Sheriff candidate Cooper used fianc?e?s position to get interview questions in advance
By Nate Kelly
August 21, 2008 - 10:24AM
Walton County Sheriff's candidate, Tom Cooper, wanted to be prepared for an interview for the job of deputy director of the Walton County jail. He had his then fianc?e, Christine Bell Cooper, emergency operations planner, get a copy of the interview questions beforehand, according to Gary Mattison, human resource director for Walton County.
The questions were public information. However, on May 2, 2007, Bell Cooper was given a Level 1 reprimand for misuse of a public position, a violation of Florida Statute 112.313.
"If anyone did anything wrong it was me, for not marching to the HR office and getting the questions myself," Tom said.
According to Bell Cooper, she does not believe she did anything wrong by providing a public record. "I'm a servant of the county and I did what I'm employed to do," she said.
Seeing the questions in advance did not give him an upper hand, according to Cooper. "Most of them were common sense questions, especially for anybody with law enforcement experience," said Cooper.
Mattison learned of the situation, shortly after the request and discussed it with Cooper before holding the interview on Feb. 28, 2007.
However, Cooper's prior knowledge of the questions did not affect his prospects of getting the job, since the county was looking for someone with jail experience and a more qualified candidate applied, according to Mattison.
"Our questions are open ended," Mattison said. "They are intended to find out the person's experience and background."
Discipline levels for the county start with a formal counseling, then proceeds to a Level 1 and Level 2 reprimand, followed by a suspension and finally dismissal, according to Chris Mitchell, public information officer for Walton County.
Replies
60Banned
Yes child the thread is about Cooper and family, but was it not you that that deviated from the topic with a comment or two about Idlewind? Please accept my most sincere apologies for striking a nerve when mentioning a candidate that you support, that was not my intent at all. I will not charge you for the English lesson, as I try and do my part to help those less fortunate than myself.
But allow me to comment, since you asked, regarding Cooper's situation. Based on what was posted (its in the Sun today by the way) can you tell me where the news about HIM is? IF (emphasis on if) the article is correct, what has been done wrong? He said he should have gone to get them from Human Resources but he didnt (at least he made a comment on a newspaper article which has put him ahead of Sheriff Johnson's "cant be reached for comment"). I see a much more interesting story about his grilfriend because I dont believe they have answered the question I have and that is why she was disciplined. The most interesting part of the story is its timing. In other words, Cooper not a candidate, Cooper not a story. Obviously this didnt just suddenly appear out of thin air. Since it happend a year ago, I am sure a "camp" was waiting with baited breath to get to the paper and why not in the last print before the election?
So you see Stripes(less) I have returned the thread to the topic and, at your request provided you with a point of view. Honestly, I would much rather read a pot shot at a candidate that was worthy of mudslinging, something like stealing money, committing murder, SOMETHING that is exciting....
Dear "drivingthru",
As Shakespeare might have said of you: "Methinks he doth protest too much" (Now,... there's a free English lesson for you from "one less fortunate than your self").
Beach Fanatic
You had to Google that quote from the Bard, didn't you, Stripes? lmao
Beach Comber
Dear "drivingthru",Dear Psuedo William,
As Shakespeare might have said of you: "Methinks he doth protest too much" (Now,... there's a free English lesson for you from "one less fortunate than your self").
Thank you for your reference material. However I fail to see the relationship between your quote of the day and my free english lesson to you, as it is dissimilar in rhetorical syntax.
Sincerely
drivingthru
Beach Fanatic
What what what????
you mean like someone asking a candidate if he would ever hire a person that was maybe arrested for illegal wire tapping and promote them with rank to be in the charge of a division of his department and still not getting an answer?[/quote]
:shock:
You don't say...
Where's the SUN Article on this one?
Beach Fanatic
Felony or Misd.?
you mean like someone asking a candidate if he would ever hire a person that was maybe arrested for illegal wire tapping and promote them with rank to be in the charge of a division of his department and still not getting an answer?
Would that type of charge be a felony or a misdemeanor?
Beach Lover
acts are sometimes worse than charges
I dont think the issue is wether the offense is a felony or misdemeanor. I think the issue here is the actual act itself. And whats equally important is wether or not the person committing the crime was at the time entrusted with a position that requires understanding of communications laws and complete confidentiality and the right to privacy.
Deliberately and continually illegally intercepting digitally encoded communications is a serious violation of privacy. This alone should be a huge bright red flag in the persons personal, professional and ethical character when being considered for a position of public trust.
This also extends to anyone placing them into a position of authority with that information in hand and makes a questionable example of poor leadership / managerial skills.
Of course according to certain people, this never happened.
I dont think the issue is wether the offense is a felony or misdemeanor. I think the issue here is the actual act itself. And whats equally important is wether or not the person committing the crime was at the time entrusted with a position that requires understanding of communications laws and complete confidentiality and the right to privacy.
Deliberately and continually illegally intercepting digitally encoded communications is a serious violation of privacy. This alone should be a huge bright red flag in the persons personal, professional and ethical character when being considered for a position of public trust.
This also extends to anyone placing them into a position of authority with that information in hand and makes a questionable example of poor leadership / managerial skills.
Of course according to certain people, this never happened.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
you mean like someone asking a candidate if he would ever hire a person that was maybe arrested for illegal wire tapping and promote them with rank to be in the charge of a division of his department and still not getting an answer?
Wasn't he found not guilty? Or maybe I have my wire tappers mixed up.
Beach Fanatic
Adjudication
Wasn't he found not guilty? Or maybe I have my wire tappers mixed up.
He was found not guilty, just checked, (which don't mean much in this county), which only means the evidence was not presented to a degree to convict him.
I have a feeling you know more about this and you should know that it takes PC to make any arrest. How many active law enforcement officers do you know that have been arrested for felony charges? I know none, zero, zilch. Nor do I know any that have been arrested for misdemeanors. Is this the same guy who is said to have broken the tail light on the car from I-10? I have my shady city employees mixed up?
Beach Fanatic
More then one?
Were there more then one???
Were there more then one???
Beach Lover
train coming
But some say it never happened.
Were there more then one???Your on the right track, but to my knowledge it wasnt the one that broke the tail light. If the rumors are correct, and you know how rumors go, the responsible party was rumored to have been the one q had arrested.
But some say it never happened.
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