Scandal impacts fellow officers
By Brad Bauer and Connie Cartmell, The Marietta TimesThicker skin has become part of the uniform requirements for area police and fire departments in the wake of a recent sex scandal.
"There's still the normal gossip talk and the typical jokes you would expect, but I think we still have a lot of support in the community," said Marietta police Capt. Jeff Waite. "I just encourage our officers to hold their heads up and to go out and do their jobs to the best of their ability."
Waite said the public's perception and trust of the department and its officers is important. When an officer makes a mistake, it can reflect negatively on the whole department.
The Marietta Police Department, Marietta Fire Department and Washington County Sheriff's Office are still feeling the effects of recent internal affairs investigations that led to the firing of a police Patrolman Joe Hilverding and Firefighter John Brooks, the demotion of police Sgt. Ed Wright to patrolman and the resignation of sheriff's Sgt. Robert Eddy.
All of the men were accused of having on-duty affairs with Crystle Phillips, 27, of Marietta, who was recently indicted on drug trafficking charges.
Brooks and Wright admitted involvement; Hilverding and Eddy have denied any wrongdoing. Brooks and Wright have filed grievances through their unions.
Meanwhile, sheriff's Lt. Mark Hiatt remains on paid leave pending the outcome of an unrelated investigation involving alleged affairs with other deputies' wives and girlfriends while on duty.
"(The police department) is comprised of a lot of good officers who go out and do their job and who still need the support of their community," Waite said. "The community can continue to have faith in their integrity and ability to do their job and that they will do it well."
Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said morale is still good at his department, despite the recent turmoil.
"I've not seen a letdown in work performance. In fact, I've seen a lot of enthusiasm," Mincks said. "When an officer goes to work, they have to put aside all of their personal feelings and concentrate on their job and safety and just answering calls and responding."
Other officers contacted declined to comment.
Marietta fire Chief Tom Dempsey could not be reached for comment.
Some citizens feel the situation reflects poorly on the departments as a whole, while others say allegations against some should not overshadow the work done by their co-workers.
"(The scandal) makes the headlines that day, but every day out there, our police and firefighters are doing good jobs that don't always make the headlines," said Suzanne Walker of Marietta. "It's such a difficult situation, but this sort of thing happens everywhere.
"I have no qualms about these officers doing their jobs," Walker said. "We live on Alta Street, just down from the fire station. There was some sort of unusual fumes in our area one time and they were there in an instant and didn't need to be."
She said Marietta police have been equally responsive to her neighborhood in the past.
Gary Morey, 30, of rural Washington County, said he has no intention to judge the accused officers or firefighters.
"I'm not one to judge people and I don't want to be judged," he said. "When I heard about what happened, I thought to myself, 'Oh, man, that's bad."
Morey said he has always had a good relationship with sheriff's deputies.
"I wave at them and they wave back to me," he said. "I think that they perform their jobs well."
Volunteer firefighter and Warren Township Trustee Jeff Knowlton, 58, said he has not lost confidence in any area law enforcement officers or Marietta firefighters because of these incidents.
"This occurs everywhere," he said. "A few people are making the mistakes, but the organization, especially the sheriff's department, is large."
Knowlton praised recent work of the sheriff's office in drug enforcement.
"They are fighting this drug problem right now," he said. "They've got the sheriff on the spot now and he's handling it very well."
There are "bad apples" in every organization, said Fred Wood of Marietta.
"In general, I am still very comfortable with our police and firefighters," Wood said. "There are exceptions, but on the whole, I don't have a concern with any of them. It's upsetting, there is no doubt."
Wood said similar incidents have probably happened in years gone by.
"They just didn't get caught," he said.
A lifelong resident of Marietta, who asked that her name not be used, called the situation "sad."
"I had met one of the officers involved not too long ago and I thought that he was great," she said. "I realized that it was him and it was hard for me to believe."
She has lost confidence in Marietta police and firefighters overall, she said.
"I did have confidence until all this happened," she said. "This has put a whole new light on it.
"Now when I drive by the firehouse, it makes me wonder what's going on in there," she said.
Harry Irvine, 64, of Belpre, said incidents like the ones described will not undermine his confidence in the departments overall.
"It's unfortunate because they are in the public eye," Irvine said. "Internal problems like this are part of every industry and most every workplace. Their job is just more public."
|
Cavsfan
|
|
|---|---|
|
07-04-09 8:44 PM
|
Thirdstrike, I absolutely agree with you!
|
|
Beetlejuice
|
|
|
07-04-09 5:32 PM
|
@Cavsfan; I never said to sweep anything under the carpet because it's God's job to judge. I've already said that what they did was wrong; my comment was only about some on here standing in moral judgment of those involved. The key word is “moral”. You folks sound exacting like the liberal media. Pick up on one or two words about an issue and then attack the poster. Enjoy the evening bickering with each other. This blog is not my life like some on here.
|
|
Thirdstrike
|
|
|
07-04-09 2:35 PM
|
I like reading these posts, but have never posted. But isn't anyone else asking the main question??? Seems the Sheriff has known for a while about one of his own sleeping with subordinates wife's. Sheriff wrote it off as an expensive investigation. Sheriff wrote it off as "he said, she said". I want to know, Did he ask his officer if he was screwing around like this? And another issue, why does he run from the camera when this happens, yet can't wait to be in front of it any other time. Should the Leadership under the sheriff be questioned? The story is what did he know, when did he know it, and why didn't he address it. all started, YEARS ago. How many of his officers families have been destroyed because he didn't want to spend 20-30 K investigating, and has millions in the sheriffs non-budgeted accounts? Doesn't anyone else see this as The issue? Or am I wrong? I have been wrong before...
