Walton County and City Law Enforcement

[seagrovegirl]

Thank you, aleonard....I agree, the communication system is a big ticket item and "should" be bidded out. It's also MO that a low bidder is not always the best bid, especially if the SO is already establisged with Motorola.....The communications system is still out dated and as I've mentioned before on this forum, the radios the deputies carry with them do not work in most areas of sowal. The car radios work, but not the hand held.......scary huh?

 

[Bob Wells]

Really the issue is not whether the track has been built or the IRS has assessed more fines or whether the sky is falling, it is whether you like the current Sheriff. I voted for him the first time because I felt as though he was a change candidate, then I find he was not. The only thing that separates him from the one he replaced was he at least communicated to the public. I support Tom Cooper because I have known him for 12 or 13 years proefessionally. I have known him to be fair and honorable individual. I trust Tom to do what is right by the community, and the employees of the Sheriffs Department. I trust Tom that is the reason I will vote for Cooper.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Really the issue is not whether the track has been built or the IRS has assessed more fines or whether the sky is falling, it is whether you like the current Sheriff. I voted for him the first time because I felt as though he was a change candidate, then I find he was not. The only thing that separates him from the one he replaced was he at least communicated to the public. I support Tom Cooper because I have known him for 12 or 13 years proefessionally. I have known him to be fair and honorable individual. I trust Tom to do what is right by the community, and the employees of the Sheriffs Department. I trust Tom that is the reason I will vote for Cooper.

I agree with your statement in bold. I also know that everyone does not get all the facts right 100% all the time.Not me or any other reporter. But, my point was, I think due diligence in what you write or report to the public to be important.

Thanks as well for posting why you choose to vote for your candidate. I hope everyone will be able to make a clear choice, based on their own reasons, when entering the booth. I am a non-partisan, so, I won't get to vote in the Primary for sheriff, but I encourage everyone who can vote, to do so, for the candidate of their choice.

 

[idlewind]

IW, if you keep pounding your head against that red board, the least you'll get is an awful headache and the worst, a skull fracture.

Man, my head was damaged long ago.

 

[idlewind]

Thanks SGG. I was very weary about putting a post out there on this subject but since I have had to cover it and put it in print, I can only hope other posters understand I would try and get facts out no matter what office they are about. Seeing a statement that something had been built that hasn't just kinda blew my mind.

I did an article on the 911 grant around the first of the year, if not earlier. The EOC communications person told me then that they had offered to include the WCSO in that grant as they did the DFSPD. I was told and reported on record that the WCSO ask to not be included since they had their own funding and had already contracted with Motorola. That article is archived in our office.

I should correct my earlier post and say that the County attorney stated that Johnson was within his rights to purchase the 911 system, due to him being a Constitutional officer. My personal understanding is there were two companies and the WCSO chose to go with Motororola. I do not know why. I do know that the County attorney is on record saying, in his opinion, that the WCSO was within their rights to purchase it during that no-show meeting. This article is also archived in our office.

The unconstruced track on the other hand was considered a capitol expense and had to undergo a bidding process by the BCC and was given back to them to bid out after being research by The Triple G comittiee. Early construction on it had began and then they were shut down and it was turned over to the BCC.

That's the only facts I know and thanks for the kind words. I, like many of the candidates, am more than ready for Aug 26th to pass, so we can all try to get back to business as usual and everything will stop revolving as much around local politics and rumors.

Edit......even though the sticking point on the 911 issue was not the bidding process, IMHO, any large purchase should undergo this process. But, even if they do, I have often seen that the lowest bidder does not always get the contract.

I have found out that you are correct about the driving range and I should not have praised this error. I stand corrected. As to the whole 911 issue, the sheriff should have agreed to participate in the grant, should have attended the first meeting and should have bid the project out in the first place. Just MHO.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I have found out that you are correct about the driving range and I should not have praised this error. I stand corrected. As to the whole 911 issue, the sheriff should have agreed to participate in the grant, should have attended the first meeting and should have bid the project out in the first place. Just MHO.

Not arguing any of that.......just posting what was said during those meetings, as I reported them and the article I did on the grants.

