Do you belive Upchurch should only hold one office

[martini]

I would like to know which county officer let a 20yr.old who was drinking and driving walk awy from the truck he had totaled without doing anything to him.........i know for a fact he told him THIS IS YOUR FREEBEE........WHAT kind of example is that?he could've killed someone or himself...you are NOT acting as LAW but ABUSING THE BADGE!!!!!!

[martini]

i sure hope it wasnt a certified officer that had done this....

[dusty]

martini wrote:

I would like to know which county officer let a 20yr.old who was drinking and driving walk awy from the truck he had totaled without doing anything to him.........i know for a fact he told him THIS IS YOUR FREEBEE........WHAT kind of example is that?he could've killed someone or himself...you are NOT acting as LAW but ABUSING THE BADGE!!!!!!

This is ridiculous. Where was the wreck? Bet there won't be anything in the Bledsonian about it either. Who ever the officer was needs to be sent to the house without pay or fired. What if the drunk driver killed some of his family, would the deputy turn his head then? Drunk Drivers don't deserve a FREEBIE!!!!!

[dusty]

wolfeagle wrote:

<quoted text>
I am not from Bledsoe County, but isn't Howard sorta like the "only" lawyer in that county? That Swafford fellow may have a Bar license but I wouldn't want him "judging" me. I may drink a shot or 2 of whiskey with Mr. Pickledliver but never could see him as a Judge...Just my opinion on the outside looking in.

Good post, i'm lmao.....Yep, Howard is the only real lawyer in Pikeville. I agree, if I ever needed REAL lawyer i certainly would hire Howard over the Swafford man. I couldn't imagine Swafford as a judge that would be funny and scary. I've never even heard anybody talk about Swafford being their attorney. Maybe his main practice is estate and probate law.

[martini]

dusty wrote:

<quoted text>This is ridiculous. Where was the wreck? Bet there won't be anything in the Bledsonian about it either. Who ever the officer was needs to be sent to the house without pay or fired. What if the drunk driver killed some of his family, would the deputy turn his head then? Drunk Drivers don't deserve a FREEBIE!!!!!

trust me that statement is very true.i am not gonna say the identity of the person, but believe me if it was my son his ass would be in jail no if, ands ,or buts.this is a disgrace to the younger generations of this county.if you cannot control your deputies and get them educated then get the hell out and let someone better do your job for you..........

[martini]

just because someone was drinking and totaled out their truck without hitting or killing someone does NOT justify it to go unpunished.....can yall not understand why this man should have not gotten elected?he is a drunk himself of course he will pity all who drink.....

[dusty]

martini wrote:

<quoted text>trust me that statement is very true.i am not gonna say the identity of the person, but believe me if it was my son his ass would be in jail no if, ands ,or buts.this is a disgrace to the younger generations of this county.if you cannot control your deputies and get them educated then get the hell out and let someone better do your job for you..........

I would say report the deputy to the sheriff, haha. I would also let it be known as to who the deputy was and he received no reprimand. Since the sheriff seemed to turn his back on this incident. Maybe you could could contact the sheriffs association, or report them to T.B.I. Maybe POST commission, i just know this needs to be brought to someone's attention. I agree, if it were my son, he too would have gone to jail. This is not a good example for the deputy or deputies to set.

[dusty]

martini wrote:

no ,but we know a good car salesman he is the county mayor.........lol

OMG, that's a good one!!!!! LMAO

[wolfeagle]

dusty wrote:

<quoted text>I would say report the deputy to the sheriff, haha. I would also let it be known as to who the deputy was and he received no reprimand. Since the sheriff seemed to turn his back on this incident. Maybe you could could contact the sheriffs association, or report them to T.B.I. Maybe POST commission, i just know this needs to be brought to someone's attention. I agree, if it were my son, he too would have gone to jail. This is not a good example for the deputy or deputies to set.

I think you have touched on a subject many people overlook when dealing with unethical behavior in law enforcement, attack their certification by lodging complaints with the P.O.S.T. commission.

