tsi staff
In the March 24 edition of The Saturday Independent, we penned a story that revealed a pattern of misuse of Manchester City equipment and county inmates by Manchester City elected officials and police officers. It was surface scratch on a less than efficient city hall that has allowed a police department to act almost autonomously when it comes to dispursing inmate labor and heavy equipment that department purchased from a federal surplus program.
We noted that Manchester Police Capt. Wilma Thomas had been reprimanded and suspended from from her duties over misuse of inmate labor late in 1998.
Ms. Thomas took exception to the statement, and through her attorney, informed us via certified letter that we, in fact, were wrong about the suspension.
We apologize for the error – if we indeed made one.
According to witnesses – one a former county jailer, another, a former law enforcement official, and a former Coffee County Commissioner – several vehement complaints were made over a situation where two convicted felons were working a Manchester City fair booth at the Coffee County Fair. It was especially disturbing for one local doctor, who complained at the time, that the inmates were allowed to be near a beauty pageant contest, again, plain-clothed, and not in inmate orange.
In our investigation, we were told from three sources that there are two sets of personnel files at city hall in Manchester – one for public view, another hidden. Also, the city administrator who allegedly handled the citizen complaints, died four years ago. His former wife is dead as well. In the course of 14 years, memories fade.
So we apologize that the incident was not clarified better. The point in referencing the issue was to show a history of problems with the department and its inmate trustee program.
Our investigation brought out allegations that the inmates have been used by some city officials for private family functions.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reportedly was in Manchester Monday to meet with District Attorney General Mickey Layne to discuss opening an investigation into the allegations we uncovered. Their efforts, we were told, were not well-received or encouraged by Gen. Layne, though he has told a source close to TSI that he recognizes that inmates and equipment (evidenced in TSI photos) were used illegally by city officials.
He apparently would rather the political process work through the August 2 elections rather than pursue the allegations formally, or allow the TBI to do so.
We hope he changes his mind.
Our investigation is not ending, not has it been ignored by Nashville media. So we continue…
Related posts:
- MISCONDUCT: TSI probe uncovers misuse of trustees, equipment chip ramsey, news@tsinews.com A Saturday Independent probe over several weeks has uncovered sources who allege that city officials regularly use inmate trustees from the Coffee County Jail to do personal work on their vehicles, homes, and own equipment. Interviews with...
- Tullahoma officials demand Thomas apologize chip ramsey news@tsinews.com Tullahoma Mayor Lane Curlee is calling for an apology from Coffee County Commissioner Wilma Thomas after she accused Tullahoma’s elected officials of using county inmates to wash personal vehicles. Thomas’ statements came at the end of Tuesday’s...
- Probe aimed at fixing problems The story that this newspaper printed last week has, in the words of one of our loyal Hillsboro readers, “stirred the pot” with an eye-opening story about the apparent misuse of public equipment and county inmate trustees who were under...
- STATE INMATES REMOVED FROM COFFEE COUNTY JAIL Courtesy: www.fantasyradio.com/ Tennessee Corrections officials say they will take back state inmates now being housed in the Coffee County jail. Sheriff Steve Graves says the move will relieve overcrowding at the Manchester facility, but will also cost the county money....
On top of the misconduct story being on-going, the TSI printed an item from 101.5 fm this past Saturday(Sept 22nd) that talked about DCS violating a 2005 law about DCS child client deaths. Looking at both of these situations, why do the people entrusted with greater responsibility have so little regard for following the laws enacted by the Legislature, etc? People blog about throwing people out of Congress. Replace them with what? The bunch in Congress came from among the people. So, did the people in the General Assembly and below. The actions of these people were learned in society, so, don’t expect them to change unless society decides to practice more honesty on the home front.
Investigator said “Katy TOYS are MONEY. I never looked at it that way. I just gave them to who needed them the most. If Manchester City has a problem with helping FLorida kids who lost EVERYTHING including their home, then their heart is a s black as the pit of hell. I also contacted the investigator for the city and once he learned who I was ignored any other contact. It was explained had the city gotten the convoy they could keep thousands of dollars of toys for themselves and not share them, there fore not having to take anything from their funds for the Christmas party. We have donated 1/3 of the toys to them for years. I let TBI KNOW what was going on. They suggested I sue. the\\\\\\\
Running Scared. Don’t run scared! They may have gotten by on some of their stuff, but all this is coming to a head. Three of the 5 who slandered the convoy have lost their jobs. God has a funny sense of humor when it comes to karma.
I too spoke to the TBI and told them what had happened and they too suggested I sue. You can’t find a lawyer around here thou. They are all in the pockets of the court and are afraid it will hurt their wonderful reputations.
I also called the DA Layne and he suggested the city make a RETRACTION. I’m still waiting for that to happen. It was a former investigator that showed me the light when I told him they had said they were going to get rid of me. He said well, that has to do with money. I explained we barely make enought to cover our expenses
I myself have had a few dealings with the so called Manchester Police force and the wanna be DA’s office. I have tried to file charges against a person and the self proclaimed great detective “Butch” told me that it wasn’t worth his time, and the so called Chief of police wasn’t much help either. I had to call TBI to get anything done. as for the wanna be’s in the DA’s office, Brain J, Ken S. you need to start doing what the TAXPAYERs are paying you to do.
