History, Politics And Current Affairs

Good work there, Poohbah! Let’s hope that this at the very least sparks some discussion in the Idaho statehouse…

Well, I kind of got everyone's attention in Boise.

And Pocatello.

Even the folks here in Driggs are talking about it.

Liz Routledge handed the info off to the Speaker's Office, who looked at and said, "Gosh, Mr. Mantell actually asked a darn good question." (For the Honorable Mr. Robert Porter to say "gosh" or "darn," let alone use BOTH in the same sentence, is normally about as likely as it would be to see him slamming a Venti Espresso in front of his stake president while renewing his Temple Recommend.)

He in turn passed the information to the Attorney General's office, who has, in turn, held a press conference announcing that this information has come to light, and that a full investigation is being convened.

The Mayor and City Council of Pocatello are holding an emergency session tomorrow.

The wheels on the bus go round and (THUMP-THUMP) round...

One of those vets' groups that investigates "Stolen Valor" claims is also getting involved. KPVI (the same station that reported on Kelly Ray's trip to Cuba a while back) also says that the word from City Hall is that the Chief will be given a deadline: Resign by 2 Jan or be fired. Media camped outside the Police HQ, and he gave them the cold shoulder. More satellite trucks outside his house, and the same deal.

Matt Wiser wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 6:54 am One of those vets' groups that investigates "Stolen Valor" claims is also getting involved. KPVI (the same station that reported on Kelly Ray's trip to Cuba a while back) also says that the word from City Hall is that the Chief will be given a deadline: Resign by 2 Jan or be fired. Media camped outside the Police HQ, and he gave them the cold shoulder. More satellite trucks outside his house, and the same deal.

And my beloved wife is, once again, reminding me that my notion of subtlety is to use only ONE grenade...

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 7:28 am

Matt Wiser wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 6:54 am One of those vets' groups that investigates "Stolen Valor" claims is also getting involved. KPVI (the same station that reported on Kelly Ray's trip to Cuba a while back) also says that the word from City Hall is that the Chief will be given a deadline: Resign by 2 Jan or be fired. Media camped outside the Police HQ, and he gave them the cold shoulder. More satellite trucks outside his house, and the same deal.

And my beloved wife is, once again, reminding me that my notion of subtlety is to use only ONE grenade...

At least you didn't use a XM51.

Any blowback from the Pentagon?

The Commandant is due to give a statement later today on this subject.

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:23 pm The Commandant is due to give a statement later today on this subject.

Charlie White had best give his soul to Jesus, 'cuz his ass is grass and the Commandant wants to try out his new riding motor with the Chrysler Hellcat engine . . .

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:55 pm

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:23 pm The Commandant is due to give a statement later today on this subject.

Charlie White had best give his soul to Jesus, 'cuz his ass is grass and the Commandant wants to try out his new riding motor with the Chrysler Hellcat engine . . .

Sounds about right to me, and I think I’ll send him a quote of what you just said, might just get a laugh out of him.

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:55 pm

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:23 pm The Commandant is due to give a statement later today on this subject.

Charlie White had best give his soul to Jesus, 'cuz his ass is grass and the Commandant wants to try out his new riding motor with the Chrysler Hellcat engine . . .

The EV option https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOqdQ84Zn0sption

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjboaeJltMk

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:55 pm

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:23 pm The Commandant is due to give a statement later today on this subject.

Charlie White had best give his soul to Jesus, 'cuz his ass is grass and the Commandant wants to try out his new riding motor with the Chrysler Hellcat engine . . .

I told the boss what you said, and he just about bust a gut laughing, said he needed that.

The Mayor of Pocatello, the Honorable Marva Watson, has issued an official statement:

Mr. Charles White is no longer employed by the city of Pocatello, effective immediately; we have terminated him for gross unsuitability for a law enforcement officer position as specified in the Idaho Revised Statutes, which specifically forbid hiring of any person who has been convicted of a serious or infamous crime by a general court martial while serving in the armed forces. The District Attorney's Office is conducting an investigation of his actions as police chief since the day he was hired to ensure that we don't have any further surprises down the road. I regret that the municipal government has failed the citizens of our city, and we will conduct a thorough review of our personnel practices to prevent this from happening again. We will do better.

So what’d you think of the Commandant’s statement confirming your information, Poohbah?

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:29 pm So what’d you think of the Commandant’s statement confirming your information, Poohbah?

The part where he took the hit for the Corps allowing White to be in a position to access blank DD-214s was important. We all have a responsibility to secure documents like that, to prevent stuff like this from happening. Boss-Ma'am has already laid on a tasker for 20AF subordinate units to verify that sensitive documents and processes are properly secured end to end.

Yeah, the Corps’ ended up with some egg on its face. Still, it needed saying. Now to slap the cuffs on this guy for forging Federal documents…

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 10:59 pm

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:29 pm So what’d you think of the Commandant’s statement confirming your information, Poohbah?

The part where he took the hit for the Corps allowing White to be in a position to access blank DD-214s was important. We all have a responsibility to secure documents like that, to prevent stuff like this from happening. Boss-Ma'am has already laid on a tasker for 20AF subordinate units to verify that sensitive documents and processes are properly secured end to end.

