Radio debate for Walton County Sheriff

Hummmmm how come the students of Pat Thomas dont do Physical training? Why is it that most LEO acadamies have a PT program but that is absent at Pat Thomas????????? Sure it is an excelent training facility but NOT one of the finest in the country. That would be elsewhere not here in Florida. I am not bashing Florida LEO's at all, I just know places elsewhere have higher standards then Pat Thomas.

All I can tell you is that the Department of Transportation, Florida Highway Patrol, State?s Fire Marshall?s Office, the Judicial System, Probation, and numerous other Police Departments and Sheriff?s Departments send their officers over there for various types of training. And I am sure probably some of these agencies have their own physical fitness programs. But to call an organization or refer to it as a joke, and you haven?t been there, just tells me you don?t know what you?re talking about.

All I can tell you is that the Department of Transportation, Florida Highway Patrol, State?s Fire Marshall?s Office, the Judicial System, Probation, and numerous other Police Departments and Sheriff?s Departments send their officers over there for various types of training. And I am sure probably some of these agencies have their own physical fitness programs. But to call an organization or refer to it as a joke, and you haven?t been there, just tells me you don?t know what you?re talking about.

Well there. That says it all. Everyone is using them so they must be bad.

All I can tell you is that the Department of Transportation, Florida Highway Patrol, State?s Fire Marshall?s Office, the Judicial System, Probation, and numerous other Police Departments and Sheriff?s Departments send their officers over there for various types of training. And I am sure probably some of these agencies have their own physical fitness programs. But to call an organization or refer to it as a joke, and you haven?t been there, just tells me you don?t know what you?re talking about.

Again in the NATION being the operative word NATION!!!! "one of the best LEO acadamies in the NATION" I might know more the you think. And it is not amoung the best in the NATION! Maybe if he said the finest in the state of Florida I would agree, but he said NATION. well maybe you are right its up there with the US Marshalls service, FBI, ATF, DEA and Pat thomas in Quincey Fl

Again in the NATION being the operative word NATION!!!! "one of the best LEO acadamies in the NATION" I might know more the you think. And it is not amoung the best in the NATION! Maybe if he said the finest in the state of Florida I would agree, but he said NATION. well maybe you are right its up there with the US Marshalls service, FBI, ATF, DEA and Pat thomas in Quincey Fl

According to my map, Quincy, Florida is located within the boundaries of this NATION.

SwampApe,

I hate to tell you, but Mike did a lot better job than Danny did at the debate. I'm not trying to start a pizzing contest, but I think Mike will do a better job as Sheriff.
I know Danny and think he's a fine man, as a matter of fact if the race was between Danny or Ralph, Danny would get my vote.

One thing that I find comical about this election is, every deputy that had RJ sign now has a Danny Sign. Even his kiss up employees are out in force for Danny, when just a month ago they were beating the streets for RJ.
If you don't believe me look at the Deputys house on 331 just above the Tom Thumb, he's got two or three Danny signs and has them lit up at night. That same Deputy had RJ signs on his vehicles and all over his yard.

Now, I may be jumping to conclusions, but that is just my observations.

Did it ever occur to you that the reason the Deputies are supporting Mr. Griffith now, is because they think is the better choice!!! The man DOES have more experience in law enforcement than Mr. Adkinson does, more time served as a public servant, and has a pretty long list of creditials. The last thing we need in Walton County is a return to the "good ole boy" days and by putting Adkinson in office, is just one step toward that happening. Have you looked at Adkinson's donation list? It reads just like the Quinn and Chapman days. I lived here during that era and it was not pretty. Walton County was one of the easiest places to get dope and I feared for my children each day when they went to school. Quinn and Adkinson (who was the prosecuting state attorney at that time) let it get that way. Adkinson is still a young politician with his guidance coming from his uncle, Clayton Adkinson, and that scares the hell out of me.

Did it ever occur to you that the reason the Deputies are supporting Mr. Griffith now, is because they think is the better choice!!! The man DOES have more experience in law enforcement than Mr. Adkinson does, more time served as a public servant, and has a pretty long list of creditials. The last thing we need in Walton County is a return to the "good ole boy" days and by putting Adkinson in office, is just one step toward that happening. Have you looked at Adkinson's donation list? It reads just like the Quinn and Chapman days. I lived here during that era and it was not pretty. Walton County was one of the easiest places to get dope and I feared for my children each day when they went to school. Quinn and Adkinson (who was the prosecuting state attorney at that time) let it get that way. Adkinson is still a young politician with his guidance coming from his uncle, Clayton Adkinson, and that scares the hell out of me.

More experience doesnt necessarily equal a better officer, and from looking at Adkinson creditals his list is just as long, if not longer.

I keep hearing the "good ole boy" days, could some one please give me one good reason how this holds any merit? If that was gonna be the case wouldnt we already be seeing it at Defuniak PD?

And now your going to blame drugs on two people, the last time I checked drugs are an epidimic all over the country. If your gonna bash someone at least pick out something that they actually did or at least had some control over.

More experience doesnt necessarily equal a better officer, and from looking at Adkinson creditals his list is just as long, if not longer.