But, we the taxpayers need to also work on the corrupt Judges in this town/county as well.
(( before you start,, I know that in order to file charges you need to go to the DAs office. but the DA’s sent me to the police and the police sent me to the DA’s office who sent me to the police a second time, who then sent me to the commissioner at the jail.))( I ended up contacting TBI)
CUE BALL and his “head” man have SLANDERED the convoy for EIGHT years trying to take my run from us because it is much more successful than their little run.
They walk around slandering one of the longest running successful charities in the county because the only way they can have the biggest run is to take mine. Everyone of them has a copy of the letter of RECEIPT of the toys that were given to the Hurricane Ivan kids when 1000s of people lost their homes in 2004.Not one aldermen had the nerve to stand up and say where the toys truly went. THE MPD still received their full share of toys.
Mo wonder kids have no respect for cops. I don’t respect them either and my son IS a RETIRED NYPD SCUBA! No wondThere are several good cops in town, but they need to be removed from office. Their abuse of power is sickening.
Katy, here is what its going to take. First of all, go to Nashville and find an attorney to file a slander suit against the City of Manchester, and we also need to get a major investigation into the corruption at City Hall (AND on the Coffee County Commission). I strongly suggest contacting someone at WSMV .
Saw your website. Planning to get your book. Left a note on your guestbook. Looks great!
It is time the people of Manchester STOOD UP and got rid of the people they are paying who are NOT doing their jobs. It is a disgrace to a city like Manchester who has a lot of GOOD people who could do a much better job.
MPD ‘s Bob Bellamy REFUSED to escort hundreds of visitors that joined the 16th Hwy 41 Toy Convoy last year and if it wasn’t for Sheriff Graves picking up their slack, the police dept’s action would have endangered everyone involved!.
And if that wasn’t sorry enough, the REFUSED HUNDREDS of toys brought for the Manchester kids
They had toys but due to the selfishness of their actions, the toys went to Bedofrd. County.
Katy,
It seems there is an undercurrent of anti-child, anti-youth sentiment in Manchester. I have watched them harass and intimidate a lot of young people who weren’t doing anything but walking down the street minding their own business. I’ve seen a certain cue-ball headed officer who likes to use the city backhoe on his farm, several times, stop and harass young girls and women while he is on duty. I hope he gets fired, along with the dead weight do-nothings you refer to. When the Rec Center was being built, one old codger made the rude remark that someone ought to go bulldoze it because these “brats” didn’t need it. I said, Welll, I guess if it were a new Senior Citizens centerg the city’s praises, wouldn’t you?” He shut his yap and left. That’s their attitude here, and quite frankly, it sucks.
This interface gobbled up half my reply. I told him if it were a new Senior Citizen’s center instead, he would be singing the city’s praises…. Part of this sentence got cut off….
cue ball also likes to take his girlfriend and kids to fire lake to play while his wifes at work,he has also brought home generators many times,he also likes to harass the elderly and disabled.
i was robbed and 2 years later nothing,officer got out gripping about his back,didnt fingerprint,to dirty.and i told him who it was.still nothing.
Remember folks, ALL of these people are elected officials. We, the people, have the power to kick their sorry rears out of office and replace them with honorable, honest people who will work FOR the people and not try to get whatever they can at the taxpayers expense. It is appauling that the District Attorney General has been made aware of possible criminal conduct in his judicial district and is refusing to investigate/prosecute. So, if a private citizen discovers their property has been stolen and the case is turned over to the DA’s office, will that too be ignored?? NO ONE is above the law…I don’t care WHO you are friends with. One thing I find very interesting is that Mrs. Superstein likes to act as if she is pure as the driven snow and has done absolutely nothing wrong. She is the one who personally oversaw the passage of an ordinance that now allows city mayors to run time after time after time without ANY term limits. But, I’m sure she has no intention of personally benefiting from that, right? This was done without ANY input from the voters…just disgusting. It’s time a bit of house cleaning in Coffee County, and it needs to start with the city mayor and chief of police.
Perhaps we should have TBI investigate Mr. Layne for obstruction of justice and conspiracy? HE is not above the law either!
If the District Attorney refuses to do his job in this matter, that might be construed as obstruction of justice, and he, himself, might wind up in hot water also. This is a serious matter, and it is obvious nothing will get done if it is left up to the local authorities to deal with. If it takes having TBI or even the FBI to come in here to clean house, then so be it. The People of Manchester / Coffee County are getting sick and fed up with the corruption and cronyism that has been a hallmark of this area for far too long now!
It becomes apparent that if the District Attorney does not want to persue this, and let the election run it’s course, then maybe he should step aside now and let someone with a little bit more fortitude take over and do what is in the best interest of the citizens of Manchester. Letting the election handle the problem, (Which at present it will not), is what is called, “The easy way out”. Hopefully, the TBI will not go along with this weak suggestion.
John