Wed
Nov 14 2007
08:51:pm
Sheriff & Drug Task Force on WBIR.com
By: seejaneride  shortURL

Sheriff and Drug Task Force are in the news again. See this link to WBIR.com : (link...)

Sure seems strange the deputy would resign just a couple weeks before her "colleagues" arrest her. Thoughts?

Topics:

local coverage

Submitted by mello on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 08:13.

(link...)

Treatment?

Submitted by Fairview Angel on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 08:31.

If you ask for help from your employer in regards to a addiction issue, are they not mandated to provide you treatment?

I wonder if this lady was offered help?

Getting Help For her Addiction

Submitted by pblevins on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 12:40.

Considering the fact that this "lady" (?) was the daughter of the chief of police of Townsend and the fact that this "lady" (?) was also married to a BCSO's deputy, I would venture to say that she knew all about getting the "help" that she needed.

After all, this "lady" (?) was voted employee of the year in 2002. You would think that an employee of the year would know a fair amount about procedures within the BCSO.

Yes, we need to remember that the charges are still just "alleged" charges and she should be given every benefit of the doubt of the justice system that she obviously knows so well.

She only had to pay a $1000 bond, while most people charged with the same crime have to post a $5000 bond. There's some of that GOB suff that you all keep mentioning.

It is a real shame that the BCSO is coming apart at the hinges. We should expect more from local government, expecially the BCSO. These are supposed to be the people who uphold the law, not consitently break it.

Blount County: What a place!

She only had to pay a $1000

Submitted by ABlevins on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 14:11.

She only had to pay a $1000 bond, while most people charged with the same crime have to post a $5000 bond.

This is the type of thing that really ticks me off in this little town, and it's always been this way. It's not what you do it's who you know...
I would have had to pay the $5,000.00 bond...

I wonder if this lady was

Submitted by Dumping Ground on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 09:06.

I wonder if this lady was offered help?

Isn't the 5th Judicial, run by Captain "Sweet Deal" (link...), an investigative outfit? I wonder how long they have been following Ms. Thompson?

It's not like she's raiding pharmacies for Sudafed, she was fraudulently getting Ambien - a sleep drug.

I wonder what she has seen or knows that keeps her up at night? Or were these drugs for someone besides her?

Pardon my ignorance...

Submitted by local_yokel on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 10:21.

But is there really an illicit use for Ambien?

maybe it is not illicit

Submitted by mello on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 10:33.

but there sure is a great deal of talk about the drug.

(link...)

With a tendency to stare zombie-like and run into stationary objects, a new species of impaired motorist is hitting the roads: the Ambien driver.

All I can say is that our jails are full of good people who do dumb things. This seems to be a not so smart kind of thing to do.

I do have one question- did the county health insurance pay for the 'script?

Small, cozy town, lots of great press

Submitted by local_yokel on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 17:04.

Well, Dean Stone down at the Daily Times seems to be a fan of the 5th Judicial Task Force. Timing is excellent: (link...)

Que?

Submitted by Fairview Angel on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:03.

did the county health insurance pay for the 'script?

Why would that matter?

Or were these drugs for

Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:09.

Or were these drugs for someone besides her?

Why don't we wait for the arraignment and the trial and maybe some of the facts will come out and then there will be a verdict.

This is another sad situation where the alleged situation of one individual reflects poorly on thier department. Nothing more at this point.

mello just making something more out of it

Submitted by just a citizen on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:12.

Just throwing another thing in there to drum up more complaints. Actually wasn't needed

and you

Submitted by mello on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:17.

and you with your broom doing the good work for the GOB

well

Submitted by mello on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:15.

you know. Don't make me say it. We all know.

I can give a rat's bottom

Submitted by just a citizen on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:25.

I didn't say a word you did this poor girl is young and was having problems and instead of any sincerities you want to knock the county health department. If you knew mickie roberts and all that he does for the citizens and the county itself. GOB ha that's a good one.

Just one time

Submitted by mello on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:36.

Just one time I would ask that you try to read and understand what is written. I said NOTHING about the Health Department. I said COUNTY HEALTH INSURANCE. If you can not understand the difference between the two I would suggest you go back to playing with your crayons.

Makes you wonder

Submitted by seejaneride on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:27.

SeeJaneRide
It does make you wonder if she was offered help while employed. Now, she's without a job, and probably has no insurance to help with treatment.

Reporting or Repeating?

Submitted by Dumping Ground on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 11:31.

