From the Indy:

A retired Charles County Sheriff’s Office captain announced Thursday that he will run for sheriff in the 2010 election, criticizing the current administration for what he called “political patronage” and “wasteful spending.”

St. Mary’s Today has a couple articles about Dave Williams, which can be found here and here.

For what its worth, I’ve heard only good things about Dave Williams and Dave’s apparent “running mate” (for lack of better terms), Brian Eley.

What I did find confusing was this statement reported in St. Mary’s Today supposedly from Williams,

“I will select the command positions entirely from the current officers. With Brian we will be able to set up a more efficient, experienced, and cost-effective department.”

The article also reported,

In an unprecedented move, Williams, announced that if he wins the election, he would name Brian Eley as Assistant Sheriff. Eley is also a former Captain with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. When he retired he had risen to be Commander of the Office of Professional Responsibility. Eley continued his law enforcement career and is now the Director of Administrative Services with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.

How can Williams criticize Coffey for bringing in he’s own ‘political appointees’ to key Command Staff positions but then state he’ll do the same WHILE stating that he “will select the command positions entirely from the current officers?” It seems contradictory and hypocritical. Maybe Ken Rossignol got some of the statements confused, but I doubt it…

It should also be pointed out that the highest permanent rank any officer in CCSO can attain is Lieutenant. Every rank above that, Captain and Major, are appointed by and serve “at the pleasure of” the Sheriff.

There were appointees during the Davis administration who “jumped” quite a few ranks and served in his Command Staff that hadn’t worked their way up the ranks. I’m sure the same can be said by each of the adminstrations prior to Davis’ too.

There were appointees during the Davis administration who “jumped” quite a few ranks and served in his Command Staff that hadn’t worked their way up the ranks. I’m sure the same can be said by each of the adminstrations prior to Davis’ too.

Quack, can you elaborate? I can’t think of anyone elevated in rank as you describe.

First to clear up a few things: The highest permanent rank in the Charles County Sheriff’s Office is Lieutenant, not Sergeant. Since the current rank structure was created in 1979 under then Sheriff David D. Fuller, no I repeat NO officer has “jumped ranks” to be promoted to a higher position. It was not done by Sheriff Fuller, it was not done by Sheriff Gartland and it was not done by Sheriff Davis. It was not even done by Sheriff Francis C. Garner who served as Sheriff from 1958 until 1978. If anyone doubts these facts, I invite you to contact any of these individuals and ask them, they are all still alive and well.

As to the assertion that there’s no difference in what Dave Williams plans to do by bringing in retired Capt. Brian Eley and what Rex Coffey has done by bringing in two ex-officers in command positions, I submit there is more than one difference. First, Williams is saying right up front that if he’s elected this is what he is going to do. Coffey never even mentioned the possibility of bringing in people from outside the agency until he was elected and sworn in.
Second, to compare Gibson’s and Rackey qualifications to those of Eley is ludicrous. Rackey was terminated by Sheriff Gartland while still on probation as a patrolman. Gibson chose to resign as a corporal while being investigated for official misconduct which included compromising an ongoing criminal investigation of an elected official. Neither Gibson nor Rackey had any experience, training or education as police supervisors, let alone commanders or administrators. Eley, on the other hand, is a retired Captain with twenty years experience in the Sheriff’s Office having served as a shift commander, narcotics commander and the commander of the Office of Professional Responsibility. In addition to being a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy, Eley has also earned his Master’s Degree in administration from Johns Hopkins University. Following his retirement from Charles County, he continued his career in administrative positions with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington D.C. and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. As I said, no comparison.

Sorry this has gone on so long, but sometimes it’s necessary when one is attempting to get the truth out and sometimes the truth hurts.

Gibson chose to resign as a corporal while being investigated for official misconduct which included compromising an ongoing criminal investigation of an elected official.

Get YOUR facts right before you go posting untruth information -

Got any more information about the esteemed Brian Ely ? Is he fiscally responsible?  Can he handle a budget?

Get YOUR facts right before you go posting untruth information

Manny, please enlighten us on the truth as you know it. What happened to cause a 10 year veteran to resign from CCSO.

Got any more information about the esteemed Brian Ely ? Is he fiscally responsible?  Can he handle a budget?

What… no answer for this one?

Got any more information about the esteemed Brian Ely ? Is he fiscally responsible?  Can he handle a budget?

Sounds like you already know the answer Manny.Twenty+ years of experience, retired captain with a masters degree from John Hopkins, you do the math Manny.

