Chipp Bailey: Best Choice For Charlotte-Meck. Sheriff In 2010: Bi-Partisanship

For Mecklenburg Sheriff: Chipp Bailey


Bailey vs. Hailey has the ring of an energetic, powerhouse match-up. But the race between Chipp Bailey and Christopher Hailey for Mecklenburg County sheriff has been a low-key affair. Many people might not know there's a contest.

But there is, and it's an important one. The sheriff oversees 1,400 employees, 2,500 inmates and three jails. The office also provides courthouse security and serves legal papers.

In this job, effective management skills and a deep understanding of criminal justice issues are crucial. We think Bailey has more than proven himself in the job these past three years. And he had to do so while repairing community relations and political divisions that erupted from the crazy process that eventually led to his appointment in 2008. He replaced Sheriff Jim Pendergraph, who resigned in 2007 to take a job with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Pendergraph had served only one year of a four-year term.

Bailey was chief deputy at the time, and had been since 1994. He was appointed sheriff after a bizarre set of events. By state law, the sheriff's political party - in this case Democrats - got to pick Pendergraph's replacement. They picked Nick Mackey, whose qualifications and background were questioned. The selection was voided after a Democratic review panel determined there were irregularities in precinct organizing. Bailey was subsequently appointed sheriff by the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners.

Since then he has run the department well. His experience has been extremely valuable, especially as the county has cut costs because of the dire economy. Bailey has rightly focused on preserving key programs such as substance abuse counseling and education programs to help reduce the number of repeat offenders.

There are things that concern us about Bailey. He continues to believe in the efficacy of the 287(g) immigration program, which allows the sheriff's office to identify illegal immigrants in the jail. Illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes should be deported, but studies have shown that the 287(g) program far more often deports minor offenders. We don't think the program is worthwhile.

We also are disappointed in Bailey's use of a county database of his employees for campaign purposes. That's an apparent violation of state law. Bailey said he first spoke with a deputy county attorney who raised no concerns about the matter. He also said he doesn't feel he broke the law because the names of the employees had been downloaded to a disc and not taken directly from an office computer.

That sounds like parsing words, and skirting the intent of law. He did say he'd happily return the donation of anyone who felt coerced to donate. But we wish he had been more contrite and acknowledged forthrightly that he erred.

Still, Christopher Hailey has not made a compelling case for ousting the sheriff. Hailey, a former state Highway Patrol officer who currently heads Central Piedmont Community College's public safety training program, is smart, personable and qualified. But there's not much difference between him and Bailey on several issues, including the 287(g) program.

Hailey has said he'd address morale and promotions problems within the sheriff's office. He contends there is dissatisfaction among many employees. But in a county employee survey last spring, the sheriff's office received an 83 percent score for worker satisfaction. Those results were consistent with countywide ratings.

Chipp Bailey has been endorsed by several groups, including the Fraternal Order of Police and the Charlotte Fire Fighters Association. They were right to endorse him. He's experienced, capable and has shown he can do the job. We give him our endorsement as well.


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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, News14, Youtube, Google Maps

Charlotte's Crime/ Murder Rate Continues To Climb Higher & Higher & Higher....

Overnight Murder Is Charlotte's Fifth Homicide In Five Days


Charlotte's soaring Homicide rate grew again Thursday night with the shooting death of a man on the northwest side of the city.

It was the fifth Homicide in five days, and it increased Charlotte's Homicide total to 28 for the year. That is about double the total of last year at this time.

On Thursday afternoon, police identified the man as Jermain Marque McJunkin, 23.

As has been the case with most recent killings, police say McJunkin's death was not a random act of violence.

And the shooting apparently touched off several fights at the crime scene.

Police were called shortly before 11 p.m. to the West Down Apartments, in the 300 block of Mattoon Street, off Beatties Ford Road. Police say they were called to deal with an assault with a deadly weapon, but they arrived to find McJunkin dead near the street.

Officers spent much of the night questioning several witnesses, and they indicated McJunkin apparently knew his attackers.

WBTV video coverage of the investigation showed several apparent fights that broke out after the shooting. WBTV also is reporting that the fights involved members of two families who were upset about the killing.

