Fractured Department–Free Falling In Disrepair…
by John Donnelly…
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has a significant number of ineffective leaders, compromised supervisors and rogue agents being recycled within their ranks. A plethora of documents and investigative reports have surfaced, attesting to this fact.
A local (Key West) FDLE special agent is alleged to have violated her own “Ethical Standards” on how to conduct an accurate and viable investigation. In addition to disregarding these policy guidelines, it appears that this agent may have broken the law regarding her questionable conduct on another matter.
Thus far, nothing of significance has been done to discover the truth, as it relates to the aforementioned concerns. If guilty, we are no closer to punishing this agent’s two alleged instances of misconduct. However, we the taxpayers have been punished, as we are forced to pay her excessive salary and benefits package, while she sits at home and does nothing (suspended with pay).
Starting with this field agent, right on up the chain of command to her supervisor, district manager, regional director and the commissioner of said agency; all of these law-enforcement officers must be held accountable for allowing this agent to allegedly disregard the law and harm the general public.
Dereliction of duty and negligence by sworn officers of the law, are extremely serious matters. Left unchecked these abuses can blossom into a pattern of corrupt behavior, which will damage the integrity and credibility of law-enforcement, as it injures the very people they have sworn to protect and serve.
FDLE needs to grasp the gravity of this matter, as it’s not going to go away. If they desire to restore honor and trust within their organization, they must get on the ball and demonstrate some leadership; reassuring the concerns of taxpayers that fund their agency’s entire operation.
An outside, independent examination of all the facts concerning this agent’s conduct, as it relates to an alleged ‘fraud charge’ must expeditiously be completed.
Along with examining her current charge, this agent’s alleged role in violating FDLE’s ‘investigative standards’ concerning the ‘in-custody’ death of Charles Eimers, while in the hands of the Key West Police Department, must be thoroughly investigated, as it may have been involved in an alleged cover-up.
Many Floridians, along with a nation tired and frustrated by fanciful rhetoric, seek and expect the truth from law-enforcement and the state attorney’s office.
A credible, honest, transparent, unbiased and complete investigation, which secures and examines all of the evidence related to this agent’s conduct on both matters, is not a hard thing to do; unless deception, obfuscation and obstruction are a part of the process.
Hey, John! What’s with leaving out the names of the alleged local wrongdoers? The special agent is Kathy Smith, ex-wife of former KWPD Captain Scott Smith, mother of his child. Scott was the supervising officer in charge off the officers involved in the Charles Eimers case, which Kathy was assigned by FDLE to investigate, contrary to FDLE’s own rule prohibiting its agents investigating spouses, significant others, close relatives, friends, etc.
Later, the blue paper also dug up that Scott and Kathy had lied to a mortgage lender, that they were married when they applied for a mortgage loan, when, in fact, they were divorced. I believe that loan was issued on the home in which Kathy lived, perhaps the same home in which she and Scott had lived when they were married? The mortgage loan application is what got Kathy put on paid administrative leave.
FDLE did not nothing about Kathy investigating the Charles Eimers case. Around the time all of that came out, Scott left KWPD and, I understand, went to work for the Monroe County Public Defender Office located in Key West.
I imagine a real State Attorney would already be prosecuting Kathy and Scott for mortgage fraud. But then, a real State Attorney would not have impaneled a grand jury in the Charles Eimers case, then gone out of her way to insure the grand jury would return a no bill, letting the KWPD officers involved avoid prosecution.
How State Attorney Cathering Vogel did that was pay a professional FBI expert witness, who made a living testifying on behalf of police officers accused of wrongdoing (to get them off), testify to the grand jury that the KWPD officers did nothing wrong. How Vogel also did that was leading KWPD officer Gary Lee Lovette to tell the grand jury that the variety of damning statements he had made, incriminating himself and his fellow officers, were just his boasting – he made it all up.
However, the city’s insurance carrier didn’t think Garly Lee made it all up. The insurance carrier chose to settle the plaintiff lawsuit filed by the Eimer’s family in federal court, for $100,000 less than the $1,000,000 policy limits, to get the insurance carrier out of the case and avoid further costs of defending guilty cops and their city employer. What astounds me is, the insurance carrier has not cancelled its insurance policy and given the city a refund for the unused premium. What is the insurance carrier thinking? It knows Gary Lee is still on the job.
I suppose, John, what I’m getting around to saying is, we can huff, and we can puff, and we can holler, and we can scream, and nothing’s gonna change in Key West, nor anywhere else, given how things have gone in the past.
