Speak Out Against Crime in Salisbury
November 9, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Crime, Maryland, Public Safety, Salisbury Politics
Attend this evening’s Salisbury City Council meeting. During public comment ask this simple question:
Will you continue to support the rising crime rate or will you take action against crime, starting now?
Let the Barrie Comegys bloc – Gary Comegys, Louise Smith, and Shanie Shields – know that you want change! This means letting Police Chief Allan Webster go and putting someone in the job that is more concerned about fighting crime than attacking Mayor Jim Ireton and Councilwoman Debbie Campbell.
Sphere: Related ContentWhy Doesn’t Maryland Have Right to Carry?
September 24, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Maryland, Maryland Politics, Public Safety
Maryland Delegate Mike Smigiel (R-36) has published a great letter on his blog from a citizen of Cecil County. The gentleman expresses many of the same concerns we hear from other law abiding Marylanders. Yet, the leftist government of Maryland refuses to allow honest, law abiding citizens to exercise their full rights of self protection.
Mike Smigiel is right. This citizen’s letter deserves an answer.
Sphere: Related ContentStoplight Cameras in Fruitland?
September 24, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Maryland, Public Safety, Wicomico Politics
Right Coast Girl, the blog of local AFP leader Julie Brewington, reports that stoplight cams are coming to Fruitland. Stoplight cams are highly controversial, particularly in conservative counties such as Wicomico. What makes this especially interesting is that this blog post went up 3 days before Greg Latshaw’s article in this morning’s Tilghman Times. Latshaw implies that there are no plans to put up stoplight cams on the Shore.
Good work Greg!
Sphere: Related ContentKen Cuccinelli Endorsed by Virginia FOP
September 24, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Public Safety, Virginia, Virginia Politics
GOP Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli has received the endorsement of the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police. According to FOP President Tommy Edwards:
"Ken Cuccinelli’s outstanding recognition of the problems faced by the Supreme Court Case Melendez Diaz, his early and outspoken push for a Special Session, and its ultimate success which will allow the prosecution of certain cases to proceed – is a testament to his skill, knowledge and support of the law enforcement community."
The Virginia State FOP, which represents 8600 law enforcement officers throughout the Commonwealth is considered to be the most important endorsement in the Virginia AG’s race.
Sphere: Related ContentThe Joke That Is Salisbury’s Tapegate
September 2, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Crime, Maryland, Media, Public Safety, Salisbury Politics
On days like this I am reminded of a comment made by my friend and Red Maryland colleague Brian Griffiths. It was something to the effect that more things appear to be written about Salisbury town government than most cities 10 times its size. He’s right. I’m one of many culprits; but at least I can be thankful that I’m not in the idiot pen with the Tilghman Times and the Barrie Comegys crowd. Case in point – TAPEGATE.
The Story -
It all began in early July. Salisbury police chief Allan Webster thought that the town’s new mayor, Jim Ireton, might send him packing. Fair assumption given Webster’s record and the city’s less than stellar crime statistics. Ireton had made both an issue during the recent mayoral campaign and Webster attacked Ireton in the Tilghman Times on multiple occasions.
To save his job, and reportedly to pad his pension, Webster went on the offensive by publicly attacking Ireton’s two allies on council – Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen. Unfortunately, Ireton’s bungling of the matter appeared to make Webster and his cronies even more brazen.
To date, Webster has asserted (on several occasions in collusion with the Tilghman Times) that his rights were violated, that city personnel policy was circumvented, that the Salisbury taxpayers should foot all of his potential legal bills, … and that he was was somehow being persecuted as a “whistleblower”. What makes this so amusing is that it was either Webster or someone acting on his behalf that provided copies of the documents (which Webster claims are damaging to his reputation) to both the Tilghman Times and to the house blog of the Barrie Comegys party.
Webster’s claim of “whistleblower” status is based (if one can call it that) on a purported investigation of Councilwoman Campbell. Webster claims that Campbell has possession of police surveillance footage supposedly taped about 12 years ago when Mrs. Campbell was the founding Executive Director of Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Service. TAPEGATE!
