{"id":1830,"date":"2011-06-29T11:25:14","date_gmt":"2011-06-29T15:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2011\/06\/return-cameras-or-im-going-to-pursue-it-through-the-sheriffs-office-ashley-paulk-lcc-28-june-2011.html"},"modified":"2011-06-29T11:25:14","modified_gmt":"2011-06-29T15:25:14","slug":"return-cameras-or-im-going-to-pursue-it-through-the-sheriffs-office-ashley-paulk-lcc-28-june-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2011\/06\/return-cameras-or-im-going-to-pursue-it-through-the-sheriffs-office-ashley-paulk-lcc-28-june-2011.html","title":{"rendered":"Return cameras or I’m going to pursue it through the Sheriff’s office —Ashley Paulk @ LCC 28 June 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"Chairman Paulk threatened the Humane Society with legal action last night:\n
\n…the Humane Society provided\ntwo county employees with undercover cameras as a gratuity.\n
\n…\n
\nI want those two undercover cameras returned by my two employees,\nor there will be some administrative action.\n
\n…\n
\nI’m making this a public record.\n
\n…\n
\nIf I don’t get those cameras back and the gratuity\nI’m going to pursue it through the Sheriff’s office.\n
\n…\n
\n\n<\/a>\nNeeds to be public record in the VDT.\n<\/blockquote>\nThe picture shows Ashley Paulk (center)\nmotioning to VDT reporter David Rodock (foreground)\nas he directs the VDT to publish what he just said.\nMechelle Sullivan is on the right, and\nCounty Manager Joe Pritchard looks on from left.\nVoting Commissioners Evans, Raines, and Powell\nare just visible between Paulk and Sullivan.\n

\nThe VDT did take dictation and publish that this morning, adding\nthis quote from Chairman Paulk:\n

\n“It’s a gratuity.\nYou can’t give a government employee something in order to get something in return.\nIt’s not legal.”\n<\/blockquote>\nOther things are also not legal, yet never seem to be pursued.\n

\nSpeaking of pursued, Chairman Paulk encountered a group of\n\n\nanimal enthusiasts outside in the parking lot, including\nMechelle Sullivan and some people associated with the Humane\nSociety, and once again he demanded to get those cameras back.\nI know this because I saw it.\n

\nJust before his remarks from the podium about cameras, Chairman Paulk said:\n

\nIf there’s anybody with the Humane Society\n—\nyou know my background with sixteen years in law enforcement\n—\ncan give me a\nsworn affidavit with any facts about this animal shelter,\nnot accusations, but\na sworn affidavit\nthat they’ll stand up in court and swear to,\nbeyond the shadow of a doubt,\nI’ll be ready to take them.\n<\/blockquote>\nMechelle Sullivan responded:\n
\nWhen do you want to sit down and talk?\n<\/blockquote>\n

\nHere’s what he was reacting to.\nContinuing\n\nher address to the Lowndes County Commission about animal code enforcement\nissues,<\/a>\nMechelle Sullivan remarked:\n

\n“In my opinion the animal control should be headed up\nby someone who encourages to pursue cruelty and neglect,\nand who supports them in their efforts.”\n<\/blockquote>\n

\nDavid Rodock quoted her in the VDT this morning:\n

\n\n<\/a>\n“With all due respect, I have never felt that Linda Patelski\nwas right for that job.\nI’ve been shocked to learn of the allegations.\nI think it took guts for shelter employees to come forward\nto report wrongdoing knowing that they would put themselves in jeopardy\nto lose their jobs.”\n<\/blockquote>\nThat’s apparently only on paper not online so far.\nAs usual, I encourage anybody who doesn’t have a VDT subscription to buy one.\n

\nMechelle Sullivan reminded Chairman Paulk that when he was sheriff she had\ntalked to him about possibly putting the shelter and animal control\nunder the sheriff’s office, which “I think would be wonderful.”\n

\n

\nI believe at the very least the employees in question should be put\non administrative leave in order for there to be an outside investigation.\nI believe with the right management the shelter could be the shining star\nin the community.\n…\nI would like to see management that is proactive, rather than reactive.\n<\/blockquote>\nShe gave examples, “there are so many things we could be doing.”\nThen she asked the Chairman,\n
\nAs a concerned citizen, I respectfully ask that you resolve this situation.\n<\/blockquote>\nHis reaction was as quoted at the beginning of this blog post.\nListen to the video for yourself.\n

\nSo he wants the Humane Society to produce evidence beyond a shadow\nof a doubt, yet he threatens legal action against their current\nattempt to gather more evidence.\nVery interesting.\n

\nHere’s\n\nthe video:<\/a>\n

\n