Mattoon Street and nearby streets on the other side of the Brookshire Freeway have been the scene of several gang-related shootings in recent years, and police have been working with Community Leaders to help curb gang activity in the area.







Charlotte-Mecklenburg Sheriff: Crime Could Go Up Because Of Harsh Budget Cuts


Anticipated budget cuts could eliminate three programs at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office that are meant to keep you safe.

Sheriff Chipp Bailey says he has $7.4 million less to work with this year compared to last year under the county's current budget scenario.

On Tuesday, 51 sheriff's office employees received reduction in force notices, or pink slips.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg County's Work Release and Restitution program is expected to be eliminated.

On a typical day, 80 to 100 people work by day, or look for work, and spend the night at work release where they're tested for drugs and alcohol.

"It accomplishes lifestyle changes for these individuals," said Bailey.

Bailey says offender recidivism rates for people in work release could go up with the program gone. Right now, Bailey says that rate is 32 percent for people in work release compared to 70 percent for offenders in jail not getting help.

Bailey also expects to pull the plug on electronic monitoring under next year's current budget proposal. The sheriff's office currently has 67 very low-risk offenders wearing ankle bracelets.

Now, Bailey is asking Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to take it over. If that doesn't happen, those offenders could end up back in jail.

Bailey says, overall, it is possible crime could go up, especially if less money means fewer punishment options.

"In the long run, if people sit in jail and aren't provided treatment programs and educational programs and those kinds of things, then they are going to turn to what they know and they're going to survive. And if surviving means committing crime, then that's what they are going to do," Bailey said.

The third program eliminated under the budget scenario would be the work crew -- inmates that clean up roads, parks and school yards -- because the deputies who watch them have been let go.


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Sources: Charmeck.org, McClatchy Newspapers, WCNC, Google Maps

Nick Mackey Loses Law License Due To Corruption & Lies

PDF Document: NC Bar's Ruling On Rep. Nick Mackey


N.C. State Bar Suspends Rep. Nick Mackey's Law License


The North Carolina State Bar on Monday suspended state Rep. Nick Mackey's law license in a case the bar described as involving "acts of dishonesty," "a pattern of misconduct" and circumstances reflecting Mackey's "lack of honesty, trustworthiness, or integrity."

Nick Mackey, a Democrat whose district covers parts of north central and eastern Mecklenburg County, will lose his license for three years, though he can petition to get it back under certain conditions after one year.

The suspension was part of a consent order filed Monday to which Mackey agreed.

The case, which included his failure to disclose information on both unpaid taxes and a misconduct investigation, had been scheduled for a hearing Thursday and Friday.

"I'm happy that this matter has been resolved," Mackey said Monday. "I'm disappointed with the outcome, but I accept it. I'll use this as an opportunity to put any past mistakes behind me and continue to faithfully serve the people of North Carolina and represent their best interests."

His opponent in tomorrow's Democratic primary, Rodney Moore, said the State Bar's punishment was sad news for the district.

"Hopefully we can make a change tomorrow at the polls and move forward," Moore said. "I don't wish that on anybody, but you have to take care of the people's business first."

Rep. Beverly Earle, a fellow Democrat who accused Mackey of recruiting Earle's primary opponent, said voters should take the Bar's discipline into account, and she expects a complaint will be filed with the Legislative Ethics Committee based on the order. She was uncertain what effect the suspension might have on the vote.

"Turnout is low in a primary and it depends how many people look at TV tonight or how many people read the paper," Earle said. "Many people don't even know it's an election tomorrow."

Earle has accused Mackey of encouraging three friends or former colleagues to run against her, Rep. Becky Carney and Sen. Malcolm Graham, all Charlotte Democrats, in the primary. The three lawmakers did not support Mackey when he successfully challenged then-Rep. Drew Saunders in the 2008 Democratic primary.

"I support my colleagues," Earle said of Tuesday's primary, before amending the comment. "I support most of my colleagues."

Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Chairman Joel Ford said the suspension could have an impact on the race: "Possibly, if you look at the timing of the release of this information."