 

[DFSboy]

Below is factual information and comparison of local law enforcement in Walton County and the City of DeFuniak Springs. It shows budget cost, crime stats and attrition rates. The truth is very interesting.

Budget comparison for Law Enforcement in Walton County​

Total 2008 Walton County SO budget is $15,053,110.00

Total 2007 population living in the county was 51,805

• This equates to $290,572.53 spent per 1000 citizens for law enforcement by the WaltonCountySO.

Total 2008 DeFuniak Springs PD budget is $1,746,480.00

Total 2007 population living in DeFuniak Springs was 5,288

• This equates to $330,272.31 spent per 1000 citizen for law enforcement by the DeFuniak Springs PD.

It is easy to see that the DeFuniak Springs PD spends $39,699.78 per 1000 citizens more than the SO does.

We all know that Johnson has not been a fiscal conservative of county taxpayer money, but if that is so then Adkinson is horrendous. He has a lot higher budget per citizen than the SO.

All above data can be proven by visiting the below websites and page numbers:

ftp://gisftp.co.walton.fl.us/County_Website/OMB/08/FY%2008%20Approved%20Budget.pdf (page 9)

http://www.defuniaksprings.net/budgetexpenditures07-08.pdf (page 5)

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/UCR/2007/CoMuOff2007annual.pdf (page 67)

Comparison of 2007 Crime in the County against 2007 Crime in the City​

(How is this wasteful spending Adkinson is doing working?)​

MAJOR CRIME NUMBERS FOR WCSO​

? Forcible Rapes 4?or 1 for every 12,951 citizens
? Robbery 5 ? or 1 for every 10,361 citizens
? Agg Assault 80 ? or 1 for every 648 citizens
? Burglary 179 ? or 1 for every 289 citizens
? Larceny 756 ? or 1 for every 69 citizens​

MAJOR CRIME NUMBERS FOR DFSPD​

? Forcible Rapes 2? or 1 for every 2,644 citizens
? Robbery 7 ? or 1 for every 755 citizens
? Agg Assault 44 ? or 1 for every 120 citizens
? Burglary 71 ? or 1 for every 74 citizens
? Larceny 109 ? or 1 for every 48 citizens​

When looking at this data it is easy to see that the law enforcement services provided by the DFSPD which cost taxpayers $39,699.78 more per 1000 citizens is inferior (worse) even though it cost more.

All the above data on population and crimes can be proven by visiting the below website:

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/UCR/2007/CoMuOff2007annual.pdf (page 67)

How Walton County and City Law Enforcement Attrition (officers leaving) rate compares to the state average​

The WaltonCounty Sheriff?s Office had a 2007 officer population of 141

The WaltonCounty Sheriff?s Office had a 2007 officer attrition of 21

• This shows that the Walton County Sheriff?s Office had an attrition rate of 15% or 1.5 officers out of every 10 leave.

• The average attrition rate for Sheriff?s Offices in Florida is 5% which is 10% lower than the Walton County SO.

To many officers are leaving the SO


The DeFuniak Springs Police Department had a 2007 officer population of 18

The DeFuniak Springs Police Department had a 2007 officer attrition of 5

• This shows that the DeFuniak Springs Police Department had an attrition rate of 28% or 2.8 officers out of every 10 leave or more than one in every four.

• The average attrition rate for police departments in Florida is 7.5% which is 20.5% lower than the DFSPD.

DeFuniak Springs Police Department has a much larger attrition problem.

All the above data on officer population and attrition can be proven by visiting the below websites:

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cjst/cjap/2007/demographics/demo_so_le.html (SO Officer Population)
http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cjst/cjap/2007/statistics/attr_so_le.html (SO Attrition)

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cjst/cjap/2007/demographics/demo_pd.html (PD Officer Population)
http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cjst/cjap/2007/statistics/attr_pd.html (PD Attrition)

CONCLUSION

DeFuniak Springs Police Department under the management of Michael Adkinson Jr. spends more money per citizen for law enforcement services, has more crime per citizen and even has a higher attrition (officer leaving) rate than the Walton County Sheriff?s office does. We need a change in Walton County but Adkinson is not the change we need. Check the facts out and become an informed voter.

