In VB Sheriff’s Race, Bell Not Supported by His Own Police Department
By Guest Post | Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 | PoliticsBy Dennis Free
VB Dems blogger Eileen Levandoski recently posted a baseless story about Virginia Beach Democrat Sheriff candidate John Bell saying that he is “qualified, competent and more than capable of being the next Sheriff of Virginia Beach.” Then why has John Bell received NO support from deputies, police officers, fire fighters and the rest of the public safety community. If John Bell is so qualified, then why have all of the law enforcement organizations locally and leaders of local and statewide organizations endorsed Stolle? This is extremely important.
The people who actually work with John Bell are NOT supporting John Bell for Sheriff.
The people we trust to provide for our safety and who put their lives on the line every day want Ken Stolle (pictured here)to be the next Virginia Beach Sheriff. In addition to myself, here’s a list of Stolle’s public safety endorsements that would make a candidate for statewide office jealous:
• Virginia Beach Fraternal Order of Police
• Virginia Beach Professional Firefighters
• Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association
• Paul Lanteigne, Virginia Beach Sheriff
• Frank Drew, former Democratic Virginia Beach Sheriff
• Marc Schuster, Chief Deputy, Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office
• Steve Draper, President, Virginia Sheriffs’ Association
• Dana Schrad, Executive Director, Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police
• Beth Simonds, President, Virginia Campus Law Enforcement Administrators’ Association
• Ken Bumgarner, President, Virginia State Police Association
• Wayne Huggins, former Superintendent of the State Police
• Tommy Edwards, President, Virginia Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge
• Ken Pravetz, President, Virginia Beach Professional Firefighters
• Doug Zebley, President, Virginia Beach Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8
• Al Byrum, former President, Virginia Beach Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8
• Howie Carr, former President, Virginia Beach Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8
• Dave Hewes, former President, Virginia Beach Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8
• Garth Wheeler, former President, Virginia Beach Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8 and Virginia Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge
• Gerald Bright, former President, Virginia Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge
• Tommy Stiles, former President, Virginia Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge
• Don Cahill, former National Legislative Committee Chairman, Fraternal Order of Police Grand Lodge
• Kevin Carroll, Sergeant At Arms, Virginia Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge
Anyone can see the full list of endorsements and testimonials on Stolle’s website (www.StolleForSheriff.com).
No candidate for Sheriff in Virginia has the background, clout and ability to lead like Ken Stolle. Ken is a exceptional leader with an 18 year track record in the Senate to prove it. He is a recognized expert on public safety.
On the other hand, John Bell (pictured here)states that he is an administrator. An administrator is a bureaucrat. An administrator executes the commands of the leaders who actually make policy. The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office has 2 Chief Deputies and 6 Captains that are more qualified as jail administrators that John Bell is. We don’t need another jail administrator, we need a proven leader.
Speaking of the deputies and the law enforcement community, let’s talk about who has their backing. Stolle and Bell had a candidate forum on August 20. Of the about 125 people who showed up, over 100 of them were deputies and their families who on their own time came to support Stolle. Furthermore, the Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association, an organization comprised of ONLY Virginia Beach police officers, endorsed Stolle.
I was at the forum. Eileen Levandoski, who was not present at the candidate forum, obviously did not look at any of the video tape. If she had she could not have possibly thought that John Bell “did a terrific job” and Stolle “was flat.” It was clear to anyone there and anyone who would checkout the video tape that Stolle dominated the debate, and that John Bell was so obviously flustered that he didn’t understand the issues being discussed.
If you have any doubt who is better qualified to be Virginia Beach’s next Sheriff, then talk to the people in the public safety community who know both John Bell and Ken Stolle. You will find that they’re all supporting Ken Stolle for Sheriff.
