Fido Survived; Sasquatch Didn't

 

First a clarification: The dog shot by the Muscle Shoals police officer did not die, but was treated and returned to its family. Neither the dog nor the officer face any charges as far as we know.

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Now an interesting tale from a reader:

I recently picked up a news publication displaying a photo of a young woman holding hands with a sasquatch. She looked intelligent and happy. I was impressed by her courage and obvious happiness. I've always wanted to hug a baby elephant, and here's someone hardly more than a child making her dreams come true.

Then I looked at the next photo and saw her beating the sasquatch with a baseball bat. I had no idea why she was hurting this animal.

Yes, there are too many of the big-footed guys running around, but how many would actually want to kill one for fun. Please keep her away from all the baby elephants.

When we see stories like this, we're always reminded of Southern Mama's question to her husband: Randy, we can't we buy our meat at Walmart like ever'body else?

Muscle Shoals Lawsuit - Chapter 1

 

With all the attention on Florence Lauderdale Jail we have to wonder how widespread these problems are.

Colbert County Jail has seen its share of federal lawsuits for inmate abuse and excessive force which continues to cost the citizens of Colbert County a great deal of money. Deals are being cut at this time to pay off several settlements - one victim receiving $250,000.00 to "go away". Others settlements are in the works while other lawsuits are making their way through the courts.

Muscle Shoals City Jail has a brouhaha that began in Dispatch.

This story will play out in several letters to Shoalanda for it is much too much to digest in one sitting.Some months ago in the office of Muscle Shoals Police Dispatch a salesman visits a male police officer. The 2 men discussed the poor salesman's health problems and how his private parts are rather swollen.

As the female dispatcher tends to her business, the salesman proceeds to drop his pants and underwear, and shares his ailing privates much to the dismay of the dispatcher and female jailer that is present. Embarrassed, scared and caught in a predicament, the day jailer immediately looks away and for an opportunity to escape. It only takes a matter of time before the day jailer goes to her superior to complain, when immediately her superior tells her to file a formal complaint -  this is not to be tolerated. Well, at least that was the advice before the complaint named names and revealed the names of  the salesman and the male police officer.

The situation turned from one “not to be tolerated”, to one “not to be discussed”. It seems the male police officer had been in situations that most people would be fired over and was simply moved around till situations "blew over" and then back to business as usual.

Meanwhile, this female day jailer who was hired and promised a shift conducive to her as a single parent had no idea what was in store for speaking against the status quo. Little did she know one of MSPD's fine captains was grooming her replacement. The captain saw a lot of potential in a 19 year old female night jailer that worked the midnight shift and took her as a special "friend with benefits" (most people would call this an extramarital affair - MSPD probably calls it on the job training).

Shortly after the day jailer's complaint, the 19 year old female night jailer in training is given the day jailer's job and the "complainer" is moved to a midnight shift.

Think this is over - NAH - It's just beginning  

Next up - The day-turned night- jailer meets Mayor Mikey Lockhart. Stay tuned.

Mistified 

 

Should We Respect the Muscle Shoals Police Department?

 

We have never understood why so many think actual laws on the books, like them or not, are merely suggestions. Drive an ATV, UTV, or golf cart on city streets in Florence or Killen? Prepare to receive a citation with a huge fine attached. Drive one in Muscle Shoals? A reader has a surprising comment:

I thought there was an Alabama law that said you couldn't operate motorized vehicles on streets and highways that were not licensed and registered with DMV?

But then again, we don't want to teach our little darlings to respect the laws - it's obvious there is no reason to respect the MSPD since they turn a blind eye to the entitled ones.

I believe Shoalanda had some interest in golf carts running around in Muscle Shoals. This was parked by two teenage girls probably no more than 13. Walgreens parking lot.

The sad thing is that if these two teens were killed on this cart while on Muscle Shoals city streets, the families who let them drive would blame the MSPD for not enforcing traffic rules. This is far from the first complaint we've had about golf carts mingling in 45 mph traffic in that city. 

Where are the police?

Now a word from our dear friend Aunt Jane:

I'm not sure the person who needs to hear this will be reading, but let's all pray that she is. If you're hurt over something, I'm so very sorry. Hurts can mend; divorces rarely do. Rest assured there's a pathetic rich widow out there sharpening her claws to latch onto your man even as I write this. There always is. Pride is a very cold companion on winter nights. Think about what I've said before you make the mistake of your life...

