Reading comments submitted by many in and out of city limits it is clear, the citizens and business owners are still living in fear of retaliation from the Salisbury Police Department and other offices in the city administration. Everyone wants to speak out as long as they can remain anonymous.
Since the election of Barrie Tilghman, fear and the reality of losing jobs and homes became very real. Many have been forced out of Salisbury Police Department, some were fired, some resigned, many simply moved on to get away from it. Police officers, firemen, citizens and business owners, run out of jobs, homes and business because the mayor and her administration retaliated against them. When you have the resources of the police department, code and compliance, building inspectors at your disposal you have the ability to destroy. Destruction is exactly what Barrie Tilghman and her administration accomplished over her 12 year reign of terror. This is her legacy.
Department heads didn't dare buck up against her for fear of losing their jobs. Everyone saw what happened to Coulbourne Dykes when she realized she could not control him. If she could rid herself of a man of character, such as Coulbourne Dykes, they knew it could and would, happen to them. They chose to acquiesce.
Here we are, four months after she is gone from office, the fear she left behind is still prevalent. People are still afraid to speak out, having the same fears as those that suffered her wrath.
In 2001 and 2002 police department personnel knew they could not trust the administration at SPD so they lodged their complaints with the mayor and council, people they should have been able to trust to help resolve the issues. They soon found, they could not. The message was heard loud and clear that Barrie Tilghman would do whatever it took to cover for Chief Webster, including vetoing an ordinance that would allow the council to substantiate complaints lodged against him. Rather than stand by and support those coming forth, she turned on them like a rabid dog.
I don't fault any of the road patrol officers at SPD for anything. In fact, I am rather frustrated knowing they have no recourse, to this day. Who can they confide in, with the expectation of something being done? They can't go to the third floor of SPD. They can't go to the City Council with the majority we presently have representing us. Shanie sent documents to Webster in the past, what is to stop her from doing it again? What is to stop Gary and Louise from turning against them as they have when they voted down increases for them in the budget? Who can they trust? The appearance of indecision in the mayors office has not instilled confidence in anyone. So who can anyone, whether they be city employees or citizens, trust to rectify a situation?
This city is still under siege. Now would be the time to hang your city flags upside down.
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37 comments:
"The appearance of indecision in the mayors office"????
It's neither an Appearance nor an Indecision, It's a Mis-calculated FACT.
Well, that's what you get with a wus for a mayor (keep on smiling Jimmyboy) and a evil toad for a chief. Salisbury deserves all the crap thrown at it if willing to tolerate these two incompetents.
Ghanima, thank you for the insightful commentary. I am absolutely appalled. Is Salisbury becoming a Gestapo(sp) state of affairs?
Reality Check:
You said in regard to Barrie: "Everyone saw what happened to Coulbourne Dykes when she realized she could not control him."
In fact, even before she was in office, Barrie had begun her effort to get rid of Chief Dykes, using the services of Robin Cockey and T. J. Maloney, who later were paid a huge legal fee by the City. As I recall, after the City Council had refused to approve payment, Barrie got (i.e., ordered) the then finance officer to transfer the funds.
And eventually the City reached a settlement agreement with Dykes that has remained confidential. It is widely believed that the City (or its insurance carrier) made a substantial cash payment to Dykes.
That's the background to Webster's tenure as the police chief of Salisbarrie.
Thats where my dog went "with the foam around his mouth" Someone did actually purchase him and he was a gift? LOL
Help is on the way!!!
Help is no where Anon 3:46 pm
I think with the clear majority in place in the council membership, it would be not only an exercise in futility but a big mistake for Jim Ireton to come out publicly against the chief. Jim can't get Webster fired without a real good reason AND a majority vote of the City Council.
So, with that said, Jim's only direction to go is to publicly come out and say he will work with the Chief and against crime. Until any of the above changes, the cards were dealt by District 1 last election, and the game is on.
Anon 4:01 I say BULLCRAP to that answer. It's a line everyone is being fed but guess what, no one is taking it. Jim Ireton could grow a set and fire him. Do as Joe suggested and just fire him. Let him sue the city, that's why they have insurance. Whatever the payoff, it will be well worth it to be rid of him. It will also send a clear and resounding message throughout the city.
It will also boost the confidence of city employees as well as the VOTERS.
FIRE HIM! we agree. sell something to get the money IF he sues. Fire him and deal with it when we find out what he wants. He might just up and leave. Go sucker some other town with more money.
From the view in Baltimore, Salisbury is on a decline and fall. Be careful who you vote for. I guess life always gives one more surprise.
Ireton is making it very easy to run a successful recall.
Pat, cur the bullsh!t.
You're just as anonymous and you can't even open your profile.
Practice what you preach and don't forget to send us your billing address so we can send you a subscription fee.
Maybe he wrote it in the same fear of retaliation everyone else has. Joe has already been sued by the mayor and the chief of police or have you forgotten?
How is this any different than the anonymous editorials printed in the Daily Times, like the one this past Sunday?
