Allan Webster BIG Day … and Jim Ireton’s Disgrace

Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton offered so much promise when he ran for office less than one year ago. For starters, he wasn’t Barrie Tilghman or one of her acolytes. Second, he promised a more open, transparent regime than his predecessor.

Hope and Change. Like his hero, Barack Obama, Ireton promised “a different kind of politics”. Like his hero, we are seeing a meaner, nastier version of the same old thing. Like his hero, Ireton smiles (while doing nothing) and his goose stepping general staff grind a hob nailed boot into the face of freedom loving citizens.

Hyperbole? Not much.

When Jim Ireton ran for mayor I remember him stating (at his announcement or a debate, I’m not exactly sure) behavior like excluding citizens from press conferences wouldn’t be tolerated under a Mayor Jim Ireton. On Wednesday, Salisbury Police Chief Allan Webster made a LIAR out of Jim Ireton. That would be sad enough except that Webster has already made a fool out of the man who claims to be his boss.

SMASH THE PRESSES

On Wednesday, the Salisbury Police Department held a press conference. SbyNEWS publisher Joe Albero showed up. Webster had Albero ejected from the premises.

Don’t like Joe Albero? That’s fine. Now ask yourself if you honestly believe that Webster, or any other civil servant, should have the right to eject ANY taxpaying citizen from a PUBLIC facility? Given that this citizen had not caused a disturbance, if you honestly believe that Webster has a right to eject that citizen I would submit that you are as much of a JACK BOOTED THUG as Allan Webster apparently is.

Want to claim that Albero isn’t a legitimate member of the press? That’s fine. Guess what? Neither you NOR Allan Webster get to make that call. Press credentials are given out by certain governmental organizations because of limits of space and for identification purposes. Only fascist fools like Webster, Barrie Tilghman, and certain members of the Obama administration believe that THEY get to determine what constitutes journalism.

Personally I don’t really care whether or not Joe Albero, or anyone else, attends a press conference at the SPD headquarters. However, to deny ANY CITIZEN their RIGHT to attend sets a dangerous precedent. We expect this type of behavior in China, Venezuela, Cuba, or Iran. We don’t expect this in the United States. We definitely should not accept it. Yet, to the best of my knowledge Allan Webster is still on the taxpayers’ dime as this goes to post. SHAME ON JIM IRETON!

LIAR, LIAR

Such behavior would be bad enough for one day (even a year). However, Allan Webster doesn’t appear content to limit bad actions to only one a day.

On the same day, at a Chamber of Commerce function, Allan Webster stood up and verbally attacked Mark McIver. McIver, a civic leader and member of the city’s Crime Task Force was discussing the impact of certain practices of the Eastern Correctional Institution and its impact on crime in Salisbury.

Webster is reported to have verbally attacked McIver; pointing a finger at him and stating that McIver didn’t know what he was talking about and that everything he said was a lie.

This would be shameful conduct from an ordinary citizen. However, Webster is supposed to be the chief law enforcement officer in the city of Salisbury. He is supposed to be one of the leaders of Salisbury’s government. Such conduct is a disgrace. Yet, to the best of my knowledge, Allan Webster is still an employee of the city of Salisbury. SHAME ON JIM IRETON!

DANGER … AND DISGRACE

In many ways I actually feel sorry for Ireton. He has placed himself in a position where the city is being run by the very people he claimed to be running against as a candidate. Jim may have a talent for cutting ribbons and pressing the flesh down on Main Street, but Salisbury is actually worse than the day he was sworn in to office.

Salisbury suffers one of the worse crime rates (per capita) in the nation. If I were the chief of police, I would hide my head in shame. While the area’s other leading law enforcement officials have come together with elected officials and civic minded citizens to tackle a tough problem, Webster appears to believe that he is simply too important to sit down and work to solve a serious problem.

Instead, Webster spends his time attacking citizens (like McIver) who work to help solve the city’s greatest problem. Instead, Webster expends scarce police resources to attack Councilwoman Debbie Campbell. Instead, Webster openly defies the duly elected Mayor of Salisbury. Instead, Webster sues the city.

Law abiding, liberty loving citizens should actually be frightened. You have a Police Chief who has literally “gone rogue” – verbally attacking citizens, trampling the basic liberties of others, and openly defying his lawful superior. Add to the mix that this man possesses a badge and a gun. Even more frightening – what type of example is he setting for the officers under his command?

Yet, Webster retains his badge. Yet, he retains his gun. Yet, he still draws a paycheck at the expense of those that he appears to hold in utter contempt. SHAME ON JIM IRETON!

It would be easy to say that Allan Webster has disgraced Jim Ireton. Sadly, Ireton has disgraced himself. Ireton claims that “he can’t do anything”. Ireton claims that only the city council can dismiss Webster. I would beg to differ.

Ireton can dismiss Webster “for cause”. BEFORE Webster attacked our basic liberties, BEFORE he verbally assaulted a citizen, BEFORE he publicly defied and ridiculed the office of the Mayor, Ireton had ample cause. Simply look at Salisbury’s crime rate! No one is blaming Salisbury’s rank and file police officers. They simply deserve better leadership (and better funding).

However, SINCE Webster attacked our basic liberties, SINCE he verbally assaulted a citizen, SINCE he publicly defied and ridiculed the office of the Mayor, I would have a hard time imagining even the Barrie Comegys bloc of Gary Comegys, Louise Smith, and Shanie Shields (well, maybe Shanie) arguing that Ireton doesn’t have ample cause to fire Webster. Even if they did, the onus would then be on THEM. Let Gary Comegys take responsibility for the next assault. Let Louise Smith take responsibility for the next rape. Let Shanie Shields take responsibility for the next robbery. Let them all be held accountable for the next homicide.

Sadly, Ireton appears to lack the stomach (or stones) to actually face down this problem. Jim ran for the office. The people chose to elect him because he pledged to “Speak Truth to Power” (whatever that means). Now, Ireton either needs to resign or understand that this is HIS PROBLEM. Barrie’s gone. He refuses to take control of his office or his rogue police chief. I’m sorry Jim -

THE NEXT MURDER IS ON YOU!