I have been patiently trying to obtain communications from and to our St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners since March 20, 2014, some 56 days ago, about the Michelle O'Connell case.
Ms. O'Connell was shot to death with the service pistol of Deputy JEREMY BANKS in BANKS' home on September 2, 2010, shortly after she told BANKS she was breaking up with him.
The New York Times, "Two Gunshots on a Summer Night" by Walt Bogdanich & Glenn Silber (November 24, 2013): http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013/two-gunshots/
PBS/Frontline, "A Death in St. Augustine (November 26, 2013):
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/death-in-st-augustine/
NBC News Dateline, "Two Shots Fired" (April 18, 2014):
http://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/full-episode-two-shots-fired-n84816
Petition for Coroner's Inquest:
https://www.change.org/petitions/florida-governor-order-a-coroner-s-inquest-into-the-death-of-michelle-o-connell
In theory, under our Florida Constitution, our SJC BOCC exercises oversight and the power of the purse over the budget and conduct of Sheriff DAVID BERNARD SHOAR.
In practice, SJC BOCC is part of Sheriff DAVID BERNARD SHOAR's political machine.
In campaign finance filings with the Supervisor of Elections, SJC BOCC Chairman JOHN H. "JAY" MORRIS, JR. has identified Sheriff DAVID BERNARD SHOAR as one of the
"fundraisers" for his re-election campaign.
In response to the revelations about the O'Connell case, BOCC has done nothing, while concealing records on the case for some 56 days.
Pitiful.
We're still waiting on records from Sheriff DAVID BERNARD SHOAR and his captive SJC BOCC.
Pitiful.
If SJC BOCC had done its job, things might be different.
For example, if SJC BOCC members had courage, they would have asked questions of SHOAR before approving his budget.
Two prior Commission Chairmen did ask questions, and were defeated for re-election when SHOAR dropped the thermal equivalent of a Brinks truck full of money on them, with ads on Fox TV, even electing a 24 year old to replace Chairman Ben Rich in 2008 and a developer shill to replace Chairman J. Kenneth Bryan in 2012.
SHOAR has not faced an opponent since 2004, the year he was elected.
He is the Republican Lord of all he surveys in St. Johns County, with even our Democratic Party, Republican Party, Libertarian Party, Tea Party, and League of Women Voters cowed by DAVID SHOAR's political power, and afraid of being pulled over by one of his many deputies, not standing up for justice for Michelle O'Connell.
Pitiful.
Not one (1) current elected official has stood up to SHOAR.
Not one.
Pitiful.
Not one (1) clergy member has stood up to SHOAR.
Pitiful.
Sheriff DAVID BERNARD SHOAR abuses the clergy as bullets in his gun, with his Christian "Marketplace" using ministers as human shields.
Pitiful.
If SJC BOCC had ever asked tough questions of SHOAR about Officer Involved Domestic Violence (OIDV), Michelle O'Connell might still be alive today.
There is blood on the hands of our elected officials here in St. Johns County, Florida.
We need to question all BOCC members and candidates and examine them with a gimlet eye.
How close are they to SHOAR?
Is SHOAR raising money for them from wetland-filling, tree-killing developers?
What do they think about OIDV?
What do they think about SHOAR's removal of dashboard cameras from Sheriff's vehicles?
What do they think about SHOAR's keeping abusive deputies on the payroll?
What do they think about SHOAR's budget?
What do they think about SHOAR's deputies propensities to shoot civilians?
Do they think for themselves?
Or are they other-directed shills for wetland-filling, tree-killing developers?
You tell me.
Ask questions.
Demand answers.
Expect democracy.
This is our time, our town and our place.
St. Augustine is a Compassionate City, 20th in the world and first in Florida. We won't be embarrassed by a rebarbative County Sheriff who bullies employees and citizens, works as a shill for developers, and covers up crimes.
Justice for Michelle O'Connell.
We shall overcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment