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No More Deputies So Far In Molino Or Century; Molino’s Top Deputy Transferred
September 8, 2009
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan had hoped that additional deputies would be assigned to his department’s Century and Molino precincts by now, but, so far, that has not happened. And now, the top cop assigned to Molino has been transferred away, upsetting at least one local business person.
At a public forum in Molino back in May, Morgan said that he hoped three additional deputies would be assigned to Molino and two additional would be headed to Century by September.
There has not been an increase in officers in Century or Molino to date, according to Commander Bobby Jackson, because of short staffing across the department.
There were extra deputies assigned to the two North Escambia precincts during the summer, Jackson said, but they were school resource officers working regular patrol. They returned to their school assignments in late August. In addition, at least two Century precinct deputies were out for several weeks on medical leave.
And now the department has transferred Lt. Tony Jordan, the highest ranking officer assigned to Molino, to a patrol position elsewhere in the county. He will replace Lt. Rex Blackburn who was reassigned to a juvenile court security position. Sgt. Kevin Vickrey will oversee the day to day operations of the Molino precinct, complimented by the lieutenant on duty in Cantonment, according to Jackson.
“I’m afraid that losing him (Lt. Jordan) will be bad for us,” Fran Hampton, owner of Fran’s Country Grill in Molino, said. Hampton said she has noticed a big difference since Jordan was assigned to Molino.
“It used to take an act of Congress to get the deputies to swing through here at night, but Tony has made the deputies keep a watch on the businesses like mine at night,” she said. “It think it has deterred crime quite a bit.”
Jackson, who heads the ECSO patrol division, said that neighborhood watches and business checks are routine throughout the department and would continue at the same pace in Molino.
“I’m not down on Mr. Morgan at all,” Hampton said. “I just hope the north end does not get the shaft.”
“We move people around all the time,” Jackson said. “Tony was transferred because I needed him down here. Sgt. Vickrey will be able to do a great job up there.”
Jackson said the department is down one patrol deputy in Molino and is fully staffed in Century.
As for the five additional deputies promised for Molino and Century, the commander said he still expects additional deputies to be assigned to both precincts. Additional deputies will soon graduate from the law enforcement academy. In addition, federal grant money will be available in October to hire 20 new deputies across the county.
“It all depends on retirements and that sort of thing. You lose deputies sometimes, and they have to be replaced. With a large organization, there is always staff moving,” he said.
“I cannot provide what I do not have and we cannot continue to take personnel from investigations, narcotics, etc.,” Morgan wrote to NorthEscambia.com recently. “However, we note the shortage and make arrangements to backfill it with the next class.”
“Now factor into this retirements and medical issues. So we may, in fact, get the Molino Substation up to 15 assigned officers, and in 60-90 days have a retirement, medical issue, etc., and lose an officer. At this point we use the flex shift, Reserves, etc., to keep the numbers balanced until we can permanently (once again) get the numbers stable,” Morgan continued in his letter.
Comments
19 Responses to “No More Deputies So Far In Molino Or Century; Molino’s Top Deputy Transferred”
Thanks for the comments Sheriff. First I did not support you this last election. Second I think you are doing a good job but lets be realistic. You do have money in the budget for the Helo if you really wanted it. Every Sheriff has the power and authority to hire an administration. These positions are well paid and through contracts that last as long as the Sheriff stays in office. You have hired a few yourself that don’t impact the law enforcement funcion of the office. The salaries you are spending on these “non essential” positions could be used to fund a reduced but functioning aviation unit. Also you are charging deputies an extra duty fee of 2 dollars an hour which gets placed into the general fund. That money could also be used to fund the unit.
Also not to nit pick but saying that working as an SP on a Secure Air Force base is comparable to the work and function of a Deputy Sheriff is nonsense. The two jobs are very different. I would bet that those secure bases that do not allow civillians access have a very small population of crack heads and felons. The average SP sits on the flight line or stands at the gate. For the fortunate ones that patrol the base the highlight of the evening is performing traffic stops and answering domestic calls in base housing. I’m not saying that crime is non existent but it pales in comparison with the work that Deputies do.