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Comments
18 Responses to "In VB Sheriff’s Race, Bell Not Supported by His Own Police Department"
From the standpoint of both deputies and police officers – we can’t stand Bell. He thinks that deputies are second class officers, and he doesn’t support pay parody that will help both police officers and deputies. It’s no surprise that he can’t get any support. But I think I did see that he has been endorsed by the former Suffolk police chief. That does a lot of good, right?
Hey John – 1983 called. They want their hat back.
Andrew Scott, don’t you mean pay “parity” rather than parody?
Or perhaps it is a parody and empty promises. I don’t know for sure what Bell supports, but pay parity would not be on my list.
Deputies are NOT second class anything. I would support increased pay however, Stolle’s bribe of pay parity won’t happen and there are reasons for it.
1) The police are first responders in far many more dangerous situations than deputies. You should be paid more if you are exposed to more dangers. Now, if you want to talk about parity among the administrators……that’s different and even reasonable.
2) There are more instances of specialization in the police department. Vice, to snipers, forensics, to white collar crime expertise. Personally, any officer that is likely to be the first on scene, inspecting a rolled mini-van for surviving children is WAY underpaid! I couldn’t do it. I would end up leaving after seeing too many things that people shouldn’t have to see.
3) Do deputies have quotas for raising revenue for the city? Ok, there are poo flingers in jail. You both get humiliated.
4) Public Safety has to fight for every dime as it is. They compete with other non-public safety city employees for needed pay, support, and equipment.
5) As new dreams for Towne Center, a mega Rec Center in Jones’s district, or the Taj Mahal of animal shelters come up, Public Safety has new competitors for new assets. Either directly, or if paid for by taxes, public safety that actually can afford to live in VB still, pay those taxes! You want to find somebody that thinks you’re 2nd class? Look further up the food chain! Look at who allocates the budget.
4) Last I heard from Mr. Bailey, a good deal of time passing, despite promises,……..pay compression issues still have not been totally fixed. Only some adjustments. If it has, do let me know.
What makes you or Stolle think that Manager Spore or council will ever go along with pay parity? It won’t happen. Who respects deputies more? The one bribing you with more promises that won’t be kept? I don’t think so.
I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but blasting John Bell is wrong. He is a police officer who just like the rest of the public safety responders do their best to serve the citizens. Anyone who puts their life on the line for others is a hero and deserves our respect. Politics being what it is, I believe being disrespectfull of him is simply wrong in every way.
For those who forget and we never do: Officer Maloney was shot and killed by an attempted-rape suspect after attempting to stop a suspicious vehicle. Dispatchers had just taken the call from the victim and where getting ready to broadcast it when Officer Maloney radioed in the suspicious vehicle. When he attempted to stop the vehicle it sped away and Officer Maloney chased it into a dead-end on Challedon Drive. The suspect jumped out of the vehicle and ran towards Officer Maloney’s police car firing, striking him several times through the driver’s window.
Officer Maloney was able to radio that he had been shot as the suspect returned to his car and fled. John Bell stopped the vehicle and the suspect immediately exited and opened fire. John Bell returned fired and killed the suspect. John Bell is a brave hero and should be respected for his service.
Folks in public safety support and endorse Ken because he provided a lot to public safety responders all over Virginia including increasing our benefits and retirement. For that reason alone, Ken has earned the endorsements.
Ken will win but John Bell is a hero. And the citizens owe Bell a debt of gratitude for the decades of service on the streets of VB. Politics aside there is no reason to attack and tarnish John Bell’s record of service.
Sincerely,
William Bailey
Mr. Bailey, you should take a look at some of the police awards Ken got when he was a cop. He too has done heroic things as a police officer. Just because it happened in the 80s doesnt mean it isnt worth remembering.
Britt,
Funding for public safety comes from both the City (City Council) and the State (General Assembly and Comp Board). Ken Stolle has EVERY endorsement on City Council and is one of the most powerful legislators in the General Assembly. He has chaired the Public Safety subcommittee on Finance that controls all State public safety money. So you think that pay parity is not possible. Think again. He’s got the votes and the clout to make it happen.