There will almost certainly be some kind of review of the varying documents, to make sure that there aren't any other "snakes in the grass" like that guy. That will be a major problem, since while the vast majority are likely okay, it's those errors/forgeries that can cause major issues. I admittedly don't know how common it is, but many businesses tend to offer benefits to military veterans, and the primary certification for that is the DD-214, which is putting who knows how many of those people in potential legal limbo, to say nothing of the businesses, or preferred loans, such as for education or other matters. Yes, many of those options likely have access to check with the VA or DOD Records, but the point is, this is going to be a huge mess, clearing everything up, and making sure it isn't more widespread.

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 10:59 pm

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:29 pm So what’d you think of the Commandant’s statement confirming your information, Poohbah?

The part where he took the hit for the Corps allowing White to be in a position to access blank DD-214s was important. We all have a responsibility to secure documents like that, to prevent stuff like this from happening. Boss-Ma'am has already laid on a tasker for 20AF subordinate units to verify that sensitive documents and processes are properly secured end to end.

Humorless person with an attention to detail?

jemhouston wrote: ↑Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:18 am

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 10:59 pm

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:29 pm So what’d you think of the Commandant’s statement confirming your information, Poohbah?

The part where he took the hit for the Corps allowing White to be in a position to access blank DD-214s was important. We all have a responsibility to secure documents like that, to prevent stuff like this from happening. Boss-Ma'am has already laid on a tasker for 20AF subordinate units to verify that sensitive documents and processes are properly secured end to end.

Humorless person with an attention to detail?

Boss-Ma'am is many things, but she isn't humorless. But she is conscientious about duty, and this is one of those things that can slip through the cracks unless you careful.

She and I both agree that you can only expect what you inspect.

Kendog52361 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:02 am

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 10:59 pm

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:29 pm So what’d you think of the Commandant’s statement confirming your information, Poohbah?

The part where he took the hit for the Corps allowing White to be in a position to access blank DD-214s was important. We all have a responsibility to secure documents like that, to prevent stuff like this from happening. Boss-Ma'am has already laid on a tasker for 20AF subordinate units to verify that sensitive documents and processes are properly secured end to end.

There will almost certainly be some kind of review of the varying documents, to make sure that there aren't any other "snakes in the grass" like that guy. That will be a major problem, since while the vast majority are likely okay, it's those errors/forgeries that can cause major issues. I admittedly don't know how common it is, but many businesses tend to offer benefits to military veterans, and the primary certification for that is the DD-214, which is putting who knows how many of those people in potential legal limbo, to say nothing of the businesses, or preferred loans, such as for education or other matters. Yes, many of those options likely have access to check with the VA or DOD Records, but the point is, this is going to be a huge mess, clearing everything up, and making sure it isn't more widespread.

Idaho doesn't require a cross-check with the DVA or DOD. Part of it is culture. One of the things that Roberta and I love about our adopted home is that it's the kind of place where a handshake is far more binding than a signed contract. Breaking that contract will only get you in legal trouble; breaking that personal pledge will get you ostracized, and they'll use a dull ostracizer to do it.

It's one thing to get a free slice of pie at a diner with a ginned-up 214. But law enforcement is one of those things where we are vesting, to borrow a phrase from the military, special trust and confidence in that person's fidelity and ability. We are, in the gravest extreme, granting that person the authority to use lethal force on behalf of the state, and saying that We the People will end up footing the bill for poor judgement or malicious intent. For that, you have to be sure that the guy you're hiring is on the up and up.

One thing that surprised me during a telephone call with the 20AF Staff Judge Advocate shop: the way the law is written, that GCM verdict does not get automatically reported to the National Crime Information Center as a felony conviction. Only if he'd copped an actual sentencing to confinement for over a year and/or a Big Chicken Dinner/Dirty Duck would it have gone into the database.

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 6:00 pm

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:55 pm

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 1:23 pm The Commandant is due to give a statement later today on this subject.

Charlie White had best give his soul to Jesus, 'cuz his ass is grass and the Commandant wants to try out his new riding motor with the Chrysler Hellcat engine . . .

I told the boss what you said, and he just about bust a gut laughing, said he needed that.

I have a vision of said mower in the horse country of Virginia, with its gentle, rolling hills . . . and the mower hitting the crest of one of those hills at 130 MPH, grabbing insane air, and soaring gracefully for half a mile or more until its trajectory once more intersects the surface of the Earth . . .

Kendog52361 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:02 am

Poohbah wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 10:59 pm

Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 9:29 pm So what’d you think of the Commandant’s statement confirming your information, Poohbah?

The part where he took the hit for the Corps allowing White to be in a position to access blank DD-214s was important. We all have a responsibility to secure documents like that, to prevent stuff like this from happening. Boss-Ma'am has already laid on a tasker for 20AF subordinate units to verify that sensitive documents and processes are properly secured end to end.

There will almost certainly be some kind of review of the varying documents, to make sure that there aren't any other "snakes in the grass" like that guy. That will be a major problem, since while the vast majority are likely okay, it's those errors/forgeries that can cause major issues. I admittedly don't know how common it is, but many businesses tend to offer benefits to military veterans, and the primary certification for that is the DD-214, which is putting who knows how many of those people in potential legal limbo, to say nothing of the businesses, or preferred loans, such as for education or other matters. Yes, many of those options likely have access to check with the VA or DOD Records, but the point is, this is going to be a huge mess, clearing everything up, and making sure it isn't more widespread.

Don’t forget the converse - if records were being gundecked to make people look better, were they also being gundecked to make them look worse?