Open Government 101

Robert:

Did you check in with the officials at Cover Up University or Acme College or some other diploma mill...

Serenah:

While I applaud your desire to give Chief Billdt the benefit of the doubt, you are being incredibly naive in this instance.

Billdt is by far the least qualified and the fact is, he knows it. It is this insecurity that causes him to establish a culture whereby factional loyalty is rewarded and independent thought and analysis is punished.

Those who lack the intelligence or self confidence required to be an effective leader seek to rule with the utilization of fear.

Time and time again Billdt has demonstrated that he will retaliate and punish dissidents and reward those who are loyal.

He further seeks to create division within the department to reinforce his grasp on power.

Secure, confident leaders use their intellect and charisma to build up others and develop them to their potential. But, when the foundation of your standing is weak, you must remove those threats.

That is why there is no succession plan. That is why instead of mentoring and developing future leaders, Billdt promotes his cronies to pad their retirement packages.

You can give Billdt the benefit of the doubt, if you wish. But that is a fools errand and I am trying to save you some gas money.

Billdt is loyal to Mayor Morris because Morris is the only person who can fire him. Morris is neck deep in it with Operation Phoenix. Morris went "ALL IN" a long time ago with OP and his "lap dog" Chief Billdt got thrown into the pot along with the pink slip to the Mayor's Prius.

So, you better believe that Billdt is going to do everything he can to prop up Mayor Morris. It is sort of like the movie "Weekend at Bernie's".

Billdt will do anything and everything to protect his job, even if he has to lie and cover the mayor's butt to do it.

Billdt lied to the City Council about the parolee issue. Lied to their faces. That is documented.

Billdt lied to the City Council about the Police Activities League. Lied to their faces and that is documented.

Billdt lied to the people of San Bernardino when he was pimping Operation Phoenix as to being the reason why crime had supposedly dropped to 1983 levels back in February of this year in a Sun article. That was a joke and I ran a Mack truck through the holes in that snow job.

And Billdt is lying about the five week investigation into the pornographic photo shoot. There is not one logical explanation for why our investigators would wait five weeks to interview and investigate pictures of a naked female who was possibly underage. PERIOD!

So, you can beg and plead and play nice and try to get Billdt to give you his resume. But, I would rather save you the heartburn.

Go down to Stater Bros. and buy a box of Cracker Jack. You probably wont find Billdt's resume or diploma, but I am sure you will find something of equal value.

The truth is that Chief Billdt is not qualified to sit as Chief for any department let alone ours. He is disingenuous and he has the entire council as well as this useless mayor fooled. He is costing the citizens of this city millions of dollars with his lack of planning during the first two years in office and no one seems to care. His only plan was unlimited overtime and the citizens payed for it. Our elected officials need to remember they are ELECTED. Get off your asses and ask the right questions of your department heads. Let me help you.
1 When is the earliest you can complete and submit your resume for the public to see? Make sure we check everything in it because this guy knows how to stretch the truth.
2 Why did it take you so long to come up with a plan for your police department?
3 Why is the moral in your department so low? What are you going to do to fix it?

That should take him several months to answer, if he chooses to answer them at all and by then he can just retire and collect $200,000.00 a year. Then he will laugh at you elected idiots for being afraid to ask the right questions and allowing him to to promote his friends to the top ranks of this department, all the while not even meeting the requirements to become Chief of Police.

Roger,
Aren't State of California Post Certificates public record? For example, Basic Post would tell you what Academy he graduated from and when. Intermediate Post would give you an idea of when he promoted to Sgt. Advanced Post would give you an idea of when he got his BS and had so many years on. Then there are supervisory Post Certificates. At least you would have a starting point to peice together a skeleton resume, and with a little investigative reporting....well,we might just get our "resume".

Shelby,

Point taken.

However, it's important not to lose sight of the point here: The public is entitled to an explanation of qualifications from high level public servants.

thank you,

robert

Roger,
I agree 100%.
Shelby

Unfortunately asking Billdt for something isn't going to work. The man is a slug. He has absolutely no concept of what is going on in his department. How many times have we, the public, had to sit through his stuttering, stupid replies to the council that show how inept he is. When asked direct questions about staffing he refers you to read "the plan". When you tell him that you already have read it, and want to discuss it and the impact to the community, he is far too busy (probably plotting which hair piece he is going to purchase with his retirement money).

The city needs to fire him. He hasn't done his job - look at this city. The crime rate is rising - look at the base numbers not the statistics generated after the statisticians have worked them over. Look at the scandals within the department. He does not deserve the fat retirement he expects.