TBI, FBI, etc. is like pulling teeth to get them to act on anything, trust me on that one. For example, just how do you deal with a bad elected District Attorney? You know in reality you can't do squat to them, and they know it. So what does one do? The easiest solution is like the POST certification, you attack his Bar license. If a D.A. loses his law license then he (if elected) can still be a DA he just can't step foot in a court room. If he can't perform the duties of his elected office, he is subject to removal. The same goes for police. They get a mind-set that they are "the law" when nothing is further from the truth. The law is something applicable to us all, no exceptions, period. Indeed, there are people who try to be the exception and will use tactics like intimidation, etc. to attain what they seek. It is then we must stand calm and firm. We must band together as they do and it doesn't matter if it is 2, 5, 12 or 100 people but act together as one. Just like the African Driver Ants, those ants are the most feared predator there. They can devour a lion. How? Because the millions of them act as a single unit and nothing, nothing at all is capable of stopping them.(well, maybe a can of Raid, but...)

So yes indeed, compile a well written, well documented complaint and study the powers and DUTY of the POST commission and once an example is made the rest will usually fall in line. Believe it or not but if we all stood naked we'd be basically just like everyone else. And the funnier thing is, most dudes with guns, badges and uniforms may not act so bold standing there all scribbled up with peckers drawn up into their bellies LOL...The exeception may be if one of 'em was a county attorney/judge that got busted cheating on the old lady and got his pecker "crazy glued" to his belly...yep, that would be an embarrasing, painful thing to behold, whewwwww mercy.

[martini]

well our sheriff is a known drunk, most of the deputies are not certified yet to my knowledge. i can't understand who really is running the sheriff's dept.i knew he sucked at everything but my god when you let a young man walk away from something like that without consequences your'e just saying its ok.i'll do something to you next time after you kill someone...yes, even though that deputy let him go on his own behalf the sheriff IS still responsible for that deputies actions.please young people drinking and driving is not something you all will walk away from...THIS COUNTY NEEDS DRIVERS EDUCATION CLASSES.

[dusty]

martini wrote:

well our sheriff is a known drunk, most of the deputies are not certified yet to my knowledge. i can't understand who really is running the sheriff's dept.i knew he sucked at everything but my god when you let a young man walk away from something like that without consequences your'e just saying its ok.i'll do something to you next time after you kill someone...yes, even though that deputy let him go on his own behalf the sheriff IS still responsible for that deputies actions.please young people drinking and driving is not something you all will walk away from...THIS COUNTY NEEDS DRIVERS EDUCATION CLASSES.

We can find out if these deputies have received their certification, just need names. If they are NOT certified man it's a law suit in the waiting for Bledsoe Co. Between the two of us I'm certain one of us can find out, like i said, just need names....let's do it!!!!!

[martini]

i know right ,i dont want these kind of cops in when my child starts driving.im gonna try and find out the exact date and time of the wreck and who was on duty that night.if we are held accountable for what we do, then officers should be as well.i want to see him talk about that on t.v.

[martini]

(him )meaning the sheriff....

[dusty]

martini wrote:

i know right ,i dont want these kind of cops in when my child starts driving.im gonna try and find out the exact date and time of the wreck and who was on duty that night.if we are held accountable for what we do, then officers should be as well.i want to see him talk about that on t.v.

does the sheriff perhaps have work reserve deputies that actually get paid to work, when in most depts. reserves do not get paid, unless a special request for a deputy(s) presence at a social event. Reserves DO NOT have to certified by P.O.S.T ....how many deputies does the sheriff's department have?

[wolfeagle]

Reserve deputies are not even legally authorized to drive a patrol car with lights and siren.

TCA 55-9-414. Blue flashing emergency lights on motor vehicles unlawful — Exception — Penalty.—

(a)(1) It is unlawful for anyone to install, maintain or exhibit blue flashing emergency lights or blue flashing emergency lights in combination with red flashing emergency lights, except full-time, salaried, uniformed law enforcement officers of the state, county, or city and municipal governments of the state, and commissioned members of the Tennessee bureau of investigation when their official duties so require as defined by §§ 38-8-106 and 38-8-107.

The key words in the above statute is "full time salaried". To be full time they MUST be POST certified within a year of appointment. Part-timers are not even allowed to operate an emergency vehicle either. The only exceptions to the law are certain counties and cities that fall into certain approved "population bracketts" which are normally enacted by Private Act of a county. Therefore, IF a reserve deputy pulls a person over, he is actually just as illegal as the person he pulls over. Just because a person gets elected sheriff doesn't mean they get to do anything they want to do...we all have that peskie little thorn in our (_*_) called LAWS.