From WBIR:

The complaint in criminal court says Thompson picked up a fraudulent prescription refill on Tuesday for Zolpideum Tartrate, the Schedule IV narcotic known commercially as Ambien. That refill is also alleged to be from a fraudulent prescription called in on October 26,2007.

Why does WBIR go to other sources to get their story, but The Daily Times always gets their stories from Blount County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Marian O’Briant.

Is this something The Daily Times management makes their reporters do? Why don't they just give a column in their paper to Ms. O'Briant and let Ms. Stith focus on how great the real estate market is?

Goddard And Gamble

Submitted by pblevins on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 12:49.

I hope this may help.

Rob Goddard, attorney at Goddard and Gamble, is the Blount County Government Attorney. He was appointed by Jerry Cunningham.

Rob Goddard is also the attorney for The Daily Times.

The conflict of interest is undeniable.

I am sure that Rob Goddard has made it clear to the editor of The Daily Times, that they should only report on what Ms. Obrient has to say concerning the BCSO.

Rob Goddard is also responsible for the recent retraction by The Daily Times concerning Judge Young.

There again, I hope this helps in the understanding that we do not have a fully operating free press in this county.

Rob Goddard is also the

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 15:21.

Rob Goddard is also the attorney for The Daily Times.

Are you sure about that?

Same House

Submitted by Dumping Ground on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 16:33.

I think it's a lawyer who works for the firm of Goddard and Gamble. You can decide for yourself if you think lawyers in the same law office speak to one another.

I am told a lawyer for the

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 16:50.

I am told a lawyer for the firm represents them. That's seems pretty bogus. I guess they'd argue it's a small town. Seems like it's a little too small, and cozy.

Re: Goddard & DT

Submitted by seejaneride on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 14:52.

SeeJaneRide:
pblevins writes: "Rob Goddard is also responsible for the recent retraction by The Daily Times concerning Judge Young.
There again, I hope this helps in the understanding that we do not have a fully operating free press in this county."

That is rather interesting. If Goddard & Gamble is the DT's legal counsel, that would be a huge conflict. The daily newspaper should be represented by a law firm that can offer reliable advice. And, everyone knows the G&G firm is deeply rooted in partisan politics in Blount.

FACTS

Submitted by pblevins on Mon, 11/19/2007 - 11:41.

I am glad that you finally did some digging for yourself.

FACT: I am 100% percent positively uncategorically correct that Rob Goddard and his daddy's law firm are involved with both county government and the daily times.

FACT: Yes, Goddard and Gamble have been involved with local corrupt politics for a long time now.

FACT: Yes, this situation is a huge conflict of interest. Being an appointee with the BC government, Rob is required to file a disclosure statement under the new adopted ethics code that is to be kept by the county clerk. Remember that all conflicts whether direct or indirect have to filed in a disclosure statement.

FACT: To date, nobody in local government has bothered to file one of these dislosure statements with the county clerk.

Again, I hope this helps explaining the hypocrisy of local Blount County government.

nobody in local government has bothered to file

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Mon, 11/19/2007 - 16:46.

PBlevins wrote:

"FACT: To date, nobody in local government has bothered to file one of these dislosure statements with the county clerk."

You may want to check with the County Commission office, Rhonda Pitts, I believe that she was told by the clerk to keep the commissions on file in that office incase there were any inquires.

Aleast I know that is where mine is.

deep sigh

Submitted by mello on Mon, 11/19/2007 - 17:39.

And there it is in a nut shell. The CTAS model the CC approved says

12.04.06

MODEL ETHICS POLICY

UNDER THE ETHICS REFORM ACT OF 2006

Section 3. This section deals with matters where a vote is not involved but which require the exercise of discretion. Officials and employees (as broadly defined) must publicly disclose any personal interest (as defined above) that affects or would lead a reasonable person to believe it affects the person’s exercise of discretion. The disclosure is to be made on a disclosure form that is attached to the model policy, and the form is to be filed in the office of the county clerk. The form is to be filed before the exercise of discretion, if possible. The Ethics Reform Act requires counties to provide for “reasonable and systematic disclosure” of “personal interests that impact or appear to impact” the discretion of officials and employees. This section of the CTAS model policy is one way to meet these requirements, but a county may choose another method.

Big sigh... it is no wonder citizens feel they are going in circles. Fine, keep them with Ms. Pitts- but make sure the Clerk's office directs folks over that way for the forms for the Commissioners. I am going to take a guess and say Joe Citizen has ask if any of these disclosures are on file at the Clerk's office and the short answer would be no

Perhaps at least the County's Website could say that instead of the above.