Phalanges Follies - Part III

 

If you tuned in late, a Muscle Shoals resident forwarded a meme to us in which a Muscle Shoals police officer displayed an "obscene gesture" while standing next to Nick Saban. Needless to say, the humorous graphic elicited quite a response.

Then a second Muscle Shoals resident sent us a copy of an e-mail she received from the department after she complained. We dutifully posted the information and wished the officer a speedy recovery:

After publishing that blog, still a third resident commented with a photo. The top shot depicts the officer at Muscle Shoals Middle School on May 3rd...using his left hand quite well where cupcakes are involved.

Seemingly, it's all in the motivation.

No Obscenity, Just COVID Neuropathy

 

Several days ago, a Muscle Shoals reader sent us a meme/graphic involving a police officer seemingly making an obscene gesture in public. Several readers wrote to defend the officer with some rather outlandish statements, including the ubiquitous "everybody does it."

At the time, we felt the only excuse for this hand sign would have been neuropathy, and according to a police response to one citizen who complained, this is indeed the case. According to the MSPD, this officer was a victim of COVID and has residual peripheral neuropathy with no feeling in his fingers.

We're happy to learn that this officer meant no disrespect to Mr. Sabin or anyone else. We also wish him a speedy recovery and a return to his normal duties.

Who Was That Muscle Shoals Police Hand Jiver?

 

Who can identify this Muscle Shoals police officer? Might as well say it: That took cajones. Now altogether...War Eagle!

(Muscle Shoals has now removed the original from its Facebook page and substituted a cropped version.)

Muscle Shoals Police Collude with School System

 

For months now, perhaps even years, we've heard of the Muscle Shoals Police concealing the arrests of faculty and staff of Muscle Shoals City Schools. Until now, we've never been able to back up these claims with statements of those in authority who were actually there. That has now changed.

Former Muscle Shoals officer Justin Roc White has posted the first of a series of videos on Facebook describing what he's calling corruption in the department. Among the accusations of wrongdoing is an account of a (former) Muscle Shoals principal's DUI arrest and release:

Justin Roc White

We look forward to hearing more from Mr. White and thank him for having the courage to make this public at last.

Muscle Shoals Police in a Pickle

 

Bad Management: Leadership Styles That Cause Turnover

By: Constabulary Critic

While every manager wants to believe that they are the ideal leaders, this is often not the case. For every effective leader, there exists a bad manager whose behaviors cause their employees undue strife. For the worst of these managers, their bad behaviors can lead to continuous turnover issues and significant losses to the organization. While everyone is familiar with the standard “bad manager” with unrealistic expectations and highly-critical feedback, other far more subtle leadership failures can lead to employee turnover as well. Leaders who struggle to control their own temper are often the first to notice difficulties with managing their staff. Frequent outbursts of anger, yelling at employees, and attempting to manage through fear are signs of a manager who is insecure and uncertain of their leadership skills. Employees quickly become resentful of the stress these managers place them under, and often turn to leaving their job to escape.

So is the case at the Muscle Shoals Police Department concerning the 4 year reign of Chief Clint Reck. His struggle to control his temper and outbursts of anger are clear signs he lacks necessary leadership skills.

Gone are the days before Chief Reck when the M.S. Civil Service Board would have hundreds of applicants for one single position at the MSPD. Now on a good day, there may be 5 applicants while that number reduces to 2 or 3 after the application process and testing. Considering MSPD has one of the best employee packages in the area, how did such a drastic reduction in applicants become a problem in the 4 short years Chief Reck has been in that position? With such a small pool of candidates for a job, the competition among the applicants leave little room for qualified and professional hires. 

Once hired, it would stand to reason, there would be little reason for those in the employ to look elsewhere with such good pay and benefits. Not the case. Over the last 4 years Chief Reck has caused an exodus of half of those in law enforcement in Muscle Shoals. 18 out of 37 police officers have severed ties with Chief Reck taking less desirable jobs that pay a good bit less. While seasoned officers hired in at MSPD, but quickly determined the culture within the department was not a professional environment and immediately resigned within months of being hired. Career experienced and mature officers took early retirement to leave the hostile work environment, while others found jobs within their profession, also settling for less pay and benefits to get away from the MSPD toxic environment.