Reserve deputies cruising all over the county was a major problem several years ago in Rhea County. We had dudes that worked for La-Z-Boy during the week driving a cop car pulling people over as a reserve deputy on weekends. Talk about civil rights violations! Reserve Deputies are for riding along, showing a presence at carnivals, parades, things like that. To assist the sheriff. All that old styled stuff sheriff's did in deputizing anything with 2 legs that sucked air and putting them in cop cars ended in 1978, just after the Limited Constitutional Convention "fiasco". Also, usually the Sheriff's "Homeland Security" guys are not much more than reserve deputies wearing federal grant money jackets. Sorry, I don't write these laws, I just read 'em.

[martini]

im pretty sure THP works most of the wrecks here.i would like to know why they were not called.i was told there was a horse trailor with a horse in it being pulled behind the truck this drunk boy wrecked and that the horse had to be cut out of the trailor.......this happened about 3 weeks ago still trying to find out all i can on this.i guess if you ride together, you lie together.RECKIN?

[dusty]

wolfeagle wrote:

Reserve deputies are not even legally authorized to drive a patrol car with lights and siren.
TCA 55-9-414. Blue flashing emergency lights on motor vehicles unlawful — Exception — Penalty.—
(a)(1) It is unlawful for anyone to install, maintain or exhibit blue flashing emergency lights or blue flashing emergency lights in combination with red flashing emergency lights, except full-time, salaried, uniformed law enforcement officers of the state, county, or city and municipal governments of the state, and commissioned members of the Tennessee bureau of investigation when their official duties so require as defined by §§ 38-8-106 and 38-8-107.
The key words in the above statute is "full time salaried". To be full time they MUST be POST certified within a year of appointment. Part-timers are not even allowed to operate an emergency vehicle either. The only exceptions to the law are certain counties and cities that fall into certain approved "population bracketts" which are normally enacted by Private Act of a county. Therefore, IF a reserve deputy pulls a person over, he is actually just as illegal as the person he pulls over. Just because a person gets elected sheriff doesn't mean they get to do anything they want to do...we all have that peskie little thorn in our (_*_) called LAWS.
Reserve deputies cruising all over the county was a major problem several years ago in Rhea County. We had dudes that worked for La-Z-Boy during the week driving a cop car pulling people over as a reserve deputy on weekends. Talk about civil rights violations! Reserve Deputies are for riding along, showing a presence at carnivals, parades, things like that. To assist the sheriff. All that old styled stuff sheriff's did in deputizing anything with 2 legs that sucked air and putting them in cop cars ended in 1978, just after the Limited Constitutional Convention "fiasco". Also, usually the Sheriff's "Homeland Security" guys are not much more than reserve deputies wearing federal grant money jackets. Sorry, I don't write these laws, I just read 'em.

How do we, as citizens, find out if this happening in this county? By the way your post was very informative. Thank-You!

[wolfeagle]

dusty wrote:

<quoted text>How do we, as citizens, find out if this happening in this county? By the way your post was very informative. Thank-You!

Good question. What I would do is go to the County Executive's (County Mayor) office and ask for a list of all the county employees for the sheriff's dept.. Also, request a copy of the sheriff's budget as each position, etc. will be found there. However, in Rhea County I have tried in the past to get a copy of sheriff dept. budgets during the years of 1994 - 1998 and I always got stonewalled. It is like these budgets are some national security secret or something. Refuse to take NO for an answer. Now, getting back on track, a request such as what I have stated will give you 1.) how many employees the sheriff has, 2) how much they get paid and 3) their names (absent personal info which can be redacted). You or anyone else for that matter are entitled to that info as it is PUBLIC RECORD. We still have an open form of government, well at least we did have anyways...

Once you are armed with this info and you then were to see me or someone else that you know is NOT on the payroll as a "full time salaried L.E.O." driving a county issued emergency vehicle then ..... Okay, I must stop there. Because realistically, just what can you or me or anybody do about it? These dudes seem to just do as they please and make it up as they go along. So what does one do? Like a dog chasing a car, what does the dog do once he catches it?

