Old Complaint Against KPD

From the archives of the Tribune and Georgian:

Corruption in Camden County extends to Kingsland
Dear Editor,
I am responding to Genida Searles' letter, "Family's justice was betrayed by the actions of St. Marys police officers," in the May 3 edition of the paper.Ms Searles claims that the St. Marys Police Department covered up a crime to save someone else from doing more jail time. I was not surprised, this happens way to much in Camden County.I, too, was a victim of a cover up by the Kingsland Police Department. I was threatened with a lawsuit by the school resource officer for slander, because she told my daughter that she would slap handcuffs on her and take her to jail because my daughter's friend called a girl fat.This was backed up by my daughter's friend.The Kingsland Police Department called my work and tried to get me fired if I didn't stop e-mailing them to get a solution to this problem. Camden County is run on the good ol' boy system and if you aren't a member you better watch out.I ask you not to leave Camden County. You cannot let idiots in our local government control your needs and wants. Camden County is a great place to live, as long as you don't need help from law enforcement.I ask you to talk to a good friend of mine in Washington, D.C. His name is Greg Slate and he works for the Police Complaint Center. You can reach him through their Web site at www.policeabuse.org or (202) 359-6406.Filing a complaint in Camden County is a waste of time.You can also log any problems with law enforcement and with the schools here in Camden County at www.schoolpolice.blogspot.com. I will direct these problems to the right people for action.The only way to fix problems like these is to involve the people of the county.Please, Ms. Searles, the only way for everyone to enjoy Camden County is to stay and fight back.Thank you for your courage.
Rick Rogers
Kingsland

I wrote this May 10, 2006
In yesterdays paper I read this:
St. Marys Police to be commended for openness
Last year, the Tribune & Georgian printed complaints against police officers in Kingsland and St. Marys, as well as the resulting investigations.Why, you may ask, was the sheriff's office left out? Well, because after seven months of getting the run-around, rather than releasing the reports, the sheriff's office sent us a piece of paper enumerating that there were a certain number of reports, but did not release a single written investigation or complaint. This year, our readers may have noticed, we again printed last year's complaints against St. Marys officers and the results of those complaints.You will notice, perhaps conspicuously, that nothing else has appeared. While Kingsland did respond, because of pending legal matters, the department cannot yet release that information. That's understandable.But the sheriff's office contends there have been no complaints, except those who want to complain about a ticket, and even then no written reports exist. The department refuses to release anything official on the investigation of two deputies who were fired last year (One was rehired.).Because of the contrast between the departments, we want to thank the St. Marys Police Department and Chief Tim Hatch for always being so cooperative and timely in their responses to our Freedom of Information requests. Hatch and his department know who they work for, and while they may not always be happy about having to release certain information, they always, always do.It's a testament to the department's commitment to serve the St. Marys community. No one is perfect, and the department, as shown in the complaints, is no exception, but they are open about their imperfections, and that is a true breath of fresh air.We look forward to many years of cooperation with the St. Marys Police Department, and hopefully Chief Hatch as well.

The piece written in RED is a lie. I have a complaint on file with the KPD against officer Douglas. I have told the KPD 3 times I do not plan on suing. Yet every time I would call I was told they could not comment due to pending. Finally they called my work and tried to get me fired. I was right a year ago and I am still right today. They are coving up complaints to protect the bad officers they have.

Folks I am not against law enforcement, My father is a retired New York State Trooper and my grandfather was a U.S. Marshall, so I know how law enforcement works. Here in Camden they think they can get away with whatever they want and it will stop.