The mayor does not have the power to just fire the chief. Any such action must be approved by a majority of the council, and it wouldn't be at this stage of the game.
this is the bottom line...
5 year veteran at SPD makes a base pay of approx 42K.
a rookie at WCSO after approx 1 year, makes a base pay of approx 52K!! plus a take home vehicle of which has an estimated economic value to the deputy of approx 5K. and not to mention an endless supply of gravy train OT.
until that changes, no officer at SPD really cares about solving or preventing crime. how can they!! they are to disgruntled that their brothers across the street are treated so much better by their political leaders. thats where the blame eventually falls. at the politicians feet. Think about it this way... if you had 2 construction crews working on a house side by side and the one crew was making $25 dollars and hour as opposed to the others making $15. And the crew making $25 an hour had less responsibilities during the day. and everyone would walk by and praise the $25 crew telling them how great they were and how they are just so perfect in every way. After all this, would you really expect to get the same quality of work out of the $15 crew??? only a FOOL would!!!! NUFF SAID!!!
Arm yourselves , the crime is so bad you will need more than an
alarm system. On the other hand, maybe we should arm against the 3 council members and the chief ,
that's a much better idea.Start at
the top!
First paragraph, not everyone.
Paragraph two, she profitted from it. Or least that was the motivating factor.
Paragraph five, was chiefy doin her?
Paragraph whatever, Who can they count on, who can they trust. Themselves, their gut instinct and their morals/religion. Welcome to your Mirror of Life. (Cross the line and sign your names) maybe it wont be as bad as you think. I know you have families to take off, how long can it keep going like this. Come on Jim...
Doug... put all the replies in 1 paragraph
Like I said earlier Pat, send us your billing address and we'll be happy to charge you for our services. Until then, enough about the names. Pat Riot is no name either, Mr. Accoountability.
6:31 I got no college, what are you gonna do???
It's Mrs actually and I suppose I will have to just be a hypocrite, but then again I am not the one writing long essays on someones website
This sounds like I am going off topic, but isn't that how Sadaam ruled Iraq, by fear. If one spoke out, retaliation would be had by his cronies, his policing agencies, by those he put in positions of knowing who, what and where the weak points were in his reign.
So Salisbury has SPD, Code and Compliance, Building Inspectors, City Council majority and The Daily Times. I would say that fear and manipulation can and is definitely in place. What is the difference between the Gangs of Salisbury and the Taliban? Gangs steal, cheat, reak havoc and murder. We might have it at a much smaller scale but if this is continued throughout the cities of the U.S., then can't and won't we have the same scenario of Iraq eventually? Just a thought.
And I have to remain anonymouns because of the position I am employed in. So yes, I have to have a job and I can't speak out without hiding in this forum. Welcome to the politics of Salisbury and Wicomico County.
Dykes certainly was a character. If webster did half the stuff the old chief did, you'd be on the police steps with pitchforks and torches right now! Just because someone was liked by many didn't make his tactics right. Heck, I liked him, but I never tried DWB in Dykes' Salisbury.
By far the best-reasoned comment was make by 4:01. Ireton cannot fire Chief Webster without the concurrence of a majority of the Council. The majority consists of Smith, Comegys, and Shields. Ireton could, of course, make Webster's life so miserable that Webster would want to move on, but I don't see him bending. Another option could be for the SPD to ban together in mutiny against the chief. I don't see that happening. The only recourse seems to be what 4:01 suggests: Mayor Ireton and Chief Webster must work together to reduce the crime in Salisbury. Am I missing something?
Finally! I can post a comment. Tried to earlier right after I watched the council meeting, but something wouldn't work.
Did any of you see the end of the that meeting tonight? Talk about retaliation! Louise Smith gaveled down that lady who got beaten up in her own home because the lady wouldn't speak her address out loud. Then Smith adjourned the meeting, just like that and PAC14 went dead on it.
I swear, I just looked at my wife and said We must be living in Russia! I'm surprised Joe doesn't have a post up about it.
If the Mayor took action to dismiss the chief, how do we know that Shields, Smith & comegys would vote no? Until such action takes place we wouldn't know. Don't underestimate the amount of public pressure that would be brought to bear on Smith, Comegys & Shields on a vote like that...especially with 5 more shootings this week.
anonymous 10:12, while I don't disagree, call for a vote from every council member and let the public know how each one of them voted. The Mayor needs to put those Council Members on the line. If they refuse, recall each and every one of them like they did in other municipalities.
Terminations of department heads are done behind closed doors, so you won't know jack about how anyone voted.
5:25pm I understand what you are trying to say, but who your "brothers across the street" who are getting treated better by the political leaders?
Please elaborate on that for us.
Ok. Nobody likes Webster. Nobody likes crime. The SPD isn't solving crime problems to anybody's satisfaction. Webster can't be fired without a mjority of Council.
I guess crime will have to get so bad the majority of Council votes to get a tough top cop to clean up the streets. Sounds like Dodge City.
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