John Bell’s campaign is focused on letting criminals out who the judge or jury has sentenced to JAIL. That’s what he wants to do. All of these years of experience have done him little good. Someone should tell John that it’s bad politics and public policy to run on letting criminals out of jail so they can sit at home with an ankle bracelet.
William,
We all respect the service that John Bell has provided the citizens of Virginia Beach. But respectable police officers do not tout the kind of story that John Bell touts. John Bell’s message is terribly messed up. He talks about the race not being about money, then he asks for money. He says it’s about public service not self service, then proposes some crazy plan to let out criminals on EHM. He says it’s about the ability to lead, yet he spends all of his time defending his administrative record. The Sheriff is not an administrator. There are plenty of great administrators there. John Bell has little or possibly no experience making policy and making things happen in difficult times. Under John Bell’s leadership as Sheriff you will see crime go up based on his plan to let criminals out on electronic home monitoring.
The statement that Captain Bell has no support amongst law enforcement officers is totally untrue. I worked for Captain Bell for several years and I know that he has not only my support but the support of many other detectives and officers that have worked for him throughout the years. Stolle won the endorsement of the PBA by a margin of 10 votes – from an organization that has several hundred members. The FOP endorsement was a joke. John wasn’t even invited to speak but showed up when he heard from a deputy sheriff that supports him that there was going to be a vote. When Bell asked why he wasn’t invited he was apparently told by the FOP President that he didn’t know that he was running. That the President of the FOP could schedule a vote for an endorsement and not even know who the candidates are is astounding.
As for Bell’s leadership credentials, being the captain of a police precinct, of the detective bureau, and of the professional standards office takes a lot more than administrative know-how – those ARE positions of leadership. Bell was also the Command Duty Officer responsible for leadership of all night time operations throughout the city for two and a half years. You would think that Dennis Free, who used to be a captain with the police department, would know that being a police captain is a leadership position. Was he a mere bureaucrat? If so he wasn’t fully doing his job. Under Bell’s leadership our detective bureau had clearance rates above the national average in almost every category. His career as a leader in the Virginia Beach Police Department has been one of distinction and he would bring those qualities to the Sheriff Department.
Stolle has meanwhile dedicated his career to politics in Richmond. There is nothing dishonorable about that and I respect what he has done there. I also respect the service that he gave to the Virginia Beach Police Department in the 1980′s, but he has been out of law enforcement for twenty years and the Sheriff’s office is not meant to be a retirement position for politicians.
In regards to the debate between Bell and Stolle, Free’s opinions are obviously highly biased. I was also at the forum and felt that Bell’s performance was far superior to Stolle’s. While Bell was offering innovative new initiatives for the future, Stolle had absolutely no new ideas to present. Stolle spent his time attempting to distort John’s platform while failing to offer anything himself – that’s not leadership! Stolle has been able to draw the support of deputies with his false promise of pay parity but the average citizen is more interested in hearing about how each candidate will improve the operation of the jail and better serve the community. That’s what John Bell offered during the forum and that’s what he is offering with his candidacy.
The statements made about Bell’s support of increased electronic monitoring are simply distortions of his position. He has never said that he wants to override the decision of any judge. He wants to work WITH judges to increase the use of alternative sentencing in non-violent misdemeanor cases. NOT release prisoners that have already been sentenced to jail by a judge or jury.
John has the support of MANY Virginia Beach police officers and sheriff’s deputies that have privately lent their support to him and he will make a fine Sheriff when he’s elected.
-Will
I in no way intended any disrespect to Ken’s cop service. I like Ken and he put money in my accounts. My point was there is no need to attack Capt. Bell as he is a leader and a public servant protecting the citizens of VB.
Cops are cops and politics is politics…
Andrew, yes……Public Safety does get some funding from the state. Yes, Stolle has helped Public Safety. That said:
There is not parity now, despite Stolle and Council endorsements on anyone. The fact that funding comes from the state to support public safety, one would think, parity or ANY other need would be easier.
