Police Chief Sexting Scandal Sanitized

Saratoga Springs, NY-

The city's police Chief admits to sexting a picture of his junk to a woman who had allegedly initiated the communications by sending a breast pic. Some time later she alerts the news media, making certain other allegations. Before she has a chance to make a public statement, Police Chief Chris Cole holds a press conference admitting to the dirty deed, but also naming the woman with whom he's had this communication. The Chief is suspended with pay pending the outcome of this ridiculous and juvenile act of what he refers to as "a moment of poor judgment."

A reasonable person would believe that this situation reflects a moral and ethical dilemma.  Generally speaking, most police departments would have more than one person deciding the Chief's fate.  Instead, Rick Wirth, the Commissioner of Public Safety states that he makes the sole decision on what punishment may be necessary to address the Chief's indiscretion.

This city still uses the civil service exam as a means of measuring a person's merit to lead a department of less than 70 officers. In fact, Cole is 45 years old and has no military background. Some would say that he lacks maturity, and it must be noted that the Saratoga Springs Police Dept has been his only law enforcement employer. Interestingly enough, Cole's Father was once  the city's police chief, and the old adage of "...the sins of the Father...." has often been used in conjunction with this whole episode.

The complainant/victim in this matter, Laurie Masi has gained some notoriety because of not only this event, but also because of a number of police reports that were filed at different police departments in the area.  Ms. Masi seems to have shown a pattern of irrational behavior in her personal relationships with other law enforcement officers. When the news media attempted to obtain statements from those officers involved, none would acknowledge even a phone message.
Ah well, we all make mistakes.

As a direct result of this entire episode, Commish Wirth announced 2 days ago that Police Chief Cole would receive 2 months suspension  without pay and a 3 year probationary status.

Wirth indicated he took the following facts in to consideration:

1. No formal complaint was filed with the Saratoga Springs Police Dept. by Ms. Masi. (It is also understood that she has parted ways with her attorney of record.)
With that, there is essentially no victim and so there is no crime.
2. He admits to doing the dirty deed and that it was a moment of poor judgement. It has been stressed several times that the matter was between 2 consenting adults.
Never mind the fact that he sexted this infamous picture from his office at city hall.
3. Cole candidly admits that he is humiliated and has brought shame upon the police department and the city.
4. All of this information, coupled with all the other police reports, led the Commish to decide that it was a bad boy matter deserving only of a slap on the hand. Hence the hit in the wallet and probation.

This entire episode and its outcome serves only to set a dangerous precedence when it comes to the moral turpitude of our public officials. Rep. Wiener brought himself down with his perverse conduct which ultimately resulted in his resignation. It was obvious that Wiener resigned only after intense pressure from his peers. Chief Cole apparently didn't see his crude behavior worthy of such a proposition.  By the way, I can only imagine what his peers are concluding from this set of depraved circumstances.

Any other large police department that makes use of review boards, citizen advisory panels, internal affairs divisions, human resources departments, and some no nonsense local political leaders, would never have tolerated such actions and the Chief would have long ago been shown the door.
Instead, ONE elected official has somehow been endowed with an almighty supreme power that essentially allows him to make human resources decisions without benefit of discussion or input from ANYONE.
This is surely an act of political subterfuge that serves only to keep the rest of the police departments in the world entertained.

Sexting Scandal in Saratoga

My previous story about the Police Chief in Saratoga Springs, NY has taken some interesting turns.  Local newspaper headlines report that the sexting was between 2 consenting  adults having a relationship in the most modern of ways.  Many are assailing Ms. Masi is the aggressor in this incident and that her sole intent is financial gain. Some blatantly call her a whore monger and that she may have established  a pattern of similar conduct. This news release today shows that it just may be true. So now the assumption from people is that the Chief may possibly have been the victim of entrapment. Oh, please! Any cop with common sense would know that those kinds of things are bits of evidence that can later be used against them. No one made him do it. He freely committed a serious act of stupidity that will haunt him forever. In fact, when you meet someone on an internet dating site, you take a great deal of chances.

So now, all the usual rumors and accusations are flying haphazardly in this mid sized city famous for its horse racing.

The Chief admitted in a press conference that he made an error in judgment.  Who started it doesn't really matter. He dropped his drawers in his office, took a picture of more than just his underwear and pushed the SEND button.  There is no RETRIEVE button.  It's out there forever now.