In any event, IF you get arrested by one of these "unlawful persons driving a patrol car", use that to your advantage in court. Demand a dismissal. Start a "gum bumping" campaign targeted against the violators and those who are privy to the illegal acts and attack their position. The action will also serve as a catalyst for you to "raise hell" on, as well as place a spotlight directly on their (_*_). My thinking is a simple kind when dealing with political people in so-called power positions..."the one big thing they fear most is EXPOSURE". Crooks fear the light. In that regard, write articles, post messages, comments etc. similar to what is going on now. Also, utilize online mediae such as www.rheacountynewspaper.com as this site alone has grown to over 7,000 hits per month and it is focused upon Rhea and surrounding counties within the state of Tennessee. You will find local small town traditional newspapers are not going to ruffle the feathers. Get the word out and tell the truth about dirty deeds and sneakiness in all it's shadowy forms...Words excite the mind and whether words are of dissent or supportive to a cause, you will find that words flow as easily as does water, even following a similar path of least resistance. Once these words hit "Gossipland", well, need I say more...Lastly, always remember this lille catchy phrase..."If you want to make someone angry, tell him a lie; if you want to make him furious, tell him the truth. All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third, it is accepted as self-evident."
- Arthur Schopenhauer Philosopher, 1788-1860

Thanks for the kind response and thanks for allowing me to do what I enjoy doing which in part is to make the tracks that I will be remembered by...

[MHP77]

wolfeagle wrote:

<quoted text>
Good question. What I would do is go to the County Executive's (County Mayor) office and ask for a list of all the county employees for the sheriff's dept.. Also, request a copy of the sheriff's budget as each position, etc. will be found there. However, in Rhea County I have tried in the past to get a copy of sheriff dept. budgets during the years of 1994 - 1998 and I always got stonewalled. It is like these budgets are some national security secret or something. Refuse to take NO for an answer. Now, getting back on track, a request such as what I have stated will give you 1.) how many employees the sheriff has, 2) how much they get paid and 3) their names (absent personal info which can be redacted). You or anyone else for that matter are entitled to that info as it is PUBLIC RECORD. We still have an open form of government, well at least we did have anyways...
Once you are armed with this info and you then were to see me or someone else that you know is NOT on the payroll as a "full time salaried L.E.O." driving a county issued emergency vehicle then ..... Okay, I must stop there. Because realistically, just what can you or me or anybody do about it? These dudes seem to just do as they please and make it up as they go along. So what does one do? Like a dog chasing a car, what does the dog do once he catches it?
In any event, IF you get arrested by one of these "unlawful persons driving a patrol car", use that to your advantage in court. Demand a dismissal. Start a "gum bumping" campaign targeted against the violators and those who are privy to the illegal acts and attack their position. The action will also serve as a catalyst for you to "raise hell" on, as well as place a spotlight directly on their (_*_). My thinking is a simple kind when dealing with political people in so-called power positions..."the one big thing they fear most is EXPOSURE". Crooks fear the light. In that regard, write articles, post messages, comments etc. similar to what is going on now. Also, utilize online mediae such as www.rheacountynewspaper.com as this site alone has grown to over 7,000 hits per month and it is focused upon Rhea and surrounding counties within the state of Tennessee. You will find local small town traditional newspapers are not going to ruffle the feathers. Get the word out and tell the truth about dirty deeds and sneakiness in all it's shadowy forms...Words excite the mind and whether words are of dissent or supportive to a cause, you will find that words flow as easily as does water, even following a similar path of least resistance. Once these words hit "Gossipland", well, need I say more...Lastly, always remember this lille catchy phrase..."If you want to make someone angry, tell him a lie; if you want to make him furious, tell him the truth. All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third, it is accepted as self-evident."
- Arthur Schopenhauer Philosopher, 1788-1860
Thanks for the kind response and thanks for allowing me to do what I enjoy doing which in part is to make the tracks that I will be remembered by...

very insightfull indeed, you make me want to use the ole noggin for something more than a hat rack!!lol.. very good post....thank you!!

[wolfeagle]

MHP77 wrote:

<quoted text>
very insightfull indeed, you make me want to use the ole noggin for something more than a hat rack!!lol.. very good post....thank you!!

LOL...Now that's the spirit!!!

Thanks