City politicians and managers being what they are, creative bookkeeping merely moves money around and you end up with a status quo for Public Safety and gains for other projects that council/management find……..more important. No, I don’t think a Sheriff Stolle will bring pay parity.
Judge the actions, not the promises (city level – I’m not speaking of Stolle here). How many promises have been kept? How many have been broken? As a former powerful state senator serving as sheriff, Stolle would not have the clout. As sheriff, Stolle will be operating on a different playing field. A field where he doesn’t get to vote.
Really, Public Safety would be better served were Stolle to stay where he can best be an advocate for it, the state senate.
I would agree with Britt. Parity isn’t going to happen. If Paul couldn’t pull it off, it’s not coming.
Well Dennis, if the entire City Council decides to support one candidate (Stolle), given the vindictive nature of local politicians the police and sheriff’s deputies would be foolish to support Bell and not Stolle for fear of reprisal.
Insofar as the “support” of the sheriff’s department, I have to wonder how many of those deputies standing behind Stolle on the steps of a municipal building were 1) On taxpayer time supporting a political candidate,2) Why were they wearing their work uniforms supporting a political candidate and 3) How many of them really wanted to be there, but understood that if they didn’t show up, they might catch flak for it later?
I saw Ken Stolle at the debate at Bayside High School and I have to tell you, although he has served our city for many, many years and served us well, the poor man doesn’t look well-I have worked with seniors in the past as an EMT and currently work with them each day and I have to tell you, I can’t help but feel pity for this fine public servant after seeing him.
On the other hand, you lament that:
On the other hand, John Bell (pictured here)states that he is an administrator. An administrator is a bureaucrat. An administrator executes the commands of the leaders who actually make policy. The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office has 2 Chief Deputies and 6 Captains that are more qualified as jail administrators that John Bell is. We don’t need another jail administrator, we need a proven leader.
Well gee whiz Dennis, what do you think the Sheriff is in this town? It isn’t as though he is out there solving crimes-he would be administrating an entire department-Seems to me that John Bell has the experience in this area that Ken lacks after leaving the police department as a sergeant and spending the rest of his time as a politician.
To my mind, Mr. Stolle wants to be the next Sheriff because it will be quite a jump in pay from $30,000 to $150,000, since his state retirement will be predicated on his highest three years as a public servant, Ken will undoubtedly receive a comfortable, taxpayer funded retirement-aside from this, there is NO LOGICAL REASON FOR A STATE SENATOR TO RUN FOR SHERIFF.
My prediction is, Stolle may well win this election, if he does, he will serve for three years, resign citing health reasons and leave his second in command to finish out his term and then run for the job himself.
Now, I wonder who THAT could be, DENNIS?
When I consider my choice for Sheriff, I have to ask one very simple and direct question-Which of the candidates has shot and killed more armed and dangerous felons wanted for committing another crime?
Unless Ken Stolle shoots two armed and dangerous felons wanted for committing another crime between now and election day, my vote is going to John Bell.
Unless Ken Stolle happens to shoot two felons
Ok lets get real. Parity is not going to happen! It’s not that Paul couldn’t do it, Paul Doesn’t care!!! He is Retiring remember… Neither does his Administration, They are using this topic as a scare tactic for deputies in hopes that they won’t support John Bell. But the deputies and police officers aren’t the ones to win over. The PUBLIC is! Lets ask the public!!!! Do they have any idea how big the jail is or even where it’s at? Do they know how many inmates are there? Lets get off that issue and examine the ethical concerns of the SHeriff’s Office. Better yet let see if the folks speaking out against John Bell will bring any ethical nisconduct out on their own. I think not! All of Mr. Stolle’s endorsements would run the other way. The other question is what has Ken Stolle done for the citizens? All the issues have been about Law Enforcement. Come on guys FESS UP or do in a public forum!
