Sheriff Rick Beseler refused to accept the recommendations from the Special Magistrate

It was in the paper that the special master sided with the Sheriff Rick Beseler on binding arbitration. What I heard from my FOP sources is that the sheriff ACCEPTS the special master's report in total. It appears that the FOP (union) won't accept the ruling that they they themselves sought!

Being familiar with union tactics, I'm not surprised.

The Sheriff sent out an edict that he would negotiate in good faith and that he was reducing the group that was on his side of the table, and go with one negotiator which everyone respects, in an effort to come to a conclusion. However, in true form, the negotiations began with the Sheriff's full team at the table. The FOP had it's usual attendees.

The truth is that the FOP accepted the Special Masters rulings except for two issues, binding arbitration and discipline. Everything else they conceded in an effort to move forward. It was the Sheriff who refused to move forward, by not only negotiating in the easy areas.  He does not even want to abide by the Special Masters ruling.

He could have come out of this looking like a winner and leader, but he CAN NOT get over his arrogance and that my friends is why he has no support inside this agency, save those who are dependent upon him for thier jobs.

This is not a bunch of whiny babies as he and some of his bloggers want you to believe. No, these are hard working, committed and experienced members both sworn and non-sworn who are sickened as to the environment of the CCSO.

We hope his time is up come January. Please help us.

Adios...

Funny, you sure do sound like a "whiny baby" that you claim not to be! I wish you and your FOP union pals were as hard working at the job you are paid to do as you are with your volunteer union activities. Looks like your union activities are usurping your time and energy.

When I am serving the citizens of Clay County by putting my life and families security in jeopardy by doing things that most people would not do, I am proud and energetic in doing so.

But my time is my time.

 When I chose to take this same energy level to voice my, and others, frustration is my right.

This has nothing to do with being "whiny", it has to do with the lowering of standards, decline of morale, poor work ethic and lack of leadership at the highest level of the agency.

It does effect us and we are wanting to be led, not pushed, threatened or intimidated by anyone.  those of us who have been in this business a long time have never seen this agency in as sad a shape as it is now. It is only the professionalism,sense of duty, and a genuine caring for one another that allows us to survive this administration.

So do not think we are whining, think of these and other blogs as an enlightenment as to what really goes on here.

During the next several months many problems, mistakes, and plain stupidity caused and created by this administration will become known. Stand by, you will be amazed at to what has happened to this agency.

A note to all concerned citizens, never in the history of the Clay County Sheriff's Office have the deputies felt the need to be protected by a Union until Rick Beseler took office. 

It is of paramount importance that the citizens of the county know that the press over dramatized the Sheriff's win in the Special Magistrate decision.  If the Sheriff won, why did he turn around and NOT accept the recommendations put forth by the same Special Magistrate.  The truth is the Sheriff won the Special Magistrates opinion regarding discipline and binding arbitration because the FOP did not put forward any examples of poor or excessive punishment decisions made by the Sheriff.  The FOP chose to protect the names and families of those deputies that have been disciplined, fired and/or forced to resign to avoid additional embarassment to their families and prevent Rick from taking further retaliatory action. 

The FOP is prepared to accept the majority of the Special Magistrate's decision and enter into discussion with the Sheriff on other matters, over which he obviously has control.  However, Rick Beseler will not accept any of the Special Magistrate's decision and won't even discuss the matters with his own people. 

Remember, this is the man that said he was a Cop's Cop during the previous election and that he supported the FOP. 

This is also the man that said "loyalty was more imporant that competence", which should explain why so many competent folks have issues with he and his inexperienced staff.

When it comes to Law Enforcement I would rather have competence then loyalty.  An incompetent with a badge, a gun and a taser is a scary concept. 

True Loyalty should not have to be cajoled, it is the natural result of trust, respect and to a degree.....love.

OK guys/gals (insider and adiossheriff) specifically, how about some real data here instead of all the rhetorical BS I have seen so far.

I'm not an 'insider' and I may want to say hola to the sheriff instead of adios, so I'm open to some real information.

Tell me what he won and what you won. Give me some specifics, like he won on the disciplinary issue, but the FOP won on issue 'X'. He won 'Y' but you won 'Z'. What are the decisions the special master made that he will not accept?

The FOP did not win on the discipline and binding arbitration because they chose not to fight that battle? Who the heck are you trying to convince, me or yourself? That was the biggest battle in the game and they chose not to show up?

That would be like the Jags not showing up in NE this weekend and saying they didn't win because the Pats played dirty. If the FOP really didn't fight that battle, it sounds to me like you need a new representative, because anything else you win is going to be table scraps.

It also sounds to me like you guys may have the same over dramatization problem you say the press does. The difference is that the sheriff's side was presented a lot more professionally. You may want to find a new press agent too.

If the best you can do is the blather I've seen so far, I think you are going to be real disappointed about who your boss is after the election.

Maybe it's just me; I don't like unions and have never said otherwise. But I am open to honest factual information. So, as I said in the beginning, bring it on. Convince me.

MikeH

I dont think it is only with the officers. It might be with some of the people to. Did anybody see the BOCC meeting when some lady was talking about having the Sheriff discharged? Does anybody know what she was talking about? They usually talk about the BOCC meetings on here but nobody said anything this time. I wonder what that was about? She talked after the older gentleman that always talks I didnt catch his name. But he is always there. Did anybody see the meeting? What did the Sheriff do? Can you asked to have the Sheriff discharged?