How does this affect you, the citizen and taxpayer? Each time a rookie young person is hired, there is a cost of training in the Academy, uniforms, outfitting, and benefits. This is not a cheap investment to result in a short stint on the streets of M.S. when these young people become licensed officers. Another issue with the rookies is the level of inexperience in responding to emergencies. Domestic disputes, drug dealers and emergency calls are life and death situations that require mature and seasoned officers for the safety and welfare of citizens. This doesn't happen when the majority of officers in a department are young rookies. 

Muscle Shoals Mayor and City Council need to acknowledge there is a problem. There is a common denominator - Chief Clint Reck.

18 out of 37 officers have left MSPD in 4 years under Chief Reck. That is no coincidence. No excuses are acceptable.

Chief Reck should resign or the Civil Service Board should do their job and demand the Mayor and City Council remove the common denominator - Chief Clint Reck.

M.S. Civil Service Board - Who Do You Serve? Do Your Job.

Age, Please?/Doug Jones/Escaped!

We had at least one reader who questioned our take on the three casualties of the recent Muscle Shoals police chase. Several Sheffield parents knew the eighth grader; was he 13 or 14? Our critic felt we should have taken the TD's stated age of 16 as gospel since it was taken from the police report...and we all know how accurate such things are.

One parent offered that the youngest member of the trio may have been held back a grade, and that was apparently the case. He plays, or did play, basketball at Sheffield, and the high school athletic association gives his age as 15. We are going to take that as gospel, since the school certainly wouldn't lie to an athletic governing body, now would it?

What was stolen besides the flashlight? The police report in question mentions electronics. We'll stand corrected on that also; however, the last time the wisdom of instigating such chases was questioned in our blog, we had three out of four LEOs come out as opposed to the practice.

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*****

Everyone, including our own Southern Son, has weighed in on why Doug Jones won Tuesday's election. We're going with one of the most simple. The voters liked Doug and his common sense approach to advancing this state and its people. 

Black women? We voted for Doug and aren't black. Under 40? No, contrary to what many under 25 may believe, those over 40 can have an IQ above 140 and at least a modicum of common sense. It took everyone who voted for Doug to ensure his election.

Let's hope ol' Roy doesn't turn up again until Walmart puts out the Halloween costumes next fall.

*****

What is Christopher Wayne Kilpatrick attempting to accomplish? He was on the run for a week during his last escape and didn't make it any farther than Underwood. So, Mr. Kilpatrick, if you're reading this, here's some good advice: Either turn yourself in before a deputy shoots you dead or hitchhike to Mobile and jump a dubious freighter bound for Mexico. Your choice...

Forensics/12-Hour Shifts

The City of Muscle Shoals is discussing converting its police force from 8-hour to 12-hour shifts. Good or bad? If you asked us just off the top of our head, we'd say bad; however...

The Lauderdale and Colbert County Sheriff's Departments have made this move, and it's working very well. Perhaps it's easy to forget that most police officers are robust males who have no trouble enduring these long hours.

It will be interesting to see how this mini-power struggle plays out...

*****

The backlog of forensic investigations in this state is abominable. We've had a few readers ask how charges can just be dropped if the delay is prolonged. Easily. We're guaranteed a speedy trial, and if it isn't forthcoming, defense attorneys have every right to ask for dismissal of charges.

Whose murder trial is now delayed? We haven't heard officially, but we know that Homajean Grisham III, known as Lee or Danger, has been facing Capital Murder Charges for over two years, with no trial date yet scheduled.

In Lauderdale County, the heroin/drug trafficking trials of John Wesley Akin and Brady Ann Irons were set to begin December 7th. Apparently they didn't. This actually works to Akin's disadvantage, assuming, if convicted, he would be serving his sentence concurrently with his Morgan County sentence...more on this later.

*****

Ooooh, this is just not right:

Shoalanda

The Role of Off-Duty Police?

We've received several comments concerning police officers working in a private setting while wearing their uniforms. For those who can not only read, but read with some degree of comprehension and understanding, you will note that we asked in a previous blog if the Muscle Shoals Police who patrol the Highland Park Baptist Church area could be such hired guns. Those who have contacted us say this is the case.