The Police Department is in the process of a "reorganization" but nobody from administration has come to down to our roll calls to explain it to us. A Lead Sgt.was sent down to roll call and told us that if we wanted to know about the reorganization we needed to go the city's web site and read about it because it was moving forward. How about that, we are the officers who will be affected by it and we are told to read about it. It would just make sense that the Chief should come down and explain it to us since he is going to expect us to follow it and make him look good. So dont be suprised if you are left out in the dark because so are the Men and Women of Department. If anyone finds out about or reads the reorganization plan can you please take some time to explain it to us. JUST MY TWO CENTS

This is yet more reasons to have the OP investigation and the P/D involvement with it investigated by a neutral investigating agency. Perhaps some agency that is not nor ever has been associated with Judge Pat Morris. Not saying there is or has been improprieties ongoing but looking at the facts as they have been made public, and the questions that now surround the P/D and it’s leadership and the fact that the P/D Chief is accountable only to Mayor Pat Morris, it would remove the cloud of questionable decision making that is starting to surface. Perhaps the Riverside Sheriff’s office should be asked to assume the investigation of OP and how the SDPD is handling this case and its investigation is now called for to ensure the truth is known, documented and published. Their finding should also be forwarded to the States Attorney General to ensure there is no nepotism with the SB County DA’s office as they worked closely with Judge Morris. All conflict of interest concerns should be removed to allow for an unbiased investigation.

I don't understand why Ramos, Morris and all the Council members (ELECTED OFFICALS) don't deal with this inept Chief. You wonder why this city has the worst crime rate than any city around us. Chief Billdt has surrounded himself with liars, cheats, and unethical people who just want that "Highest Year". Wake up people. Fire this idiot recall this Mayor and elect some council members who will listen to the tax paying citizens of this community. DOJ we need HELP please!!!!! What else has to happen in this department before you this mayor and council address this criminal chief uses IA to destroy his enemies and protect his friends. Please just look at the facts and you will all be amazed at what you see. This department will not hold together much longer without some leadership. What a legacy.

If you PD employees are so unhappy with the organization why don't you send in your letters of resignation? There's got to be some hole in the wall department that'll take you. Or could you not pass a background anywhere else because of the discipline in your personnel files. Let he who is discipline- free cast the first stone.

....AND WHO IN THE HELL ARE YOU?

The current chief of police obtained his post-high school degree from August Vollmer University, aka Augie U., a highly unaccredited and long-defunct institution of higher education. Good luck in trying to find any history or background on the web or anywhere for that matter. We don't even know whether he has a high school diploma or a GED.
Why is it that other chiefs of police have their resumes readily available & even posted on their department's website, but SBPD's chief is reluctant to share his with the taxpaying public? What's so secretive about his education, qualifications, and experience?
Yes, SBPD is a very transparent and open organization starting from the very top.

Appalled, I am discipline free and a well respected member of the department and will put my background against yours anyday. I would not trade any of my fellow brothers and sisters, who are actually out there everyday(working) for any other department.

To One of San Bernardino's Finest-- How bout we just settle for trading the Chief, the Asst. Chief, & all the rest of Billdt's brown nosing Capts & Lts.??

The beginning of the end of the Billdt dictatorship is approaching. Yes, that includes you too, Kimball, Goggin, Lemos, Boom, & other Billdt cronies. After what the media prints or shows on TV it's gonna suck to be any of you. Can you say DOJ or Federal Consent Decree?

I've been wondering how someone that shot two other PD officers could be promoted to Captain.....the comment by Leaderless sheds light on that!

Well, well, well . . . what do we have here? I understood several years back when many of the upper ranks were retiring that these people were leaving and taking all of their knowledge with them, not cross-training anyone to replace them when they left, only to return as "consultants"--sounds kind of fishing, I mean, you would think that there are plenty of SB's finest who would want to fill those positions, move up in the ranks . . . one of those things that makes you go "ummmmmmm?" If what is being posted on this blog has any bit of truth, and I'm not saying it doesn't, I sure hope things come to light soon, because we are definitely in need of some housecleaning, or is that whay they call "reorganization?"

'Wondering'--You must be referring to 'Dead-eye'Lemos. Just who I want in a gun-battle, someone who takes out his own. He certainly gives new meaning to the phrase 'watch your back' eh?

Dear Sun Newspaper

If you want to understand how Billdt cronyism works ask Detective Beth Mulleavy. She has been insubordinate with three of her supervisors. She has cussed them out and made threats of personal harm against one of them. However, each of her reprimands have all been shredded by the Billdt's staff. After her previous supervisor gave her a substandard evaluation, Billdt had Kimball remove it from her personell file and replace it with a glowing one.

One might ask how this is relevent. Well, Beth openly brags that she went to the academy with Assistant Chief Walt Goggin and she used to party and have sexual relations with he and Mike Billdt. Now what kind of message does that send to the hard working, rule following officers who havn't been friends with Billdt? And people wonder why morale is low under Billdt's leadership.

Robert,

Should the Chief decide to open up about his qualifications and the qualifications he expects of his leaders, ask why he allowed five of the last nine sergeants he promoted to score higer in the promotional process by turning in fraudulent Bachelor's degrees. I wonder how the public would feel knowing half the Police Department's field supervisors don't have the education they claim on their resumes. Hence they took the jobs from those who had the integrity not to lie about their educational accomplishments. By now I think many have figured out that ethics and integrity can be damaging to one's career in the SBPD.

It was Billdt who coined the term San BernaNegro.