Sphere: Related ContentWhy Do Terrorists Have More Rights Than Inmates?
August 25, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Crime, Delaware, Delaware Politics, Public Safety
It’s ironic that Democrats believe that foreign terrorists should receive all of the rights and consideration of a US citizen while many of these same people don’t blink at the mistreatment of US citizens housed in our correctional facilities. No, I’m not soft on crime. I don’t even think these people deserve to have TV and other recreational activities I also don’t believe that they should be abused by the very same people charged with guarding them.
The Caesar Rodney Institute has just released a new report, Rogue Force, outlining more abuses at Delaware’s own little version of Attica circa 1971. Abuses at the Sussex Correctional Institution are well documented. They are currently under a federal consent decree to straighten out their act. Evidently they aren’t doing too well at accomplishing that goal.
Who’s been in charge of the Delaware prison system for almost 20 years? Democrat administrations. But wait! I thought it was us evil Republicans who were brutal, fascist thugs. Isn’t that why the Obama administration wants to give all of these rights to terrorists?
Sphere: Related ContentMcDonnell Unveils Public Safety Plan
August 13, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Crime, Public Safety, Virginia, Virginia Politics
Calling for tougher sentences on drug dealers and tougher sex offender registration laws, former Virginia AG Bob McDonnell unveiled his plan for public safety. We can expect Democrat opponent Creigh “Me Too” Deeds to present his plan as soon as his Xerox machine warms up.
Daily Times – Shoddy Reporting or Political Intimidation?
July 10, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Crime, Maryland, Media, Public Safety, Salisbury Politics
It’s doubtful that Salisbury’s Daily Times will win a Pulitzer anytime soon. That said, they seem to be sinking to lows that may exceed their own dismal record. The question is whether the staff of the Daily Times is lazy, incompetent, or attempting to influence local government through intimidation.
This morning’s article about a mysterious “report” on Salisbury police chief Allan Webster not only fails to meet any standard of truth, it doesn’t even meet a standard of accuracy. The article even admits that it is based on “rumor”. Given that the reporter, Laura D’Alessandro, was unable to confirm any of these rumors, I am shocked that any newspaper would run such a story anywhere, much less on the front page above the fold.
Sphere: Related ContentJack Markell to Cut Number of State Vehicles
February 15, 2009 by Cato
Filed under Delaware, Delaware Politics, Fiscal Policy, Maryland, Maryland Politics, Public Safety
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell has announced that he will be cutting the use of state owned vehicles by 20%:
On Thursday, Markell announced a 20 percent reduction in state-vehicle usage, an end to state-funded travel and a new energy usage policy for state buildings that alters temperature settings. The three policy changes are estimated to generate about $1.3 million in savings.
If Markell even attains half that goal he is to be commended. Most taxpayers have little idea how many of their tax dollars are spent on just the perk of government employees using taxpayer funded vehicles as their own personal transportation. In Maryland the amount has to be staggering.
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Salisbury Fire Department – A Real Need or More Toys for the Boys?
October 27, 2008 by Cato
Filed under Fiscal Policy, Maryland, Public Safety, Salisbury Politics
At tonight’s Salisbury Council meeting expect Mayor Barrie Tilghman’s lapdog majority to approve several items with respect to the Salisbury Fire Department. One of these is the declaration of surplus of surplus of three trucks. One truck is eight years old, the other six. While I was unable to find details in the council’s briefing book, it is also reported that these two trucks are not even paid for.
Why does the SFD need to replace these trucks and spend over $2.6 million on new equipment? According to Chief David See, the trucks are having repair issues. Could be. However, we have seen the leadership of the SFD be less than honest about purchasing new equipment in the past. Of course, this is OK because “they need their toys” according to Councilman Gary Comegys.
There’s one problem in their explanation. According to Chief See, the truck’s manufacturer – American LaFrance – “recently declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy” and this caused a delay in getting parts. It is true that American LaFrance, formerly a unit of Freightliner, did enter Chapter 11 – last January. What Chief See neglects to inform council is that the company emerged from Chapter 11 last July and by all reports is operating smoothly.
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