Janie

The older gentleman who is always at the BCC meeting is Durwood Smith, co-founder of Citizens for Term Limits and Accountability Committee (CTLAC). Durwood may be contacted at claycitizens@claycitizens.com.

for the information about Mr. Smith. Do you know who the lady was and what she was talking about?

The entire Special Master's ruling can be read at the following link.  http://www.clayfop104.com/resource/MasterRuling.pdf.  Please feel free to review it and share with your friends.  The truth is the FOP and Sheriff disagree over workplace issues.  The Special Master agreed with the Sheriff on some matters and the FOP on other matters.  Rick Beseler refused to accept any of the Special Master's recommendations.  

Obviously the Sheriff and FOP differ on workplace conditions.  But, even a the Special Master did NOT agree with the Sheriff on all issues.  A far cry from what was reported by the media. 

OK, I read the rulings. Are you telling me that the Sheriff said he will not accept any of the rulings that went to the FOP win side?

Actually, to me it looked like typical union tactics. Make it nearly impossible to get rid of anyone for any reason, and if there is a RIF the senior people get to stay.

Most of the articles at impasse seemed to me to be the union picking fly crap out of pepper. Or salt out of sugar if you want to be more PC. Have the members really sat down and read this thing? Do you not see how bad this makes you and the union look?

It looked to me like the FOP took a major butt whipping in this thing. For all their posturing and grand words it looked like all they really did was cause a lot of heartburn and aggravation for a lot of people for darn little gain.

But then, that is usually what unions do. They'll take a grain of sand in the corner, play it up until it looks like a 10 pound rock, chip away at it with BS and rhetoric until it is a grain of sand again and take credit for having removed a rock from the work place. 

If the Sheriff does accept the Special Master's rulings, what have you accomplished? Nothing of any substance went in favor of the FOP. But you can bet that the union will claim major victories for the poor down trodden and unfairly persecuted workers.

As I've said before, I don't like unions. So perhaps I'm more than just a little biased. My feeling is; if you're looking for sympathy about how poorly the Sheriff is treating the FOP, look in a Webster's. Folks, unions want to continue to thrive. That, and only that, is what is important to them.

The group that is working with you is already stirring the pot someplace else that isn't represented by a union. As soon as the dust settles here they will move on and use you as a shining example of what they can accomplish. Which is pretty much squat, but don't try to convince a union advocate of that.

You still have to live and work here long after they have left. My guess in you pretty much won't see or hear from them again until the contract is due for negotiation.

MikeH

I guess no one knows about what the lady was talking about the Sheriff being discharged. I checked the papers and no one said anything. Can the Sheriff be discharged?

I know this lady's story and if I had her permission I would blog about it on MCS. I have asked her to please tell the people of Clay County because they need to know the level of corruption that exist in our county. For no other reason but our own protection and the protection of our family. This story is scary for all citizens.

Yes the Sheriff needs to leave. He was elected to be the Sheriff. He came in on a campaign promise of integrity. Well I don't see that here. Then when you add all the problems with the officers on the force it becomes clearer. The union passed with a majority because of him. What I don't understand is all of the county workers including the fire dept has a union and a working relationship with the county. Yet the officers vote in the union for job security and everyone makes it seem like a bad thing.

Well as it has been stated on here before government employees are harder than plaque to remove. Deputies can be fired at the whim of the Sheriff who thinks they don't support him. They need some protection because they are the ones who protect us. Not the Sheriff.

Just like the school board where there is smoke it has to be a fire. And I think it's coming out of the Sheriff's Office.

I think the voters need to put that fire out along with the School Board.

Thanks for the information. Do you know if the Sheriff can be discharged?

Sorry, The Sheriff is a constitutionally elected officer. He is elected to oversee the law enforcement of Clay County. He would have to be recalled by the voters from that position or voted out of office in the upcoming elections.

However, he is contracted ( by Ordinance) to be the Chief Correctional Officer of the jail. Yes the Commissioners can contract with someone else, which would discharge the Sheriff of those duties.

It is my understanding that this what the lady is requesting the Commissioners to investigate.

As a public record, I am including an unofficial verbatim of the lady's request to the Commissioners to investigate the matter.

Unofficial Draft Verbatim

BCC Meeting 1/8/08

Page 1 of 1

Bush – the only other card I have is from teresa martin ms martin

Martin – my name is teresa martin I live at 1381 pawnee street in orange park florida I have appeared before the board and have emailed the commissioners requesting an investigation into some instance that happened with my son and the clay county sheriff’s office I am requesting again the commissioners investigate these matters as prescribed by the florida constitution the non interference clause which was voted into the charter made this explicit blacks law dictionary defines gross negligence as equivalent to fraud once a fraud always a fraud a thing void in the beginning does not become valid by lapse of time gross negligence is conscious and voluntary acts or omission are indifference to his present legal duty this shows a conscious indifference to the consequences by the sheriff although these incidences did not happen under sheriff beselers leadership they became his responsibility when he took office but has refused to properly investigate those the commissioners have entered into an agreement to make him the chief correctional officer under the florida statutes he is required by law to see that all the rules and regulations prescribed by law were followed the commissioners also have a responsibility under the florida statutes to immediately discharge any correctional officer including him if he is found guilty of gross negligence of his legal duties which is my reason for the request for an investigation and to present this information to the commissioners if the commissioners deny this investigation because this is the last time I am coming up here then I will be forced to file a complaint based on the violation of the laws with the ethics commission of the misuse of a public office concerning all the public officials and the county’s attorney thank you for the opportunity to speak

Hope that answers your question.

Thanks for the info, and by the way thanks for blogging to.