Hell, he's a police officer and a supervisor of 65 officers. His actions and leadership skills are questionable at best. In this city, like most of New York, civil service tests are still used to determine a person's promotional eligibility status. My personal opinion is that those tests are no true measure of a person's command capabilities, education, trustworthiness, and character.

I am not one who has staunch puritan values about anyone's sex life.  In fact, to each his own.  However, when public officials make poor decisions about their personal lives, it can and will reflect unfavorably on their professional life. This is certainly a case in point.

Chief Cole's boss, Public Safety Commissioner Rick Wirth, is quoted as saying, "I don't think the department will be tarnished at all." Is this guy for real? This story has not only made headlines throughout New York state, but has been shared through numerous cop blogs. It's hilariously stupid!

I am really curious to hear the opinions of police officers everywhere.

Police Chief Suspended for Sexting

In the small upstate New York city called Saratoga Springs, a police department of 65 sworn officers has a police chief who finds himself embroiled in a little scandal.

Last week, Police Chief Chris Cole, called a press conference to
announce that he "had made an error in judgment" by sending sexually related texts and pictures to a single female who is also a city employee. He said that it was an intermittent relationship between 2 consenting adults and that they always used their personal phones.  She texted him a pic of her boobs and he reciprocated with a pic of his junk.  Except, he took his pic while in his office at city hall.  The Chief's assertion that he did this while "on his lunch break" is somehow supposed to make a difference?

Some 'speculate' that the Chief called the press conference to counter the allegations made against him by the female employee. Laurie Masi  retained the services of an attorney to sue both the Chief and the city for the humiliation and shame that he has caused her. She states that they never had any kind of relationship and that he kept sexting her even after she told him to stop.  She allegedly went to someone in Internal Affairs and they told her nothing could be done because he had committed no crime.  So, the attorney was the next logical step. Police Dept. personnel are denying Ms. Masi made any kind of complaint to them about the matter.
Now we have a she said - he said situation.

2 things you have to give Cole credit for -

1. He had the foresight to break the news to his boss before it was public
2. He made it public before Ms. Masi had the chance

If you ask the residents of this summer tourist city, you will find that some are ambivalent, believing that what 2 consenting adults do in their sex life is really no one's business.  Some say that because she started it by texting a boob shot to him on a dare, that he's not at fault for anything. There are others who think he shouldn't be suspended with pay. While Chief Cole committed no crime that he can be arrested for, he did publicly admit to lewd behavior. This is morally reprehensible for a Police Chief.  Sure, everyone is entitled to a healthy sex life, but when you're a public official and police officer, there is a certain amount of ethical conduct necessary to earn the public's trust.  I sure as hell wouldn't trust this clown near ANY women.

The Public Safety Commissioner  announced that the chief is suspended with pay pending his investigation and named the 2nd in command as acting Chief.

As an example of what can happen to police who are caught sexting, this veteran cop lost his job for virtually the same thing. He explained his away as a joke and that the picture of male genitalia was not his. The police department terminated him for violating their department's code of ethics.

Some very vocal residents are calling for the Chief's resignation and that the Chief's job should be recruited from the outside. Residents complain that there is a good ole' boy system with generations of the same families within the department.  It is proposed that new blood could significantly change the leadership and redirect the department, cleaning up whatever internal mess may or may not be occurring.

On an interesting note, Chris Cole's Father was once the Police Chief for this department.

The Police and Sexting

Got your attention, didn't it?

In today's world of computers and social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, along with the popular use of iPhones and iPads, every minute of one's life could literally be out there for the whole world to see.
Who knew that we would be able to take photos and videos from our little cell phones and then post them on an international site called "YouTube?" I never, in my wildest dreams thought that I would be here typing my ramblings on to the 'blogosphere' for the whole world to read.  Thank goodness for anonymity.

Each time another bit of technology is released to the public, I can't help feeling older.  Hell, I'm so old school I learned to type on a manual typewriter. I'm so old school that even when I send a text or email, I have trouble bringing myself to use anything but proper English and punctuation. In fact, if I try to read the ramblings of some of the language used by today's youth, (and some adults for that matter) I become bleary eyed and frustrated.  I can sympathize strongly with the struggle of Dyslexics. I have acquiesced too much of my privacy, sanity, and I have literally been 'dumb downed' to the point of feeling stupid for not being stupid.