Wow!

Still, I still think Adkinson should be greatly considered for the job. He is a homegrown boy, seems to take care of his fellow native Waltonians by giving them decent jobs and is apparently related to the "right people". For example, I hear he is a close relative of our great former sheriff, Quinn McMillian, and first cousin to Commissioner Scott Brannon. His uncle is City of DeFuniak Springs'; attorney, and Freeport, I think. I also understand his second in command at the City Police is the Mayor's (DeFuniak Springs) nephew. I, personally, believe in taking care of our natives, not so much the outsiders.

I would guess he would surround himself, when elected sheriff, with native Waltonians?, just as he has done with the City Police. By doing so, and being related to the "right people (such as noted above)" should help him deliver us a greater Walton County Sheriff's Office.

This is just a few reasons you should consider when voting for sheriff. I?ll be back later for other reasons for you to consider when time to vote for Adkinson.

Forget about all the numbers above. Vote for one of us...
You "Yankees, "Snowbirds, or "Outsiders," well I guess you vote too.

Go Adkinson!!

 

[idlewind]

Wow!

Still, I still think Adkinson should be greatly considered for the job. He is a homegrown boy, seems to take care of his fellow native Waltonians by giving them decent jobs and is apparently related to the "right people". For example, I hear he is a close relative of our great former sheriff, Quinn McMillian, and first cousin to Commissioner Scott Brannon. His uncle is City of DeFuniak Springs'; attorney, and Freeport, I think. I also understand his second in command at the City Police is the Mayor's (DeFuniak Springs) nephew. I, personally, believe in taking care of our natives, not so much the outsiders.

I would guess he would surround himself, when elected sheriff, with native Waltonians?, just as he has done with the City Police. By doing so, and being related to the "right people (such as noted above)" should help him deliver us a greater Walton County Sheriff's Office.

This is just a few reasons you should consider when voting for sheriff. I?ll be back later for other reasons for you to consider when time to vote for Adkinson.

Forget about all the numbers above. Vote for one of us...
You "Yankees, "Snowbirds, or "Outsiders," well I guess you vote too.

Go Adkinson!!

Thank you for providing an "outsider" with further input on who I should vote for. I had already decided to vote for Mr. Cooper but your information helps solidify my decision. If this was meant "tongue in cheek" then it is darn funny.

 

[Johnny Post]

Gotta love a sarcasm laced post like that. Nice job DFSboy.

Question though, I think we all have heard abou the whole who Mike Adkinson's uncle is, but where do you come up with the conclusions he is related to McMillian or Brannon?

I don't truly care if he is related to McMillian, but it is interesting if he is related to Comm. Brannon. Not sure it really matters, but it is interesting.

On the other hand, I have to question the credibility of a post clearly intended to be negative.

 

[The Watcher]

Six Degrees

Wow!

Still, I still think Adkinson should be greatly considered for the job. He is a homegrown boy, seems to take care of his fellow native Waltonians by giving them decent jobs and is apparently related to the "right people". For example, I hear he is a close relative of our great former sheriff, Quinn McMillian, and first cousin to Commissioner Scott Brannon. His uncle is City of DeFuniak Springs'; attorney, and Freeport, I think. I also understand his second in command at the City Police is the Mayor's (DeFuniak Springs) nephew. I, personally, believe in taking care of our natives, not so much the outsiders.

I would guess he would surround himself, when elected sheriff, with native Waltonians?, just as he has done with the City Police. By doing so, and being related to the "right people (such as noted above)" should help him deliver us a greater Walton County Sheriff's Office.

This is just a few reasons you should consider when voting for sheriff. I?ll be back later for other reasons for you to consider when time to vote for Adkinson.

Forget about all the numbers above. Vote for one of us...
You "Yankees, "Snowbirds, or "Outsiders," well I guess you vote too.

Go Adkinson!!

Wow, I too hear he takes care of the locals... Is he related to the DOT Officer who hangs out up there? How bout that WCSO female officer who keeps singing his praises? Who is he Not related to?

As for Yankee, Snowbird or Outsiders, that's a bit harsh. Do not forget where all the money and revenue comes from.