Initial fallout from union vote against San Bernardino chief
Andrew and I will have a full story tomorrow assessing the reaction and implications of the union's 76 percent vote of disapproval of Chief Michael Billdt's performance.
Here are comments from 7th Ward Councilwoman Wendy McCammack ...
McCammack said the vote proves the mayor's office was wrong in earlier assessments that dissent had come from a small but vocal minority of malcontents.
"The public position of the administration has been that this is a few disgruntled employees," McCammack said. "The 76 percent isn't just a few."
Asked what should be done next, McCammack said, "At this point, the mayor needs to make some tough decisions. The ball's in the mayor's court."
But McCammack added, "There is overwhelming evidence that the mayor should have taken some action earlier, of the fact that action relative to police administration needs to be taken now."
Asked directly if the chief can still lead a department that appears opposed to him, she said, "That's not my call, that's the mayor call, and I won't speak to that issue because I can't make decisions for the mayor."
Most city council members recgonize the problem with Chief Billdt, who has on more than one occasion been less than honest about stats with the council, (ie number of parolees living in the city, how he has changed the way the department stats aggravated assualts and simple assualts, resulitng in a fictious drop in those crimes to name a few). The city council should follow the POA's lead and state publically their lack of confidence in Chief Billdt. Send him back to Redlands where he belongs,he has never cared abut the residents of SB, only his paycheck
Where there is smoke there is fire. With all the different police personnel who have filed complaints against Mike Billdt for harrassment and retalitation, it does not take a genius to see they must be something bad going on at our police department. I guess city hall must have blinders on.
Where there is smoke there is fire. With all the different police personnel who have filed complaints against Mike Billdt for harrassment and retalitation, it does not take a genius to see they must be something bad going on at our police department. I guess city hall must have blinders on.
If the mayor continues to ignore the internal problems at SBPD and allows the department to erode, does anyone know how many signatures are required for a recall of the Mayor?
If the mayor continues to ignore the internal problems at SBPD and allows the department to erode, does anyone know how many signatures are required for a recall of the Mayor?
If Mayor Morris and Chief Billdt really have nothing to hide and want to be truely transparent why not hire and independent investigator to come in and invesitagate all the complaints that are being lodged against Chief Billdt.
If Mayor Morris and Chief Billdt really have nothing to hide and want to be truely transparent why not hire and independent investigator to come in and invesitagate all the complaints that are being lodged against Chief Billdt.
Ralph -- good question--who investigates complaints against the chief, the assistant chief & his capts? Oh, right, the chief's interal affairs unit--his hand-picked followers.
The City Council stating their lack of confidence in Billdt would do nothing. Mayor Pat Morris is a law unto himself and he doesn't care what anybody thinks. Besides the fact that if Morris fired Billdt, Billdt could spill the beans, then this shaky house of cards could start to tumble.....
On, what a wicked web we weave, when we first practice to deceive.....
Speaking of residing in Redlands--how can the chief and his command staff of capts & lts even talk about stakeholdership when they don't even reside in San Bernardino. An appropriate question to ask is how many of the police administration reside in the city. We know Billdt lives in Redlands, Goggin, Lemos, & Boom in Yucaipa. Kimball & Holmes in the high desert and on and on. How can they understand the problems and issues in San Bernardino and empathize with the good citizens when they reside OUTSIDE of the city limits?
Aren't city department heads required to live in San Bernardino?? Or is Billdt special?
The Mayor is choosing to ignore Mike Billdt's radical behavior the same way that he chose to ignore Mike Miller's radical behavior.
That's nothing new...
To add to Anonymous above-- & the Mayor will make the same "i didn't know or was not made aware of..." lame excuse he used in the Miller case. Right now the former judge's judgement is faltering
I read just this morning in another local paper that Mayor Morris,(aka Ickabod Crane) and Chief Billdt will have to sit down with the Police Union and negotiate some type of resolution to the current crisis involving their leadership.
Frankly, the Police Union was on the right track when they cast a no-confidence vote against the chief. It fired a shot across the bow at City Hall that we are serious and we need to get their attention. It's unfortunate that we have to go to such extremes to air our concerns.
Billdt and Ikabod created this atmosphere, the rest of us just have to breathe it.
Many of us are hopeful that real answers will rise to the top. If the mayor approaches the situation like a judge, and makes a ruling that it is business as usual, there will be no solutions. But if he is pragmatic and Billdt recognizes that accountability starts at the top, maybe just maybe we can get back to work on what really matters: effective policing.
It's a tall order I know...
First of all Captain Farmer was a pussy and still is. He couldn't write his name unless Kimball wrote it for him. Enough on that topic.
Billdt you said you respect the city of San Bernardino and the officers who work there so here is a suggestion...Leave. You have 30 years on and you are 50 yrs old so you got the money you needed to retire. No on wants you here any more. Respect the integrity of our vote and man up.
Mayor you need to remember that you are an elected official. You are as out of touch as any mayor I have worked for. If you don't force Billdt to leave things could get a lot worse in your police department. Grow a set of balls and force Billdt out since I am sure he does not have the courage to do the right thing and retire. Billdt only wants to be known for what he is ( Chief ) instead of who he is. The citizens need to make this mayor do the right thing. PS Billdt had the nerve to show up at the POA picnic. It was embarrassing to see you there like nothing happened. Man up.
Memories
"What better way to promote community policing than promoting a chief from within." Rich Lawhead
Like the corners of my mind
"Its a proud day for San Bernardino. We've got a man who knows how to get the bad guys off the streets." Wendy McCammack
Misty watercolor memories
"He's down to earth, listens to suggestions, he's firm with his decisions and people respect that." Mike Deroschers
of the way we were
"I've never known Chief Bildt to do...stuff without good reason, and I have always known him to be fair." Rich Lawhead
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
"We congratulate Chief Bildt on stepping forward and taking decisive action."
"Billdt... has a reputation as a no-nonsense cop's cop, in stark contrast to the HARVARD-EDUCATED OUTSIDER Zimmon." The Sun
Smiles we gave to one another
"I have absolute confidence with the men and women of the San Bernardino Police Department who will continue to serve this city well." Mike Bildt
For the way we were