Starscream you seem to know alot - But you can’t answer the pertinent question

Got any more information about the esteemed Brian Ely ? Is he fiscally responsible?

Got any more information about the esteemed Brian Ely ? Is he fiscally responsible?

http://www.firstsheriff.com/administrativedivison.asp

I have a question. Why was Mike Rackey terminated by Gartland? Was it political, because Gartland had a reputation for being a politician first and a fair man second. Just curious. Also, what has Rackey been doing since he was fired from Charles county?

Rackey was not fired, he was given the option to resign or be fired. Jim Gartland was not a politician nor did he travel through the political circuit, he was a no nonsense administrator.

Pardon?

Isn’t the sheriff an elected position? How can the sheriff be elected and not be a politician?

So while Rackey wasn’t officially fired, he would have been fired if he had chosen not to resign. Tomato, ToMAHto. You didn’t answer the question.

Does anyone know why Rackey was forced out? Was is legit or was it politics?

While the position of sheriff is an elected position, Gartland did not play the game. Rackey was a probationary officer who, could not complete his probationary period due to poor performance.

Jim Gartland not a politician?  He ran for Clerk of the Court after he lost the Sheriff race.

Elected officials are entitled to a pension through the state upon completing 12 years of service, Gartland had eight years and decided to run for the clerk’s position. It was thought that Gartland would win the election over the late Rick Day as this was the first time Rick would run for the position as he was appointed to the position upon the resignation of Donna Burch, the then clerk of the circuit court. Needless to say, Rick won.

Elected officials are entitled to a pension through the state upon completing 12 years of service, Gartland had eight years and decided to run for the clerk’s position

So he is not a politician just in it for the money?  You should watch what you say about people that are not part of this - Just to put things out there because you think it furthers your agenda is dangerous.

Starscream - 28 May 2009 07:57 PM

There were appointees during the Davis administration who “jumped” quite a few ranks and served in his Command Staff that hadn’t worked their way up the ranks. I’m sure the same can be said by each of the adminstrations prior to Davis’ too.

Quack, can you elaborate? I can’t think of anyone elevated in rank as you describe.

Wasn’t Ross Pitrelli a political appointee? And what about the Deputy Director of the Detention Center, what rank was he before being promoted?

Wasn’t Ross Pitrelli a political appointee? And what about the Deputy Director of the Detention Center, what rank was he before being promoted?

Pitrelli was appointed to the position director of Administrative Services by Davis. The deputy director of the detention center was not a command staff position and the deputy director was not appointed by Davis but rather Sheriff Gartland. I think we are comparing apples to oranges here. No sworn member under Davis enjoyed such a ride as to be a patrolman one day and captain the next.

truthhurts - 29 May 2009 01:04 PM

Since the current rank structure was created in 1979 under then Sheriff David D. Fuller, no I repeat NO officer has “jumped ranks” to be promoted to a higher position. It was not done by Sheriff Fuller, it was not done by Sheriff Gartland and it was not done by Sheriff Davis. It was not even done by Sheriff Francis C. Garner who served as Sheriff from 1958 until 1978. If anyone doubts these facts, I invite you to contact any of these individuals and ask them, they are all still alive and well.

Starscream - 31 May 2009 02:07 PM

Wasn’t Ross Pitrelli a political appointee? And what about the Deputy Director of the Detention Center, what rank was he before being promoted?

Pitrelli was appointed to the position director of Administrative Services by Davis. The deputy director of the detention center was not a command staff position and the deputy director was not appointed by Davis but rather Sheriff Gartland. I think we are comparing apples to oranges here. No sworn member under Davis enjoyed such a ride as to be a patrolman one day and captain the next.

So now you guys are arguing semantics. First it was no one was a political appointee, then no “officer” was a political appointee (or jumped ranks), then its no “sworn” member… then, those that did either were civillian or were not done by Davis.

truthhurts - 29 May 2009 01:04 PM

As to the assertion that there’s no difference in what Dave Williams plans to do by bringing in retired Capt. Brian Eley and what Rex Coffey has done by bringing in two ex-officers in command positions, I submit there is more than one difference. First, Williams is saying right up front that if he’s elected this is what he is going to do. Coffey never even mentioned the possibility of bringing in people from outside the agency until he was elected and sworn in.

Here’s an article in the Indy from September 2006, where Coffey received the endorsement of the FOP. In it Coffey states,

“There is a logjam at the top of this agency,” he said. “There are some, and I emphasize some, unproductive people that need to be replaced.”