Citizens should know that the problem at the ECSO is retention. The pay is not great and the benefits are eroding away. If you want law enforcement that stays you must be willing to pay for it. Many good Deputies leave for higher paying jobs to other counties leaving the department short. I applaud the Sheriff for asking the Commissioners for a raise of 3%. It is the least we can do to reward the Deputies that stay and continue to keep us safe.
Crime is going to escalate all over escambia county in the next couple of years that there won’t be enough deputies to do much of any deterent from crime. Wake up folks, keep your three “b’s” ready… beans, bible and bullets…
I voted for Morgan for Sheriff. And as far as I can see Compare to what has been in Office in the Previous years. I think he has done a Awsome job with the Cards he has to deal with. You can’t keep officers if they are Leaving to go to orther area’s that are paying much higher pay. You get what you pay for!!!!!!. We haven’t had in the past officers with the best repuation. I feel Mr. Morgan is trying to get a better Quailty and higher standerd of Rookies and officers to serve. I understand we are loosing alot of things in the Northend. Not just Law Enforcement. This is deeper than just the Sherriff. Need to Look at the County Officals. There more to blame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ” HAT’S OFF TO YOU!!! SHERIFF DAVID MORGAN”
Dear Mr. Trash:
Whew! I may safely guess that you did not support me in the last election? Ah, such is life.
Having said that, it is still not good form to spread unfounded rumors, such as; “absolutely no law enforcement experience.” My record was made available during the campaign (did you not receive a flyer?) , USAF Security Police and AFOSI, 21 years and 3 mos. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) which sets FL law enforcement training standards accepts military police academy training, as does the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). I was accepted for FBI Special Agent Training in 1986, but declined the appointment. The FBI required 5 years of ‘certified law enforcement experience’ and a Masters in Business Administration, I applied and was accepted. So, I’m not sure where your getting this information (standards), but it is incorrect.
Yes, we still have 2 helicopters. Their cost per year was over $800,000.00 for operation which came out of our general fund revenues. No, we do not, and have not asked for any support from Alabama or anyother state, for search and rescue or ‘any other matter.’ We now get free drug interdiction and search and rescue air support from the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). The $800K was part of our required budget reduction for the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners (we reduced it by a little over $4 million dollars). But more importantly, we have not had to reduce our current deputy strength even after this severe cut for 2009/10. Everyone at the ECSO is keeping their job.
Again, your incorrect about “invites the feds into his department to try and prove McNesby was crooked.” Never happened. I have not asked for an investigation into the Escambia County Sheriffs Office or the former sheriff. I (the ECSO), however am in the throes of a Department of Justice investigation (DOJ) of both the corrections and law enforcement functions, brought on by the previous administration, alleging abuse of authority, eccessive use of force, deaths in the jail, etc., etc., etc. And, we may have to refund to FEMA (Federal Emergency Managment Agency) over $2 million in funds received that were not appropriately accounted for. Again, another investigation of the past administration….not requested by me.
I have, however, had to contend with all of this and attempt to correct these past mistakes, yet I enjoy going to work everyday, for everyday presents me with a new set challenges!
As always, thank you Mr. Trash for your continued management oversight of the Escambia County Sheriffs Office. It is evident that you have the ECSO and our county’s best interests at heart.
David Morgan, Sheriff
Escambia County, FL
436-9512
Thank God and greyhound Ronnie Mac is gone!
Oh, here come the Ronnie Mac loyalists. How do you think Ronnis Mac would’ve reacted during the Billings case? He may have not used “Humdinger” and “people in hell want ice water”, but I really don’t think he would’ve gotten on tv and represented us as Morgan did. I think it would’ve been even a worse farce than it already is. Morgan is all about business and Ronnie Mac is part of the good ole system. Escambia County needed a man to handle the business, not back woods deals.
Century girl, the only reason you have a stronger and more visible deputy presence up there is because the lazy deputies that were up here were moved and better more active officers took their places. There are still the same amount of deputies up there that there has been. Morgan hasn’t given us anymore deputies, just better ones. Good job, guys. Keep it up.