I keep hearing the "good ole boy" days, could some one please give me one good reason how this holds any merit? If that was gonna be the case wouldnt we already be seeing it at Defuniak PD?

And now your going to blame drugs on two people, the last time I checked drugs are an epidimic all over the country. If your gonna bash someone at least pick out something that they actually did or at least had some control over.

Wait just a minute. Are you trying to tell us that the Sheriff does not have any control on the availability of drugs in the county? I would suggest you think about what you say before you hurt your candidate by saying something so absurd.

Have we not heard this before?

Alright, I listened to the debate between Griffith and Adkinson and my first thought is that Griffith lost the respect he might have had from the hard working deputies and employees of the SO. Griffith repeatedly said he wanted to bring back professionalism and integrity to the Sheriff?s Office and the deputies. Well this shows that he doesn?t even know what?s going on within the Sheriff?s Office?the vast majority of deputies within the department are professional and have integrity!! Where the professionalism and integrity needs to be restored is in the Office of the Sheriff (i.e. the Sheriff himself) and in other command positions! Mr. Griffith wouldn?t say that, now would he? That would be bashing his buddy RJ, who he wants to pull in support from. When given the opportunity, Mr. Griffith did not even attempt to distinguish himself from RJ.

Agreed here, good call out. Also, who else is RJ going to support? He does not care for Mike, so of course he is supporting Danny. As I have said, support from RJ (in my book) is not good support, although I'd take the vote, each helps


Mr. Griffith said that he wants more community oriented policing and wants the deputies to know the citizens in their zones?well guess what Mr. Griffith, deputies know the citizens of Walton County! I know this concept might be difficult for a State Trooper to understand but Sheriff Deputies work in communities and over time they get to know the community they work in. They patrol neighborhoods and talk to the people out in their yards, at local businesses, on the beach, in parks, and in the schools. They give out their personal cell phone numbers and work overtime (that they do not get paid for) to help the citizens and visitors of Walton County!

Nothing original here. This concept was first started with Bill Imfeld's campaign, many months ago. Many candidates have echoed this idea and personally I feel it is law enforcement 101, so it should go without saying, let alone be a topic for departmental reform.


On the other hand, Mr. Adkinson addressed the real problems such as poor management of finances and restructuring the agency. Mr. Adkinson recognizes that the SO is community oriented . He is looking to the future and wants the department to move forward with proper training. Mr. Adkinson gracefully distinguished himself from his family and focused on the real issues. Clearly, Mr. Adkinson has the experience and track record to prove that he is capable of running the WCSO!

This is the right track and Mike is on point with this. Instead of rehashing old platforms (good ones, but old ones, we've heard this for months already) Mike is looking at specific issues and presenting specific solutions. Let's not misunderstand what I am saying, Danny G. would be an OK Sheriff, hell anyone is better then Ralph. Danny is qualified, but Mike is more qualified and much more prepared. He has actually supervised an agency and built it from nothing. The fact that he is talking about real issues and presenting real solutions is what I like thus far. The restructuring of the department is a must.

Poor leadership has plagued the department for almost 4 years. Supervisors are/were given positions based on the way the wind blew that day, (and it blew), not on merit or qualifications. As for training, RJ put out all kinds of wonderful press releases on the firearms qualifications and training. Sadly, most do not know that this sort of training is standard and nothing to brag about (not to knock the trainers) The current level of training is sub-par, read any reports lately...spell check... (my opinion) and at least Mike has taken the group of people he has and molded them into "the police". Some of Mike's guys got the shaft from RJ and were never provided with the training they needed to succeed. No one is perfect, but everyone deserves a chance at success, it is managements job to provide the tools and to set the standard. I believe that Mike has accomplished this thus far.

W

They patrol neighborhoods and talk to the people out in their yards, at local businesses, on the beach, in parks, and in the schools. They give out their personal cell phone numbers and work overtime (that they do not get paid for) to help the citizens and visitors of Walton County!



Do they? I dont remember 1 ever stopping by to say hi to me when I was out in my yard, seen plenty pass by though.

I keep hearing the "good ole boy" days, could some one please give me one good reason how this holds any merit?

Ask him who his #2 man will be.

The restructuring of the department is a must.

Poor leadership has plagued the department for almost 4 years. Supervisors are/were given positions based on the way the wind blew that day, (and it blew), not on merit or qualifications.

Only almost 4 ?? I seem to remember some incidents that occurred before term #2 began...

I would say it was

Only almost 4 ?? I seem to remember some incidents that occurred before term #2 began...

around 5 or 6 yrs ago.

Folks, I give up. I have realized you cant talk to a brick wall and get anywhere with it. I have stated my piece on here, and some of you understand and others, well you just dance all around the mullberry bush so to speak. I guess the voters of Walton County will have their say as well on Nov 4 th. Until then I will just leave SOWAL alone. Its pointless, because its not swaying anyone, and its only causing silly bickering between good ol folks. May the best man win.
Sweetgal'

Jesus said, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? Hypocrite,first take the plank out your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Luke 6:41-42