State Bar officials said the timing of the consent order was typical for any disciplinary case. If lawyers reach a settlement agreement with the Bar, they typically do so in the two or three weeks leading up to the scheduled hearing, said Katherine Jean, the Bar's general counsel.

She said discussions with Mackey's lawyer began about three weeks ago and a consent order was worked out and sent to the hearing panel of the Disciplinary Hearing Commission.

The hearing panel is essentially the trial court in such cases, while the Bar serves as the prosecutor. The hearing panel agreed to the order and mailed it to the clerk of the commission on Friday. The clerk received it Monday and filed it.

Jean said Mackey did not ask to delay filing the order until after the election.

"I don't think the Bar would have objected if he had," Jean said.

Mackey, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer at the time, failed to disclose information in his 2002 application to take the state bar exam, including that he had failed to pay taxes during several years and that he was under investigation for misconduct by the police department.

The application asks if he had ever failed to pay income taxes. Mackey answered 'no,' even though he had failed to fully pay federal taxes for 1997, 1999 and 2002.

Another question asks whether a complaint was ever filed against him in an "administrative forum alleging fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, forgery or professional malpractice." Mackey did not disclose that he was under investigation at the time over misconduct at an off duty security job in December 1991.

The application requires -- and applicants write this provision by hand on the application -- that if the answers to the questions change, the applicant must provide updated information.

Mackey did not disclose that he was suspended without pay from the police department and was recommended for firing for being untruthful to a department review board. That happened during the time between filing his application in February 2002 and being admitted to the Bar in August 2003. He resigned from the police department before the case went further.

He also did not file federal tax returns for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, according to the consent order. He did not owe any taxes during those years and received a refund, the order said.

In 2006, Mackey failed to properly handle an adoption case for a client, missing a deadline that prevented the adoption from going through, the order said.

UNC Charlotte political Analyst Ted Arrington said Mackey may believe the suspension decision won't matter tomorrow.

"Unless the opponent is in a position to capitalize on it," Arrington said, "they're still going to go (to the polls) and there's only one name on the ballot they recognize and that's Nick Mackey."


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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, N.C. State Bar, WCNC, Youtube, Google Maps

Charlotte's Pre-Trial Release Program Under Attack, No New Jails!

Charlotte's Pre-Trial Release programs are under major attack!

Its all about Racial Discrimination & Federal Dollars (again) disguised as "Controlling Costs".

I want to be clear that in the state of North Carolina these type of racially-sensitive issues are not solely Democrat or Republican problems because both Political parties practice extreme Racism on a regular basis.

Which is why I'm no longer a Loyalist to either party.

Looks like some Charlotte Officials and Political Candidates are trying to do away with Charlotte-Mecklenburg's Pre-Trial Release program as an excuse to build New Jails.

What is a Pre-Trial Release program you ask?

I'll be happy to explain.

(This information was obtained from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg's Sheriff Dept. and Charlotte's Neighbors For a Safer Charlotte organization.)


The Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office Pre-Trial Release Program - Risk Assessment /Case Management is designed to identify those arrested individuals who can safely be released on their own recognizance or to the supervision of a third party custodian prior to their first scheduled court appearance.

After a security screening, medical screening, fingerprinting, and photographing, the paperwork involving the individual is organized in one packet and the individual is presented to the magistrate for action to be taken upon the case.

After seeing the magistrate the person is afforded the option of securing his or her release through the County Court Services Division.

Once done with court services, the individual is afforded time to secure release if bond conditions permit this.

If the individual cannot make bond or has a "No Bond" condition, he or she is "dressed-out" and "classified" according to their charge, medical circumstances, risk, and or other criteria to be housed in one of the county facilities.

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If Charlotte Officials decide to build New Jails who will be housed in those units?

You already know the answer to that question don't you?

That's right African-Americans and Hispanic citizens!

Caucasian Criminal Offenders will STILL be allowed to walk away Free or released on Low Bonds, while Minorities are imprisoned until their Trial dates.

What's the purpose of this "Eliminate Charlotte's Pre-Trial Release" campaign?