I am proud of the job Sheriff Morgan is doing in the Century area. There is a much stronger presents of deputies in our area since he took office. It is my understanding that the sheriff wants communites to form neighborhood watch groups to better assist ESCO in knowing what’s going on. I don’t know how many deputies are assigned up in the Century area but however many it is…they are doing a much better and much more professional job; not to mention the professionalism, honor, and integrity that has been restored to the Sheriff’s office and to the department overall. Keep up the good work.
Folks need to realize that it takes time to cleanup 8 years of business as usual..same old – same old well actually more like maybe 16 years… So be patient and do your part!
Boy oh Boy, you guys have stooped so low that now you’re worried about were the deputies eat. Who really cares where they eat as long as they respond to calls for service when they are called. Come on, it’s not like these guys have a whole lot of choices to pick from. Oh, and when I said calls for service I mean high priority calls not barking dogs, donkeys in the road, firecracker, and the wind blowing to hard, ect… Ya’ll need to get a life and start worrying about yourselves and stop worrying about what the deputies do, you’re getting County Deputies for free. Don’t believe me? Look it up. The City of Century was supposed to pay the Sheriff’s Office for services when the Police Department was disbanded.
One other thing, take the blinders off, Morgan has promised a lot and has delivered on very little of those promises. Where are the deputies that he promised us? I believe that’s where the focus should be rather than on something insignificant, like where the deputies eat. I would like to personally say, Thank You to all the deputies in Cantonment, Molino and Century for the hard work they do in trying to keep our streets safe with the man power they have, it has not gone unnoticed by some.
Ya’ll have a good night, ya hear!
It would seem from the comments here that everyone will get a meal on the house at Frans. LOL.
JW–YOU cook them something to eat.I cook my own and take it to work with me…. LOL
WOW are people finally starting to see what you get when you vote for someone who has never been a police officer and has ABSOLUTLY no experience in law enforcement. I don’t have to keep trying to convince people what a mistake we made electing him sheriff……..he has been doing that since he took office. By the way…the county still has helicopters. Your sheriff just won’t let them get used. I guess he thinks his deputies don’t need them. And now we have to ask the Alabama State Troopers for help everytime we need a helicopter for search and rescue or any other matter. Oh well, thats what Morgan gets when he invites the Feds into his department to try to prove that McNesby was crooked and what do you know……..they didn’t find a darn thing illegal about his administration. I guess you don’t know how good you have it until its gone.
David Preston for County Commissioner!
cpd – make the deputies some food and they won’t race to Atmore to eat. I’d race to Jay to eat at Kooter Brown’s
All four here in Century and Walnut Hll are racing up to Atmore to eat….All at the same time, as if they were going to a call…Follow them and you will find them Atmore………………….. this is fact….
Great article. Where are the flex shift and reserve officers in Molino? From what I have been told there is only one flex officer in Molino. There was two. But, one of them was moved, to add extra deputies to the beach. According to some of the people I know, a reserve deputy has not worked in Molino in over five years.
Lt. Jordan did an excellent job for us citizens up here. He had the deputies motivated to go above and beyond there normal activities. So, now we are going to have to wait until October or even later to see more deputies up here.
The problem isn’t just in Molino and Century. Cantonment (or Farm Hill where I live) has noticed a difference. Morgan has moved the patrols out of Cantonment, atleast where I live. We’ve asked for years to have someone be placed close to our area. When the county had the helicopters, they were all over parts of Cantonment doing busts. Now nothing. Thankfully we have a deputy that lives in the area that if anything were to happen, he’s close by. But he shouldn’t have to be “on duty” 24 hours a day. I think the north end of the county is being forgot about, and very quickly.
I don’t think Morgan is going to like it when Molino forms a group to take our neighborhood back from all of the drug addicts and other criminals that has moved in lately. He certainly has not done anything to fix the problem.
There has definately been a change in Cantonment and Molino. Sheriff’s vehicles were more visible and the officers led by Lt. Jordan have done a great job. People have taken notice. Great job to the deputies and supervisors.