Former SBPD captain sends message on Billdt situation
Poste below is a letter we received today from former San Bernardino Police Capt. Wes Farmer, who is now retired and living in Lancaster, Penn.
The letter is very complimentary toward Police Chief Michael Billdt. On Thursday night, the police union recorded a vote of no confidence in Billdt's leadership. A full story slated to run in Saturday's edition of The Sun will report that Billdt plans to stay on the job in the face of current disputes. He and Mayor Pat Morris both said today that they believe disagreements with the police union can be resolved.
The police union held its vote at a time when union leaders say Billdt has created a divisive atmosphere within SBPD. The union's version of the story is that some officers receive favored treatment, while anyone who runs afoul of Billdt is targeted for retaliation.
Farmer retired before Billdt ascended to the chief's position, but said he worked in the department with Billdt since the 1970s. He said he has not speak with current officers about the letter and although he told Billdt about his plans, Billdt did not request the letter.
Here it is in its entirety:
Wes Farmer
Captain (Retired), San Bernardino Police Department
September 4, 2008
Citizens of San Bernardino,
I have watched from a distance as the police department and community I loved and served in for over 30 years appears disturbed by allegations centered on the performance of Police Chief Michael Billdt. I write this letter hoping my voice may have some small impact upon the current public discourse and assist in gauging suitability for his position.
Chief Billdt's academic background seems to be of concern. While I fervently believe in the value of higher education, there is clear evidence in Chief Billdt's performance that higher education alone is not a necessary condition to effective leadership. He has been able (based on reading media reports from afar) to stem rising crime rates and improve the department's response to critical community issues. While I was present in the department, his knowledge and, more importantly, his ability to effectively implement programs were critical to bringing the department to a higher level of performance and continued accountability. At one point I supervised him when he implemented an extraordinarily effective crime suppression program. I was impressed with the high level of trust and loyalty subordinates displayed in support of his leadership even when he held them accountable for errors. Additionally, the ease with which he managed productive professional relationships with other law enforcement executives as well as community groups was critical to the project's success.
Chief Billdt is nothing if not fervent in his desire that those he works with be accountable, and in my view this is foundational for complaints against him by some rank and file. He can be very firm, when necessary, which may chafe those not performing appropriately. However, I never observed him to be "self-serving" as his clear leadership vision compelled him to operate ethically in advancing the department's mission and, when appropriate, to be caring and concerned when police members were hurting or suffering.
I have not been pleased with the words and comments by a few former colleagues in the media. While anyone has the right to speak publicly fairness would dictate full disclosure if they choose to personally criticize or attack another. Chief Billdt and the city are constrained by law from commenting extensively upon the work histories and performances of those former colleagues.
Finally, during my career I was directly involved with substantive internal and criminal investigations some of which were overseen by Chief Billdt. I speak with some certainty (not being present) that Chief Billdt and his staff is appropriately handling the Operation Phoenix investigation without succumbing to political pressure or influence. To do so would be a violation of their internal ethical compass which I believe has not been compromised.
While I have been retired for the last four and a half years, I feel I speak with some familiarity of Chief Billdt's knowledge and leadership. I cannot speak to events occurring since I left the city, but believe I provide some useful information. Additionally, by way of context, I possess two academic degrees and am a graduate student in a PhD program. I served under Chief Billdt when he was a captain and assistant chief.
My hope is my words will not be a distraction to substantive issues facing the citizens of San Bernardino.
____________________________
Wes Farmer, Captain (Retired)
Whoa, Capt Weesley comes back? This is the guy who everyone was glad he left. He was so bad he had to put on his own retirement party and still no one came. As for having two degrees, he had to get the second because one was in music.
Farmer was only interested in his beloved MET team and to hell with everyone else. It was under Farmers supervision that Ernie Lemos ended up shooting one of our own and where was he? At a meeting with Chief Dean instead of being at the call out.
Farmer hasn't been here lately. I suggest he mind his own business and or at least get all your facts before you make a comment.
Brandon,
Although I agree with your assessment of Wes Farmer, I disagree with your assessment that he wrote this letter. This is just another letter crafted by Captain Kimball and emailed to Wes Farmer for approval and publishing. Kimball crafted this letter the same as he did the PMA's letter endorsing Billdt. One thing Farmer does have in common with Billdt is that he also undermined his former boss Chief Zimmon. The difference is, Zimmon caught on to him and ran him out of the Department.
I think that some of you have over rated higher education. I can say however, that college made me a better report writer. When it comes to doing the job of an Officer, it's mostly what you learn on the job, supervisory classes, and other Police related training and your values that make you good at what you do. The most important thing is common sense. You can have all the degrees in the world but without common sense, you will not last long in law enforcement. Don't get me wrong, I do feel that higher education is important, but it is definitely not everything, a degree does not make the person a good Officer or Supervisor.
nor does experience, anony-cop...
If you've only got the practical and none of the theoretical, you SUCK.
You know, until things come out in the open, you might not know just how bad it really is. How can anybody with any morals not be upset with things that are happening to the "Brothers in Blue". I am a non sworn employee, however have a strong bond with many sworn officers. I am saddened beyond belief. I have been with the department for 20 years and used to be proud of where I worked. Now it's embarrassing. Sure, dirty laundry should not be aired all over the front page of the papers, however issues should be dealt with properly, then there would be no dirty laundry to air. Don't sweep some things under the rug, and make others such an issue, even as far as trying to pay officers to "just leave". There are bad apples on every tree, but the rotten apples in SBPD start right at the top. It's sad we have to be ashamed of where we work because of a few.
Watcher, I don't know. Some of the words in Farmer's letter are beyond Kimball's vocabulary. Words like trust, effective leadership, fairness, ethical compass. Now he does know the word 'self serving', 'bully', & 'intimidation' very well.
WOW! RIGHT AFTER SHIFT-CHANGE, TOO! DO YOU GUYS STEAM ALL DAY AT WORK AND JUMP RIGHT ON THE COMPUTER WHEN YOU COME HOME, OR DO YOU AT LEAST SPEND SOME TIME TO RELAX FIRST?
Lest we forget, all this diaglogue is accessible and read on http://www, aka the WORLD WIDE WEB. So the reading audience is global. How embarrassing & pitiful to the city & the police dept.
to the person who talked about the importance of degrees.
they are important, and they are not everything, but the simple fact is that on paper, chief Billdt of San Bernardino is probably the least qualified chief in the WHOLE STATE OF CALIFORNIA!
Leader-less in SB,
Those words are not beyond his vocabulary, merely his ability. Certainly if he were not such a skilled writer he could not create such outlandish disciplinary documents and memos against our members.
Wes Farmer was defintely a very nice guy, but was not the sharpest tack on the wall. He was certified to Captain under Dan Robbins, then demoted back to Lt by Lee Dean, Billdt's mentor. Wes left rather abrutly. As for giving Billdt credit for crime reduction lets not forget that in the history of the SBPD he spent more on OT than any other chief. Also if someone looked deep enough you would find that "he had his lackies cook the books" and he as altered the way certain crimes are reported, thus a drop in crime.