To procure more Federal Dollars and lock up more Minority Youth.

You see due to Charlotte's Racist history many Charlotteans, especially Caucasian citizens think the ONLY way to bring down Crime is to just lock up ALL Blacks & Hispanics, regardless of the offense....FOREVER!

Yet these same people will continue to offer Charlotte's White Criminal Offenders "Deals" & lower Bonds for having committed the SAME types of Crimes.

Nope!

I'm NOT down with eliminating Charlotte's Pre-Trial Release program. Yet.

Please don't give me that sorry argument about the program's "Cost".

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Sheriff Dept. staff it cost $3.00 per day for Offenders to participate in the Pre-Trial program versus $100. per day to lock them up.

So how will cutting this program help control Charlotte's Law Enforcement budget as it relates to eliminating waste?

It won't!

I repeat!

This is all about locking up more Blacks & Hispanics and building new jails.

Charlotte Officials and Political Candidates if you want me to support eliminating Charlotte's Pre-Trial Release program and building New Jails, you need to prove that Black Offenders and White Offenders will receive Fair or Identical treatment when allegedly committing the SAME crimes.

You also need to demonstrate that Charlotte's District Attorney's Office will NOT continue down the same path of Discriminating against Criminal Offenders based on their Ethnicity or National Origin.


Check out the videos and articles I've included below on this issue.









Charlotte's Pretrial Release Program: Can We Afford It?



An electronic kiosk is a key part of the Mecklenburg County Pretrial release program. It's where accused criminals show up about once a month to place their hand on the reader and "check in" with their case manager.

On any given day the county lets 1,900 people out of jail for free before their trial because they don't think they're dangerous or a flight risk. Being in the program costs $3 a day versus the more than $100 to keep each defendant in jail.

Attorney Brad Smith's been studying the $1.7 million dollar program in depth for the past year. He says, "I think it's a bad use of tax payer dollars considering the economic climate, considering the cuts the county is going to be forced to make in the next couple of months."

Smith says too many people are admitted into the program and that the check-in system, which in addition to the kiosk can include weekly phone calls, is bogus. He says, "I don't know how a phone call once a week does anything about ensuring somebody appears in court."

Jessica Ireland has headed up the program for the past year and says it does work. 87% of the program participants show up for their court appointments. She also says participants are carefully selected. "Anything involving a death, use of a fire arm, high level drug charges, all of those are excluded from pretrial consideration,” says Ireland.

We found several people with violent records are also part of the program. "I think there's people that are slipping through the cracks and are getting out on it,” says Smith.

County commissioner Harold Cogdell is on the public safety committee. He says while the program isn't perfect, it is necessary. "We simply don't have the jail space to house individuals that don't have the financial means to be able to post a bond pending their court date,” says Cogdell.

So how do you fix the program? Smith suggests scaling it back and making sure people who are in it really need to be and have very minor offenses on their record. As it stands, he says, "We've basically inserted the tax payer dollar into every single facet of the criminal justice system."

Last year, the county paid a consultant $81,000 dollars to review the program. She gave them two suggestions. So far, neither has been implemented, although FOX Charlotte is told leaders are working on it.






Charlotte-Mecklenburg Sheriff Predicts Program Cuts With Budget Shortfall


The Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office predicts it will have to cut three programs due to the county's budget shortfall.

Sheriff Chipp Bailey says he'll cut non-mandatory areas, including courthouse security and the work release program at the jail, which trains inmates to get and keep a job.

Bailey says the percentage of inmates in the work program who become repeat offenders drops from 70 percent to 32 percent.

Also at risk for cuts is substance abuse and domestic violence counseling for inmates and the high school program for juveniles.

"If they are not in high school then they're going to drop out of school and become criminals more so than they are now," Bailey said.

Bailey says cutting those programs will only save $5.6 million. The Mecklenburg County Commission has projected it will cut $9 million from the department's funding.


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Sources: Fox News Charlotte, Charmeck.org, McClatchy Newspapers, Neighbors For a Safer Charlotte, WCNC, Google Maps

GOP's Jim Pendergraph Announces Bid For Charlotte-Meck. Co. Commissioner

Former Sheriff To Run For County Commission



He served as a Police Officer in the Charlotte area for more than 20 years. Then, he served as Mecklenburg County's sheriff for 13 years.