So now you guys are arguing semantics. First it was no one was a political appointee, then no “officer” was a political appointee (or jumped ranks), then its no “sworn” member… then, those that did either were civillian or were not done by Davis.

Let’s get it straight, I said nothing of the kind. You made the remark, I asked you to elaborate, you proffered Pitrelli and the Deputy Director of CDC. Pitrelli skipped no ranks and the deputy director’s promotion was made by Jim Gartland. Plain and simple there were no jumps in rank made by Fred Davis. The same cannot be said for Rex Coffey and it is not my intention to demonize Rex, facts are facts. As much as some you guys would like a replay of the 2006 election, it won’t work

The mud-slinging is starting early this time around. Should make for interesting 18 months. If nothing else, it will give us something to laugh about. Gibson did leave, under less than desireable conditions. I want to know why no one cares about a certain county commissioner who left under a thunderstorm of sexual harassment complaints, and was allowed to go quietly into the night. And the taxpayers rewarded him by giving him a big fat pension and electing him to his current post. As bad as some of you think the candidates for sheriff are, look who’s running our government. There’s always skeletons hiding in one’s closet as I am sure we will see in the next 18 months.

Eley is a political hack. He is “running” with Williams to try to garner a large portion of the minority vote in this county. But if you look into it, both Williams and Eley are two of the most despised officers to have have EVER worn the uniform in the CCSO.

Ok, so Eley has this degree and that degree… So what? What does that say about his character? It doesn’t mean a thing if 90% of the people who work with you, hate your guts. You know, a smart dude once said, ” Judge not a person by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”. But still Eley, Williams and a the whole host of other ” Captains”  that decided to retire just before Rex took office, have little or none of it. Not saying that Rex getting elected was a bad thing, but the CCSO sure didn’t turn out like he told us that is would. And the county sure as hell isn’t any safer than select parts of PG County now.

What we need isn’t someone who has a piece of lambskin on their wall. What we need is someone who KNOWS how to combat a rising crime problem in this county, with 21st Century policing, while being up front and honest about his dealings with the department AND the community. If you think Williams and Eley are going to do this, you are sadly mistaken. Eley made his bones off of the backs of the officers around and under him, while Williams ( Dave ) never did anything worth commenting on, his entire career with the agency. Nothing. If you like mediocrity, you’ll love Dave Williams…..

And since when does a Sheriff need to have a ” running mate”? Why does he feel the need to ” slap” the face of the officers already on the department that already have rank on their collars, those who chose to stay and ride out the storm, instead of retiring and running? I’ll tell you why. To keep the rank and file in check, in case Dave Williams gets up there in the Crystal Palace and screws everything up, he can bank on the fear and paranoia that Eley created in the agency, prior to his retirement, to keep everyone in line, and to keep them from criticizing him publicly. ( Like I am doing now ) Hey, it’s popular right now to have a black guy run with you, and it’s a 2for if the guy used to scare the living hell out of the members of the agency to boot…

Tomahawk sends…..

Gee tomahawk, you sound like one of two things.  Either you’re a former CCSO member who got caught doing something wrong and got jammed up for it, or you’ve been talking to someone who was in that situation.  Either way doesn’t add a whole lot of credibility to your rant.

As to your statements about Dave Williams and Brian Eley being do-nothings who were despised and feared by those who worked with them and/or for them, I believe if you were to actually talk to anyone in that category, you’d find that both were regarded as well respected, honest hard working officers and administrators who had the reputation for doing the right thing.

It also occurs to me that you know very little since you didn’t mention that AT LEAST two of the captains who you accuse of cutting and running before Rex took office were threatened with demotion and transfer by one of his flunkies before he was even sworn in.

truthhurts - with a screen name like that, you should try telling the whole truth.

Its true both Eley and Williams enjoyed reputations for being hard working. They both also had reputations for being Davis henchmen that were sneaky. Most officers understood both would sacrifice friendship and reputation for their own personal gain in the Davis regime.

And the captains that cut and run did so of their own free will. None of those captains were facing termination. They were merely facing reassignment within the agency. They were facing removal from their appointed (not promoted) positions- not demotion. The sheriff has the right to do this. They had not reached the rank of captian because of a promotion, therefore they werent “demoted”. They received the rank due to politicl appointment. Coffey had his own people in mind for those spots and filling them is his right. Those guys got pissed because their little kingdom changed and they were no longer heirs to the throne. Boo Hoo.

Fact is the sheriffs office is a political game. The captains know this when they accept their appointments. It amazing you think somehow the appointment to captain is a lifetime appointment.