As with all electronic devices, there's a trail.  I don't profess to understand even half the lingo associated with today's technology. In fact, I had a discussion with a computer geek the other day and he wasn't even 2 sentences in to describing the issue, when my eyes began to glaze over and he took notice, stopping in mid-sentence.  Before he had a chance to tell me how stupid I looked, I confessed to being so.  However, when he broke it down in simple language and told me what the specific words and parts meant, my eyes cleared and I understood.  I guess as we get older, the words 'whatchamajiggers', 'thingamabobs'  and 'whaddacallits' start to make sense.

Returning back from my tangent.....we've all read the appalling stories of thoughtless people taking pictures of anything and everything and posting them everywhere and anywhere.  Some of these inconsiderate, cruel and heartless people have intentionally used social media sites and other open websites, to harm, bully or belittle others, and I firmly believe that they should be punished accordingly.  Some of these victims of such electronic abuse have gone so far as to commit suicide because the untold embarrassment is too much to continue on with their lives.  Talk about peer pressure. Being a teenager is difficult enough, add in visual aids, and it can be horrific.

As with all these new found gadgets, there's always a new found way to use it.  Texting or sexting between 2 consenting adults is not in any way harmful to those that may enjoy it.  Whatever works for ya.  However, think of the consequences.  A friend could share, another button may be accidentally punched, and if you're using a device that doesn't belong to you, such as your employer's, you might want to use caution.  Rep. A. Wiener (D) from NY is a prime example of someone who should be thinking with something else other than what is in his underwear. People in high profile positions have an image and almost certain obligation to maintain some ethical control of their lives. You send one person an image of a bulge in your underwear, you're liable to find out the true meaning of "viral."  Wiener certainly did.  We all know he lied from the beginning.  Now his party has turned their backs on him.  If he had admitted to it in the beginning, there probably wouldn't have been so much backlash.  My personal observation is that there's just so much sexually related dirt on so many high profile people out there, that it's almost a yawner when we hear of another one.

People in high profile positions in many different forms of government have been caught sending compromising photos and text messages to co-workers, lovers and sometimes total strangers.  Apparently some of these people were not thinking of the long term repercussions.  A bitter lover may have saved some of those compromising photos and texts and may, in the heat of anger, later use them as ammunition in divorces, extortion or just plain vengeance.

In a small town in upstate NY, it appears it may be newsworthy to share with the public that the police chief was having an exchange of sexual photos and text messages with another city employee while they may or may not have been on duty. The article indicates that they are 2 single and consenting adults who had an on-again, off-again relationship, but that most of the time, they used their own personal electronic devices to share those intimate messages.

While I am not a prude or begrudging anyone their sexual thrills, I must say that while holding a public office such as police chief, I am going to watch my every move. Most departments have a set of standards and ethics for all police officers to adhere to, but the Chief really should set himself to an even higher standard than those of his personnel. What kind of example is he setting for his subordinates when he sends pictures of his junk out in to cyberspace? The Chief attempts to justify his actions by stating he was on his "lunch break." A lunch break in his office! This is quite an embarrassing predicament and one wonders how the news media even found out about it. You know there had to be some kind of incriminating evidence for the Chief to call a press conference to address and confess.  To understand the local newspaper's reasons for printing such a story, read this editor's blog. The Wiener-gate reference is amusing.

_________________________________________
A later news story from a different media source, not only identifies the other party involved in this sexting scandal, but she is also initiating legal action against Cole and the city for the shame and humiliation caused by the Chief's announcement. She says he continued sending these texts and photos even after asking him to stop.  Here's where the 'I told you so' comes in.  They always come back to bite.

There are already many documented cases of police officers losing their jobs because of sexting.  The moral implications are too numerous to mention and the Police Chief of this department of 65 officers really should consider early retirement.

Finally, since this too happened in New York, I have to wonder what's in the water.

Another Plot Twist

Cottageville, SC -

The shooting death of former Mayor Bert Reeves by Police officer Randy Price, has developed another little quirk in its already long list of bizarre circumstances.

An Attorney by the name of Mullins McLeod who represents the former Mayor's family, had petitioned town council to put the subject of the shooting on Monday's council agenda.  The present Mayor, who is the former Mayor's Aunt, refused to do so, citing the confidentiality of personnel matters and the on-going investigation.