Now, Jim Pendergraph wants a seat on the Mecklenburg County Commission.

"I sort of have a hankering to get back into the mix," Pendergraph told NewsChannel 36.

Just two years after retiring, Pendergraph is ready to get back to work in the public arena.

"Government is all I know, and when I see folks in trouble, especially in a community that I grew up in and love, I just want to help," he said.

He's concerned about how little people seem to trust their government and the lack of bi-partisanship.

"I think the people elect us to solve the problems of the city, county, state and federal government, and they expect us all to work together to solve those problems," Pendergraph said.

When he looks back at 13 years leading the sheriff's department, he's most proud of the education and work programs he started for inmates.

When he looks forward, he talks about accountability.

"It's not so much, 'Will you raise taxes or will I raise taxes or will I vote for that?' -- I want to make sure that county government is spending the money it's already getting where it needs to be spent," he said.

In November, he'll run at-large to be part of the board that once controlled his budget as sheriff. And for the first time, he'll run as a Republican.

After leaving the sheriff's department, he spent nearly a year serving in Homeland Security for the Bush administration.

"I felt sort of like a cat at a dog show," he said.

But he doesn't think his party affiliation will matter in this election.

"I also believe there are a lot of people that are registered Democrat who will vote for me," he said.

Pendergraph plans to officially enter the race next Monday.


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Sources: WCNC, McClatchy Newspapers, Charlotte Observer, Google Maps

Park Helms Refuses To Resign, Will Jennifer Roberts Remove Him?

So Charlotte-Mecklenburg ABC Board Chairman Park Helms refuses to step down even after an investigation conducted by NC Alcohol Law Enforcement Officials proved he violated state Alcohol laws for basically "bribing" a liquor company.

Here lies the $64M question: Does Jennifer Roberts (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chairperson) have enough guts to remove him?

Don't forget Helms (also a former Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Commissioner) was once Roberts' Mentor.

Let's see....

Jennifer Roberts had NO problem refusing to allow Nick Mackey from serving as Charlotte-Mecklenburg's First Black Sheriff ever.

In fact she made a big stink about it all the way to the NC Democratic Board State Officials until they overturned Mackey's election.

Don't misjudge me on this one because after the local Media exposed all of Mackey's dirt including how he'd wronged his clients (Mackey is a Licensed Attorney), I too agree he should NOT have been allowed to serve as County Sheriff.

However my point is how quickly Roberts moved to act on ensuring Mackey would NOT serve.

Due to the Racial backlash Jennifer Roberts suffered over Mackey, it doesn't take rocket science to see that's why she refuses to remove allegedly Corrupt Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones who also happens to be Black, from his job.

Here's a little secret Jennifer, if you remove Harry Jones from his job it would be an Asset to Charlotte and would probably save your Political career.

Park Helms refuses to step down.

Jennifer Roberts has yet to remove both Harry Jones and Park Helms after proven evidence surfaced showing that both Men deserved to be relieved of their duties.

Has anyone forgotten that Charlotte-Mecklenburg DSS (which Jones oversees)is under investigation by a Grand Jury?

Of course not!

The Partisan Charlotte Observer (Community Nickname: "Charlotte Disturber") doesn't want to go there anymore for fear of perhaps losing Democrat advertising dollars.

Jennifer the ball is in your court.

Either way I think your finished because Charlotteans are tired of Corruption both Public and Political.








Park Helms Rejects Call To Resign From ABC Board


Mecklenburg County ABC Board chairman Parks Helms on Monday rejected a request from fellow ABC directors to resign "in the best interests of the Mecklenburg County ABC system."

"I have carefully considered your request that I resign as Chairman of the ABC Board so that you could '...begin to restore trust in the system and its management by the public,'" Helms wrote in an e-mail. 'I respectfully disagree... and will not resign."

But pressure for his resignation continued to rise Monday as Mecklenburg County commissioners chair Jennifer Roberts suggested he give it "serious consideration."