If anyone else (& there are) has first-hand knowledge of this or other of his racist twisted humor--blog away. & if he denies ever saying that while as a Capt, Assistant Chief, or Chief then he's a liar...again. Yep, Billdt truly exemplifies the creed of SBPD, the 'Standard of Excellence'

I also remember Billdt using the term SanBernanegro many times, but I have not heard him say it since he was a lieutenant. Once he made captain he changed his public demeanor quite a bit.

I heard him say it while he was the Patrol Captain during his closed-door joke sessions with his Sgts and Lts

Ask Chief Michael Billdt--under oath. He tells the truth occassionally.

Looks like a lot of people with personal agendas are poisoning the well for any objective investigation or successful resolution to these issues. I think many people are posting comments without having their facts in order. Meanwhile, the constant sniping and back biting are on display for the general public to see. The problems we face and the truth as to the origin of those problems WILL come to light eventually. They always do. But it is much easier to do so when the air is not so toxic. Many of you will be in the unenviable position of having to defend your comments later. I hope you can do so without embarrasment.

Robert,
When it comes to truth in government, I think there's another point that needs to be made. Would you take a look at how much state and local money is given to the SBCUSD each year for the sole purpose of daycare, after school care, off-track care ad nauseum? Millions. Milll-yuns, Robert, and I'm not kidding.
If people in this town don't send their kids to daycare, it's sure as shootin's not because daycare isn't available. K-12, man. We even have a grant for after school daycare for the seniors in high school. Called the Asset Grant. And every single middle school. Plus two or three kinds of pre-school and almost every elementary school.
So, the childcare part of OP is not necessary, never was necessary, and never will be necessary. It was just a way to get Morris' collaboration agenda accomplished to pave his way to the "bigger, better thing".
Guess the girls in the "princess club" woulda been better off sitting on the couch next to Mommy watching Jerry Springer then spending quality time with Uncle Mikey.
Morris would never, and I mean never, allow his grandkids to darken the door of an OP center knowing how inadequate and unsafe it is.
It was just a way to get his big supporters from the community fat salaries so that he could continue to get elected.
Makes me sick and I didn't think I could get any sicker about politics in this town.
Look into it.
Funny how it's all about avoiding duplication of services with these collaboration folks. Until they really have to avoid duplication of services. Then they might have to share the credit for their fine ideas. Too bad they can't share the blame this time.
Morris and little Morris have got to go. Really.

We're getting sidetracked from Robert's original article re: Billdt's resume or lack of one.

Did former Chiefs Zimmon or Dean refuse to disclose a resume when they were Chiefs? There are more people in the department today that have more qualifications and experience than Billdt, oh & a resume, to be chief at SBPD.

Yes, Chiefs Dean and Zimmon both had resumes which they had no reservation in presenting. Chief Dean was proud of his law degree and Chief Zimmon was proud of his time in the LAPD hierarchy. Despite the fact we may not have liked all of their ideas for change or general organizational philosophies, they possessed one other thing Billdt does not. Leadership! When there was controversy or chaos they quickly re-evaluated and made swift change.

Adding to Observer's comments: Unlike true leaders with integrity, Billdt hides behind the 'no comment' barrier or goes MIA during controversy or crisis, letting his good ol' boys do his talking. An earlier blogger had it right, he reads from a script & cannot or will not deviate from it. When is the last time Billdt held an impromptu news conference or interview? Try, never.

The issue of phony or mail-order degrees has floated under the radar at government agencies. More than one person is said to have had them, at the PD and elsewhere.

These degree mills are sophisticated, some operating off-shore, giving transcripts, requiring at least some very, very minimal coursework, even having "accrediting" associations. Even the latter is not as clear cut as you might think. The line is blurred a little, but only a little, when State institutions give some credit for for experience, usually military for phys ed or some such. Som allow testing out of requisite classes. The key here would be the POST matter. But was POST always the qualifier itself, or did it have to adapt as well.

It might come down to an integrity issue. You know when you're buying a phony degree. Sure, maybe it was legal to do so back in the day, and maybe other people were doing it. Did that make it right, or ethical?

I don't know if the PD Chief did it or not. It is a cautionary tale for all those so inclined, particularly for senior positions.

I sat in class with Billdt at August Vollmer U. Classes were held at the old police station on 4th St. The school was not accredited by any accrediting institution for higher education. "Graduation" was held at a non-descript office building in the City of Orange. I can't even get my transcripts from them. It's like they neve existed. August Vollmer U was a buy-a-degree mill. Oh, & the City of San bernardino sponsored & supported it.

I suppose one could ask Chief Billdt about his college experience. Getting a response from him is a different story. He may say it's a personnel matter & an ongoing investigation so he can't comment on it.

Sources who know Billdt well say that he never even finished August Vollmer University, did not graduate. Another question to ask Chief Billdt regarding his resume.

I understand that Bildt graduated first in high school class, was valedectorian, & homecoming king. Guess it helped that hew as home schooled.

I understand that Bildt graduated first in his high school class, was valedectorian, & homecoming king. Guess it helped that hew as home schooled.