Councilwoman Campbell Calls for Full Disclosure of Documents & Tapes
In support of continued transparency in government, Councilwoman Debbie Campbell has made a public request for immediate release of all documentation and surveillance tapes associated with a series of 1998 break-ins at the Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services (SNHS) office on Baptist Street. Questions related to a copy of a tape associated with the break-ins and investigation were first raised by the former mayor Barrie Tilghman just a few days prior the April 2009 city election.
During a September 9, 2009 press conference, Campbell explained that after a series of break-ins at the SNHS office she agreed to allow the investigating officers to install surveillance equipment in an attempt to catch the intruder(s). Campbell was not aware that anyone believed that she had a copy of a tape related the investigation of the break-in until she received a call from the police chief and e-mails from the former mayor a few days before this year’s election. Campbell was also unaware of the content of memos between former Mayor Tilghman, Capt. Mark Tyler, and Chief Webster accusing her of having a copy of the tape. These memos were dated April 3, April 6 and June 30, 2009.
Campbell said, “Those who oppose my tough stance on issues like wasteful spending, crime, and neighborhood blight have often chosen attempts to discredit me rather than engaging in meaningful debate on public policy.”
“As I stated to the police chief, the former Mayor, and the press, I have never seen this tape. I was never given a tape. I never requested a tape,” Campbell said. “They were not satisfied with my answers and I can only surmise why my political opponents have tried to make so much out of nothing.”
“However, it is clear that recent newspaper articles have left the public with more questions. I have more questions, too,” Campbell said, “so I am hopeful that the Salisbury Police Department’s immediate and full disclosure of all documents and records associated with the break-ins and the subsequent police investigation will provide members of the press and the public with answers to any outstanding questions they may have.”
Campbell says that at this point she is very curious to see the records and the tapes and wonders whether the tapes exist. The Daily Times has published copies of several documents provided by “anonymous sources,” (attached to on-line Daily Times articles published on 8/27, 9/1, & 9/11 2009) including communications between former Mayor Tilghman, Chief Alan Webster and Cpt. Mark Tyler. Campbell stated that she wonders why documents full of accusations were created eleven years after a simple series of break-ins and who “fed” them to the Daily Times.
Campbell has asked that all existing records will be made publically available immediately. “Once that happens,” Campbell said, “we can return our full attention to finding solutions for the tough challenges facing the city.”
Campbell’s letter, addressed to the Mayor and copied to the Chief of Police and fellow council members is attached.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Debbie Campbell at 410-860-0893
Debbie S. Campbell
Member, Salisbury City Council
809 Camden Ave.
Salisbury, MD 21801
9/21/09
Mayor James Ireton
Government Office Building
Salisbury, MD 21804
Mayor Ireton –
Due to the recent coverage in the paper I am requesting that you direct the Chief of Police to immediately provide all documents and tapes involving the surveillance at my SNHS office approximately 11 years ago be made public, so that everyone, including the press, can review all the facts and understand exactly WHAT their police force was doing, WHEN they were doing it, and WHY. Please also provide copies of any and all official police property logs as to who was in possession of the tapes and when.
I appreciate your cooperation in filling my request and creating the transparency that the public expects and deserves.
Sincerely,
Debbie Campbell
33 comments:
For God's sake let this die already, it's not like yesterday and who is the winner? The loser's are the Citizens.
Go Debbie. When there is a dispute of the facts such as this, the best thing to do is just get it out in the open. Thank you for serving the public.
Hopefully Jim will have enough Balls to do the right thing This time !!
Hang in there Debbie, you are fighting the good fight. God's speed to you and good luck..
Hang in there Debbie. Maybe this can be taken care of once and for all IF there is anything to be taken care of.
Yeah Mrs Campbell!, She's exactly the kind of people we need in office.
Way to go girl! So how about running for mayor.
Jim doesn't have any balls, he has a mangina.
Anon 1:55 - If you were the subject of slanderous allegations would you "let this die already?" When your integrity is attacked, especially as an elected official, you must clear the air with FACTS.
2:05 I have been expressing similar sentiments on sbynews.com over the past few months but, alas, I have come to the conclusion he has none. And look how long we are stuck with him. We need to start, right now, on recruiting, training, even financing the real people's candidate for the next mayoral election who will publically state their opposition to cronyism, favortism, intimidation, and unprofessionalism that has dragged a once-proud city down the sewer of dispare and disgrace. Start NOW, don't wait until another "boy wonder" hookwinks all of us.
