year. Have yet to investigate his candidates.

I do have a life outside Howard despite his best efforts.

What a little bunch of pussy asses with I've been molestered voices Howard employs.

It was actually SHOCKING to hear that tiny voice come out of his store manager. They all act as though they are tin actors in a very bad play.