"I would hope that Parks would give it serious consideration to remove himself... so we can all focus on the issues going forward," she said.

A former Mecklenburg County commissioners chairman, Helms has been under fire since a Nov. 18 dinner hosted by the liquor company Diageo.

Diageo spent $12,700 on the dinner at Del Frisco's steakhouse for 28 ABC Board employees and their guests. The $4,900 bar tab included $1,000 for four bottles of Dom Perignon.

After news accounts, ABC employees and Helms repaid $9,334. The company picked up the bill for its two employees and their spouses as well as the $2,032 tip.

Last week Alcohol Law Enforcement agents issued a report alleging that Diageo, its N.C. marketing director and the Mecklenburg ABC Board violated laws on giving and accepting anything of value.

Based on their findings, the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has since launched a statewide probe into possible violations of liquor laws in Asheville, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and at least four other cities.

The local ABC directors sent Helms a two-line e-mail Sunday night asking him to resign "effective immediately."

"I guess what we wanted was to basically start over," director Elton Shoemaker said Monday. "We just felt like a change should be made, and if the county commissioners wanted to appoint a new chair they could."

Shoemaker signed the request with directors Mary Richardson, Angeles Ortega-Moore and Jim Polk.

Helms declined to elaborate on his reply.

In the each of the past three years, records show, the board chairman was paid $6,000 a year. Board members earned $5,000.

Helms was the only Mecklenburg ABC director at the dinner. Richardson, Polk and Ortega-Moore told the Observer last week they didn't know about it. Shoemaker declined to comment.

Helms faces scrutiny over the dinner from the two groups that could remove him: the Mecklenburg County commissioners and the state ABC Commission.

Agnes Stevens, spokeswoman for the state ABC commission, said Monday the commission is in touch with Mecklenburg commissioners. Conversations, she said, are ongoing.

Roberts said the controversy has become a distraction.

"Sometimes we all recognize there comes a point when we as officials may be more of a distraction than a support to whatever issue it is we need to move forward with," she said.

"I respect Parks, he has been a tremendous public servant. We all make mistakes sometimes and it takes a big person to admit that. I'm sure there will be other things we can turn to him for service in other ways."

Republican commissioner Karen Bentley has said the county board should remove Helms.

Mary Richardson, the ABC Board director, hinted at the board's decision to write Helms last week.

"If you're doing wrong and you know you're doing wrong, you should suffer the consequences," she said.



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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, Charlotte Observer, WCNC, NC General Assembly, Charmeck.org, Google Maps

Charlotte Leaders Finally Invest In Teen Anti-Recidivism Programs

Charlotte's Teen Inmates To Get New Abodes and Anti-Recidivism Counseling


Some Charlotte teen inmates awaiting trial in Mecklenburg County will move into smaller housing units next month, where they'll receive more intense counseling to help them stay out of trouble after they're released, says Sheriff Chipp Bailey, whose department runs the jail.

Adult prisoners in the jail also will have some new vocational programs next year, including masonry and horticulture classes taught by community college instructors.

The classes will come online next year, said Julia Rush, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

The new housing and education programs are paid for with bond money approved by voters in 2005, she said.

Currently, 16- and 17-year-olds - called youthful offenders - are housed in two, 56-bed units at the county's Jail North facility off of Statesville Road.

The large numbers make it more difficult for detention officers to keep order and for counselors to give more individual attention to the teens, Rush said.

The new housing units, also located at Jail North, will break up the teen population into smaller, 12-bed units. Female youthful offenders - only about 10 in the county - are already housed in their own segregated unit.

The teens attend the only high school in North Carolina located inside a jail, and take classes teaching lessons about life skills and health, Rush said.

By law, youthful offenders must be kept out of sight and sound of adults who are serving time, she said.

"We believe working with individuals of this age group, using an intense, specialized treatment curriculum, will allow us to provide opportunities for these offenders to get back on the right track before they become adults," Bailey said. "We can work to keep kids out of jail on the front-end, or pay for adult jail space on the back-end."



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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, Charlotte Observer, AP, Google Maps