One other big question remains! How in the world would pay parity be funded? Answer that question! Or is this just another POLITICIAN making false promises just to get elected. If they are so quick to ruin a mans reputation and makes these promises, you have to wonder what is so attractive about being the Virginia Beach Sheriff? Could it be the pay and the increase in retirement? Or could it be the Power, the Glory and the women?????????????????????????? I wonder!!!!!!!!!!!
Any of you that honestly think a sheriff is not an administrator are sadly mistaken. Do you think whoever gets elected will be shooting bad guys? No, their job is to oversee courts, the jail, and civil process. Us “unfit to be called law enforcement” deputies are tasked with safeguarding these criminals (without weapons) so they can answer for their crimes. Pay parity will never happen because deputies will always be considered second class to police. Although we have the power to arrest, and the skills to do what the police do, we are considered throw away nothings. (I find this strange, since we have to deal with the same criminals, without guns to secure our words)
Once the public decides we are worthy of the respect they give police, perhaps they will think us worthy of the pay. I encourage all of you to go to the officer down memorial page and read about jailors and correctional officers that were killed with weapons in correctional facilities. There are just as many heroes there as there are police officers. We don’t get a memorial service every year, we don’t get public respect. We are punching bags for scumbags, and the public thinks the trashman deserves more than we do.
Bell is riding his police horse into the sunset, when the truth is that NEITHER candidate knows a thing about being a jailor. It is a completely different entity, one that deserves their respect.
I have to disagree with the comment that they should be winning the public over. Deputies have had to work for wanna be politicians for the majority of their years in service, Usually all ex-police that think this is a cush job with no expectations. Well, they need to worry about winning their deputies over, since we are the ones that suffer when the PUBLIC elects some flashy ex cop that knows NOTHING about running a jail.
Forget Bell and Stolle, give some credit to the deputies that actually get the abuse and low pay day in and day out. The deputies that the public think are so low brow.
I want one of you to walk a tier in my shoes. I want a COP to walk a tier in my shoes. Chances are, without a gun, the cop won’t last a day.
Well I’m sure youre correct! But the public elects the Sheriff not just the deputies. If your so disgusted do something about it! Your walking those tiers and being abused because of the Administration thats there NOW! Now ask yourself if you want more of the same! Why is free and Schuster fighting so hard to get Stolle in there, it’s not for your benifit. Why would one go from being a State Senator, a position where he can help the exact situations you talking about, to being the Sheriff? He won’t walk the tiers with you, Schuster will only walk the tiers when there is a female working and who knows qht chief deputy Free does! SO you want more of the Same! Vote Stolle!!! LOCK EM UP, LET EM ROT! and you complain about walking the tiers, give it a chance and try to change, VOTE BELL!!!!!!
FYI MONTEL-I do not work in Virginia Beach. Obviously you do or did. Bell has no desire to change. He has already named his friends and relatives that will take over top positions in the department, again, more people that know NOTHING of running a jail. Bell is no better than anyone else. He has an agenda too. And to say that he will not support pay parity, regardless of the reason, shows that he is not inclined to fight for his people. Let’s face it, the sheriff does nothing but advocate for the jail and it’s employees. He does not write tickes, he does not write legislature. He is responsible for OVERSEEING the function of his department. What is Bell going to do with his time if he chooses from the beginning not to support the deputies? Oh., I know, he will spend his time hiring his buddies and destroying a department that is pretty efficient.
Thanks but no thanks.
The sheriff’s department belongs to the deputies. Remember that.
This just goes to show, how VBPD support such racist, bias, corrupt, good ole boy system. Sheriff Bell you never had a chance, they never wanted you here from the start. Your own officers did’nt support you, just goes to show. You can pretend to be one of them, but their gonna let you know your not. “STOPVBPD2NDPRECINTMISCONDUCT”
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