We're pretty sure this is also the case with other events in the area pertaining to sports, the university, etc. It does raise some questions of liability; however, we hope none of the officers will ever feel the need to shoot anyone while patrolling a church service or similar event. The following is an interesting read:

Moonlighting Police in Uniform

*****

We see Alabama's latest redistricting has come under review by a higher court. We don't envy those who must decide new lines of demarcation, but certainly Lauderdale County has suffered under this latest plan. It's sad when the most competent representative for District I is Marcel Black.

*****

This blog is always happy to post guest editorials. Some we edit slightly, as we did one which we posted yesterday. Some we agree with totally; some we disagree with totally; some we have no opinion on or publicly question.

If you disagree with one of our guest editorials, feel free to offer a rebuttal in any way you wish. Do not feel free to criticize us for posting it or to misstate publicly we wrote the said guest blog. Yes, we're sure this little statement will do a lot of good. Sighhhhh.



Shoalanda

Muscle Shoals Police Officer Exam

The new examination given to prospective Muscle Shoals Police officers:

1. The Muscle Shoals Police Department is located:

a. On Avalon Avenue
b. At the Donut Shop
c. At Gnat Pond


2. If you become hungry during a shift, the best thing to do is:

a. Keep peanut butter crackers handy in your patrol car
b. Rush to your favorite booth in the nearest diner
c. Shoot a deer on the TVA reservation


3. You can easily shoot without hitting:

a. Innocent bystanders
b. Your foot
c. The door to your patrol car


4. If you’re spat on by a prisoner in handcuffs, you should:

a. Attempt to reason with him while protecting yourself
b. Spit back
c. Use your pepper spray, taser, and a chokehold while calling the city’s attorney


5. If called to a disturbance at the waste water facility, you should:

a. Notify the EMA
b. Call for backup
c. Make sure you don’t damage any city employees’ property


6. If called to a disturbance at Cypress Lakes, you should:

a. Not answer the call and hope the city makes a profit on the insurance claim
b. Take along your golf clubs so that you don’t waste a trip
c. Check for injured turtles


7. When dealing with the public, you should:

a. Always be courteous
b. Get their phone numbers if they’re young and hot
c. Check to see if they’re related to the mayor before giving them a ticket


8. If you pull over an African-American driver, you should:

a. Treat him as you would any other driver
b. Give him a ticket on general principal
c. Draw your gun since blacks don’t belong in Muscle Shoals


9. If called to a death investigation, you should also call:

a. Your brother-in-law who works at a funeral home
b. The newspapers to be sure your name gets in print
c. The coroner if you happen to think about it


10. If you should be wrongly accused of a crime while on duty, you should call:

a. A bail bondsman
b. Your union rep since everyone in city hall is afraid of him
c. Billy Underwood

*****

We recently mentioned more coverage of animal abuse. We certainly plan to follow through, but we see little need for duplication. There has already been a great deal of coverage on PNS concerning this, uh, person. Yes, we're being charitable calling him a person. Here's the link:

Green Davidson IV

*****

 

Shoalanda

Expectoration--Not Good for the Nation

Approximately a generation ago, John Hartford penned a humorous song that included the line: Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, good for the country, good for the nation. What is not good for anyone, or at least bystanders, is expectoration, or in plainer terms, spitting.

Today's TimesDaily is reporting that the February incident involving two Muscle Shoals police officers has been turned over to the Colbert County District Attorney's office. The case will then be presented to the grand jury by an independent prosecutor. The account does not name the officers, nor will we. We will elaborate that our sources indicate the incident was precipitated by an inebriated prisoner spitting at the officers--not a pleasant picture.

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Last night was certainly a night of surprises in several Shoals elections, but before we consider the November General Primary, several same party races will have to be fought to a conclusion at the polls. Over the next few days, we'll be offering additional information on these candidates.

Congratulations to the winners, as well as to those who ran extremely clean campaigns. Among the latter was John Odem of Lauderdale County. We predict an especially bright future for John.

*****

We understand a certain Colbert County Baptist minister has been researching our family tree. We apparently have cousins of which we were not aware--either that or the minister is, uh, mistaken...


Shoalanda