|
|
RoadCaptain
|
|
|
07-04-09 11:10 AM
|
Well stated, Cavsfan
|
|
Cavsfan
|
|
|
07-04-09 10:48 AM
|
I believe that the reasons given for these officers dismissals show that they were breaking the rules at their place of employment. The purpose of these comment pages is to give our opinions. You can agree or disagree. You can also debate points of contention. To sweep the "scandal" under the rug because "only God has the right to judge" seems to be a cover for the poor behavior of the officers. These are serious charges. We are not paying these officers to romp in the hay. Worst of all this DOES cause a lack of respect for the other officers who ARE doing their job, which in turn impedes their ability to do their job.
|
|
Beetlejuice
|
|
|
07-04-09 10:30 AM
|
@Cavsfan quote: “THEY also have the right to judge your job performance. I stated earlier that I felt what they did was wrong, but my moral values are mine, and mine alone. The fact that someone’s moral values affected their work was unfortunate. Whether they were working for the State or private industry doesn’t really change the issue at hand. We are not here to judge their moral values, only their job performance.
|
|
Cavsfan
|
|
|
07-04-09 10:15 AM
|
Beetlejuice said My quote: “far be it for you to sit and judge what moral values others”. My reference was that only GOD has that right. Now where exactly do you fit into my thought?" I believe that when you are an employee your supervisor is permitted by God to judge your job performance. When you serve the public and are paid by the public, THEY also have the right to judge your job performance.
|
|
Beetlejuice
|
|
|
07-03-09 10:26 PM
|
damon05?
|
|
Beetlejuice
|
|
|
07-03-09 10:25 PM
|
My quote: “far be it for you to sit and judge what moral values others”. My reference was that only GOD has that right. Now where exactly do you fit into my thought?
|
|
asknot
|
|
|
07-03-09 10:25 PM
|
freddy1, what was your previous name on here?
|
|
Diamonddeb
|
|
|
07-03-09 10:25 PM
|
This scandal surely has impacted their fellow workers. For this, I feel bad. Not for the departments as a whole, but the ones that hold that badge with the highest of honor. The ones that are dedicated to the position that they hold. There are several police and firefighters in Marietta that would do their jobs even if they didn't get paid. So having said that, lets turn this Comment Board into something POSITIVE for the dedicated ones... Let them know by name that we are THANKFUL for their service. I'll start by naming two. 1. Bobby Thrasher (firefighter); 2. Mark Caldwell (City Police)
|
|
Beetlejuice
|
|
|
07-03-09 10:16 PM
|
degrading???
|
|
Diamonddeb
|
|
|
07-03-09 10:14 PM
|
Beetlejuice... Read what you wrote! What the heck does your degrading statements to and about me personally have to do with this article? DUH!! Go to page 26-50 and read what you wrote again.
|
|
Beetlejuice
|
|
|
07-03-09 10:12 PM
|
"?"
|
|
Beetlejuice
|
|
|
07-03-09 10:04 PM
|
Deb quote: “you have no idea who I am and how much pay I get.” With that statement, you are correct. And I should care, why?
|
|
Diamonddeb
|
|
|
07-03-09 9:54 PM
|
I betcha a lot of people are watching these posts. That's what most likely prompted yesterday and today's articles. Wonder what kind of PIR will appear in tomorrows news?
|
|
Diamonddeb
|
|
|
07-03-09 9:41 PM
|
It all comes down to this. NO OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION WAS DONE. Wouldn't you think that the Police Chief, Mayor, and Sheriff would want one, just to clear the departments of any wrongdoing? Of course they don't. Read between the lines and who's saying what? The citizens of Marietta and Washington County are not that stupid.
|
|
Diamonddeb
|
|
|
07-03-09 9:36 PM
|
Speaking only of the officer who got demoted.
|
|
Diamonddeb
|
|
|
07-03-09 9:35 PM
|
I sure do too... What a cop wouldn't do for a promotion is what is scarey. Especilly with what he did while still wearing his uniform.
|
|
Diamonddeb
|
|
|
07-03-09 9:31 PM
|
"Philly , City of Brotherly Love... NOT IN HOCKEY! lol Bye the way.... Must of been one heck of a lunch break. lol
|
|
Diamonddeb
|
|
|
07-03-09 9:29 PM
|
I don't think anyone in Marietta and/or Washington County would ever want to have an encounter with a police office that was demoted because of a sex scandal that involved a female drug trafficker, and know that she has this on her record. Yes...he did it on his lunch break. But that should make no difference whatsoever
|
|
Diamonddeb
|
|
|
07-03-09 9:24 PM
|
Beetlejuice.... you have no idea who I am and how much pay I get. First of all.... READ what I wrote! Its not so much the firefighters. Yes, trust would be the futhest thing from my mind if I need medical attention. But I do know first hand (not rumors and gossip) that there's still a few bad apples in the police & sheriff's dept.'s. Everyone knows it.
|
|
Beetlejuice
|
|
|
07-03-09 9:19 PM
|
Fred, I believe you interjected yourself into an exchange between me and Diamonddeb.
|
|
Beetlejuice
|
|
|
07-03-09 9:18 PM
|
correction: Fred, didn't you expound on another thread about your extensive education?
|
|
Beetlejuice
|
|
|
07-03-09 9:15 PM
|
Fred, didn't expound on another thread about your extensive education?
|