You go DEBBIE. Put their asses on the block, jack and coke,Mark Tyler and the former mayor tilgnman.They brought it up and anon 1:55 you go kiss the chiefs rectum.
OHMYGOD.
What is up with this whole thing?
IS there nothing more important for these people to concern themselves with?
This is one of the most ridiculous wastes of time and energy ever.
LET IT GO.
Cathcart and the others aren't going to let this go, so Debbie is right to ask the police to make everything available. Tyler's letter spoke volumes. This is much about nothing but trying to discredit Campbell.
This is a necessary and important process for finding the truth which has been hidden from public view for over a decade.
Now the Mayor, Chief of Police and Detective Tyler will either put up or shut up.
Forget this its a waste of time.
This is out of hand, completely, why in the world did the chief of police start this? What is the gain? Does he hope to discredit Ms. Campbell, or is it a smoke screen for his own lack of responsibility and job performance.
Someone named Ms. Campbell has more honor and integrity than most of the public officials in the City County and State.
100% my kind of public official.
I will help her in any way I can.
I bet the chief is saying woooops, didn't expect that.
Jim:
Where's all that "help" you promised us???
After less than 6 months as Mayor, Ireton has become Barrie II.
Jim aint got no balls he's already proved that! This is all a big cover up on Tilghman ,Webster and Tylers part they're trying to flush out the unknown. The trio is covering for somebody and they think Ms.Campbell is going to blow the whistle on them so they are pointing at her to get the real heat off of their own heads. It baffles me when someone goes all out for this city for the good of the people as Ms. Campbell does and the do nothings always want to try and stop them. Everybody needs to start hounding ole Jimmy boy to get rid of Chief Jack and Coke and then maybe the crime rate can be reduced. I guess the old nugget head chief wants to fight crime with crime but it aint working for him!
3:03
Hear here.
I find it interesting how people who cannot defend their positions always want to say "don't look back, let's move forward" . . .
They do it on a National level, and here on this very blog they do it on a local level.
Debbie,
There are many lawyers in the the mid-west that are famous and will take this case in a heart-beat.
Please go for the issues at hand and don't stop till you win.
1:55 pm put your head back in the sand , you are an idiot!
I say give Mark Tyler, Webster AND Barrie a lie detectors test. We know two of those won't pass it.
...and the WWTP is on time and under budget. Maybe we should share the names of the lawyers mentioned by 7:27. Any of them licensed in MD?
Lie detector tests aka polygraph is not admissable in court, so why waste the time? Debbie did the right thing calling their bluff. Has anyone verified that Tylers memo is authentic? Did he infact write that memo? If so, why is he still employed?
Hang in there Debbie.
My observations have told me that Jim Ireton has turned his back on one of his biggest supporters and I have even noticed his attitude has changed. He treats Mrs. Campbell like a second class citizen. He treats the constituents that voted for him even worse. I made a mistake with Louise Smith and I have man even a bigger mistake with Jim Ireton. I am putting my house up for sale by the end of next week and I am moving far away for the second worst city in the country. Thanks to Jim Ireton.
Don't let them weasel out of this by saying, "It's a personnel matter!" which is their ususl excuse of a non answer.
I hope we can get to the bottom of this scam by BPT and Webster and clear Debbie's name. What a bunch of c***p!
I have be reading all the comments about Mayor Ireton and I have been following his actions and I have not been impressed. He lacks guts and will power. He is not the same person that knocked on my door. He is not the same person I campaigned for. He is a fraud! If there was ever a successful recall petition I think the time is now. Tea Party's and Townhall meetings lets roll!
The first thing Mayor Jim Ireton needs to do is make a public apology to Ann, Debbie, Terry and the citizens for being deceitful and rude. I still have some faith in you to do the right thing, but it has been 6 months and you haven't fulfilled any of your promises. As a matter of fact you have taken sides with the individuals who have committed criminal acts against this city , the ones who publicly attacked you and turned your back on the voters and taxpayers who put you in office. Please do the right thing now.
It's a very glaring omission that the Times didn't publish Mrs. Campbell's letter to the mayor, only twisting it in paraphrasing so that she seems the bad guy, attempting to lead the mayor around by the nose.
Comegys is using this to start his campaign for reelection. He should be careful, this will come back and bite him in the A$$. He lost his bid for mayor and now he wants to attack Jim and Debbie.
Now I know who it is writing these very same words on JT's blog. Gary Comegys you can run but you are to stupid to hide.
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