Small town rumors are plentiful. Residents held a rally  outside town hall before the start of the meeting.  The council meeting was a packed house with 5 police officers in attendance to maintain order.  Mr. McLeod tried a wee bit of grandstanding and was promptly reminded that it was illegal to interrupt council proceedings.  The Mayor refused to answer questions about the matter and the meeting continued with the usual town business.

The residents of the town have many questions and are even considering dissolving the police department and giving control to the local Sheriff's office.

It looks like the same people who once demanded that Bert Reeves resign as mayor because of his embarrassing antics, are now holding a rally "in his honor."  It is close to becoming a lynch mob, demanding Officer Price be held accountable NOW, without benefit of a full investigation and trial.

The investigation of this matter was started by the SC Law Enforcement Division. The local prosecutor has asked for a federal grand jury. Who knows what may or may not have been completed by SLED, since they have problems of their own. Their Chief tossed in his resignation after less than 4 years on the job...but that's another story.

This melodrama just gets more bizarre by the day.

Another Officer Involved Shooting going to the Feds?

On May 16, the sleepy, and somewhat venal little town of Cottageville, SC, famous for its ticket revenue speed trap, made headlines when Police Officer Randy Price shot and killed the former mayor on a narrow dirt road called Nut Hatch Lane.

From all accounts, the former Mayor, Bert Reeves, allegedly was unarmed at the time of the shooting and one shot to the chest took him down. No one knows what brought them face to face at that particular place and time or what may have led up to it. In fact, no one knows much of anything. As with all officer involved shootings in the state of South Carolina, it falls under the purview of SLED.

Speculation and small town gossip are running high. The present Mayor, who is also the former Mayor's Aunt, recently made a public statement to the press, "SLED has told me to remain mum on the matter until their investigation is complete." Interesting choice of words that conjured up more gossip. A recent fact was released that may or not be relevant; The present Mayor reported finding a machete on her front lawn on the day of the shooting. Law enforcement officials were still processing the crime scene when 2 officers came over to collect it. One has no idea what significance that may have on this investigation.

As I noted in a previous post, both Officer Price and former Mayor Reeves, have some heavy duty baggage that also throws an interesting twist on what is already a tantalizing little soap opera.
Somebody should write a book!


Officer Price's work history, which is on file with the SC Criminal Justice Academy, shows that he worked for 7 different law enforcement agencies since 1998.  This link will give further details. It's not pretty and it's the kind of thing that makes good cops look bad.

Mayor Reeves is not without his share of run-ins with the law. Most notably for traveling at 103 miles per hour, then pissing and moaning about getting a ticket for it.  His reckless driving habits caused him to later total his vehicle, leading to a serious head injury. The Highway Patrol charged him with DUI, but that charge was later dismissed.  His blood test results showed he was under the influence of marijuana, but not enough to establish the evidence needed under the DUI statute.  He eventually recovered from his injuries and later, he reluctantly resigned as Mayor, perhaps as a result of the vocal outcry from the citizenry. He had some domestic issues as well that prompted his wife and children to leave the family residence.
He's a colorful character, to say the least.

Then along comes another tidbit.....An attorney by the name of Peter Protopapas claims he was personal friends with the now deceased Mr. Reeves and that they had a casual discussion about Officer Price.
Protopapas asserts that Reeves told him he felt he was being harassed by Price. Oddly enough, this attorney makes this announcement to the news media only last week, admitting that he hadn't spoken with investigators yet about this information. One would think that the information may have been "privileged" under the attorney/client concept, but if he was attempting to help his friend, why would he withhold any information?
Ah, the plot thickens! 


Now it just gets even more peculiar -


The local area newspaper reports that the chief prosecutor for the 14th judicial circuit, Duffie Stone, has written a letter to US Attorney Bill Nettles asking for a federal grand jury.  Stone's letter read in part, “Due to the complex nature of this investigation I am asking that your office use the investigative abilities of the federal grand jury to assume the investigation and prosecution of this matter."  
I don't think the word "complex" is the appropriate adjective to describe this 3 ring circus.

Finally, an attorney by the name of Mullins McLeod, is representing the late Mayor Reeves' family and he too appears to be trying this case in front of the news media. He's actually made a written request to have this incident added on to the agenda of an upcoming town council meeting.  The Mayor refused, citing personnel confidentiality. This attorney's methods are just as off beat as Protopapas'.

It seems that nothing is ever easy in the quaint little town of Cottageville.