While I hope the FBI and the US Department of Justice, which were invited by the Key West Citizen (Police) Review Board to investigate the Charles Eimers case, do a real investigation, and then prosecute the police officers involved in the death, and also the police officers involved in the cover up, and also Catherine Vogel, and Kathy Smith and her superiors at FDLE, and our former Monroe County Medical Examiner, who was in cahoots with KWPD and FDLE, I won’t be holding my breath.
Just as I’m not holding my breath that any change will come about from Jerome Grapel’s “Why War Is Bad” article in last weeks blue paper, under which you, I, and other readers, and Jerome had ourselves quite a symposium.
Fortunately, and unfortunately, there is karma, which has its own way of playing out, and sometimes its targets connect the dots back to what they did, and sometimes they don’t.
Meanwhile, the best citizen approach is for the blue paper and concerned Key West and Florida Keys residents to publicly call for the resignations, voluntary, or at the next election via the voters, of the people where the buck stops: Catherine Vogel, and the Key West mayor and city commissioners, who backed KWPD all the way in the Charles Eimers case. I’m not holding my breath on that happening, either.
Thank you, John. Your tireless demands for justice are a testimony to your integrity and intestinal fortitude. I’m still incredulous that KWPD murdered a man and got away with it. No remorse, no empathy and no contrition…Definition of a sociopath. Keep fighting the good fight, my friend.
Alex,
Individuals such as yourself provide a view of the world that must be addressed, if we are to advance as a society.
Thank you for sharing the accumulated wisdom acquired, via the courageous stances that you’ve taken against issues that challenge us as a ‘people’.
Blessings & Respect
I’m trying to remember instances of law enforcement effectively policing themselves.
Yes! The amazing Billy Freeman left his secure County Commission seat to run for Police Chief. He won, and fired the Lovettes on the force then.
It takes an outsider. That’s why the insiders don’t let anyone in.
Rick,
You nailed it. The integrity and credibility revealed in your writings and comments are refreshing and encouraging.
We are on the correct path and we will arrive at our destination.
Blessings & Respect
Sloan,
Do I get an assist???
As usual, excellent comment. Well-written, detailed an insightful.
Blessings & Respect
Sloan,
When I got home I re-read your comment. It’s succinct, clear and beautifully constructed. Your cogent and expressive genius frames the subject matter brilliantly. You put it out there magnificently. Thank you.
Blessings & Respect
It’s time to push this story to a larger audience outside of Florida. Perhaps a New York or DC paper would force justice. Perhaps a screenwriter in Hollywood would be interested in the Charles Elmers murder saga. I am sure eventually there will be a movie. Perhaps one or two of you locals who are quite familiar with this should start writing. Regardless, I urge you to continue to get the “proper authorities” to investigate and prosecute. I am in Ohio and have had very good luck in getting local TV station involved in a couple issues. Just the idea gets the ball rolling.
Bozewell,
Thanks for your encouragement and input. I believe that you’re ‘spot on’. Gaining traction with a wider audience is a natural progression for this tragedy.
Requests have been made of the Governor and FL Attorney General to look into this matter. The Justice Department has been contacted with an appeal to examine this issue.
There is the incident itself, along with all of the shenanigans that went along with, what they called, an investigation and grand jury presentation (potential cover-up).
There has been disinterest and reluctance by most of the major print media outlets, when it comes to publishing this story. There has been some TV and Miami Herald coverage.
Book/screen-play descriptions are a possibility if producers believe
interest and profitability are a part of the equation.
Perhaps a short story or an adaptation for a television series. It might fit well as a crime story of sort.
I value your insight and suggestions. Please keep them coming. Thanks again…
Perhaps a New York or DC paper would force justice? Hahahaha, that is funny. Perhaps the good people of KW should force justice. Oh, but they’re all way to ‘educated’ and ‘intellectual’ to actually DEFEND their rights. Not even a petition to get rid of the known murderer on the KWPD? What a bunch of meows.
Sister,
Welcome back. I missed you. Thank you for the insightful comment.
Unfortunately, there has been little outrage in Key West over the killing of Charles Eimers. As you know, that is not because of a lack of effort on the part of The Blue Paper, its contributors and commentators.
There have been many attempts to raise awareness of this tragedy; Official (Justice Dept.), Miami Herald, TV Coverage, The Blue’s investigative brilliance, vigils, and a march down Duval St., to name a few.
It took 3 years of our combating the DOC to get an innocent man taken out of his prison hole, for crimes he had nothing to do with.
We fight, press on; never relenting; towards our goal and objective.
Thanks again.