Maybe it should.....

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Tue, 11/20/2007 - 09:50.

Maybe the County's website should say this...maybe the policy should state this.

Your probably right about Joe Citizen, I wasn't saying he hadn't and that he wasn't told that. Just saying that they are those who have filed with the Clerk's office.

If we want to get technical, it is the Clerk's responsibility to act as the Commission's secretary, the commission some years ago simply funded a position to assist in this growing responsibility. The daily oversight for decisions by the commission secretary actually comes from the Clerk.

Commission Secretary

Submitted by local_yokel on Tue, 11/20/2007 - 11:37.

I've asked for information from the Commission Secretary (Rhonda Pitts) a number of times and this seems like a good time to point out that she is fabulously organized, efficient, friendly, proactive, and helpful. What an asset to the County Commission.

If she's keeping the info, you can be sure it will be readily available.

"Your's" is in the wrong place.

Submitted by pblevins on Tue, 11/20/2007 - 12:51.

"You may want to check with the County Commission office, Rhonda Pitts, I believe that she was told by the clerk to keep the commissions on file in that office in case there were any inquires."

"Aleast I know that is where mine is." Your's is in the wrong place, commissioner.

Doesn't matter what the county clerk says. The only thing that matters is what the laws say. You should know that, commissioner.

It is not "commissions" that are to be kept on file, it is "disclosure statements" that are to be kept on file with the county clerks office.

Not real sure what you were refering to when you said "...commissions on file..."
Maybe you were refering to the money being made due to conflict of interest.

And by the way, I spoke with the county clerk on 11/03/07 and on 11/17/07 to inquire about the disclosure statements. Roy said that nothing of this nature had been recieved by his office.

Makes me wonder if you folks actually read anything that you vote on or if you just rely on the county mayor to tell you how to vote.

Maybe we are not talking about the same thing....

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Tue, 11/20/2007 - 23:10.

There are so many forms any more that have to be filed, maybe I am missing which you are speaking to.

I was speaking to the ethics policy and the disclosure that is supposed to be filed according to it.

There are also disclosures that are require by the State Election commission, which were orginally filed with the Local Election Commission, then they were to be file with the State Election commission, and now some have to be filed with the State Ethics commission.

I really do loose track of which is filed where......

However, I would be more than happy to file another one if needed somewhere else. Just have the Mayor to give the direction and I am sure everyone will follow suit......(grin)

Commissioner, you just made

Submitted by mello on Wed, 11/21/2007 - 07:46.

Commissioner, you just made me spew my tea with that last comment.

I am pretty sure we are all talking about the County's Ethics Policy. I know I got that TCA stuff and CTAS quote right from it. The thing is, from the chatter around town, you County Commissioners and any conflicts you all may have are not the documents folks are wanting to see.

This is the key phrase Officials and employees (as broadly defined) must publicly disclose any personal interest (as defined above) that affects or would lead a reasonable person to believe it affects the person’s exercise of discretion.

Folks are very interested in seeing any statements that may be filed by all those other public officials who sit on boards, commissions and committees that most people don't even realize exist. These are important because they are not elected persons but people who have been selected to serve.

Before you know who gets his panties in a wad, the key words here are MAY. THEY MAY have a conflict that a reasonable person would believe effects their discretion. IF no one who is on any commission, board or committee or no employee of the county is related to or benefiting from county purchases or policies then there are no statements filed.

The problem is that this is a small town and it is really hard to believe that those who rule do not benefit from the rules and regulations they make.

Thanks for the clarification

Submitted by commissionerwalker on Wed, 11/21/2007 - 09:33.

Thanks for the clarification....sorry everyone else for being off topic of the original post.

Not that far off topic

Submitted by mello on Wed, 11/21/2007 - 10:08.

Because everything IS connected in one way or the other...

And again, let me thank you for your honest input. It is greatly appreciated.

Back to the subject

Submitted by pblevins on Mon, 11/19/2007 - 11:49.

Ambien is an "illicit" "controlled substance." That's why it is considered a "schedule IV" "controlled substance."

What the users tend to do is cruch the drug up and snort it like cocaine. Instead of the normal time-released effects (effects? affects?) the affects come all at once providing the "buzz" that the addict wants.

Am I helping? Or just babbling? Please don't attack me Rneal. LOL

What'll they think of next?

Submitted by local_yokel on Mon, 11/19/2007 - 15:50.

Who'd have thought of snorting a sleeping pill? Guess they take their coffee in an IV!

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