Posted on 07/28/2005 6:49:33 AM PDT by hdrabon
SALISBURY - Rowan County officials paid private investigators more than $23,000 over the past five years to search for the writer of anonymous letters criticizing county spending.
According to the private eyes, that person turned out to be one of the county's own.
The Board of Commissioners never discussed or approved spending for the investigation at any formal meeting. Only County Manager Tim Russell, his assistants and possibly two commissioners' chairmen knew of the investigation, The Salisbury Post reported. Russell said he hired the agency because of the letters' threatening tone.
The investigation was revealed after Kiker Investigations issued a report claiming county commissioner Arnold Chamberlain wrote the letters and postcards addressed from the Department of Common Sense. Chamberlain denies writing the letters and has hired attorneys.
Chamberlain said he learned of the investigation when he received a copy of the Kiker report last week.
"This was sprung on me," Chamberlain said. "I am shocked and amazed, shocked that I am being accused and investigated, amazed that taxpayer money is being spent like this."
Chamberlain said he has received many letters and cards from Common Sense.
"I never felt threatened," he said. "I chalked it up to discontent, somebody with plenty of time on his hands."
Kiker has investigated more than seven Rowan County residents since 2001, according to invoices that total $23,044.
"Everybody involved is planning on filing suit against the county and the individuals," said Rodney Cress, a former county special deputy who was investigated as the possible author.
The intention was to find the writer and ask him or her to stop, Russell said. No one has said the writer broke any laws.
"It was never a criminal investigation ... I'm not sure it reached the level of a threat," said Russell, who said he nonetheless added security at several events where county officials were participants.
Another example of government out of control that gives US reason to fly our flag upside down.
HDR
I don't know what to say. This was way over the top.
Rockford, Magnum, Paul Drake, Barnaby Jones, Jake Gittus, Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, Dashiell Hammett, Miss Marple, Marlowe, Spade, Watson, Father Brown, Brother Cadfael, Dupin, Poirot, Ellery Queen, Perry Mason, Nero Wolfe, The Thin Man, Lew Archer, Lord Peter Wimsey...et al., Rowan County now hiring.
Oh yes, Scoobie Doo...my bad.
BTW, enjoyed Ode to Mary Jo.
They must be liberals protecting our civil liberties.
Thanks for this post.
All politics is local, remember? As goes your county or municipality, so goes your country!
Blessings, HDR
It can't be slander because the accused is an elected official, er, a public figure, right?
These government officials should be thrown in jail.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here I really wish I could say I was suprised that an american government would do this is the 21st century but im not.Thats just the typical m.o. of governemnt jackboots that have never read nor could every comprahend any of the federalist papers or any simple english words in the american constitution
This doesn't suprise me at all.
The issue of liberal-conservative, Democrat-Republican is a red herring anymore. Those are only terms the legal industry uses to keep the populace occupied while they make law all around us through municipal and county attorney representations, a vocational majority in the state legislatures and the US Congress, and ownership/control of the American legal system (judicial branch).
At the very end of THIS story are the attorneys awaiting the fallout, and the county attorney (at least) who will get paid by taxpayer money to "handle" this. . . .
At least the local media rag gave this a little attention -- In Union Co., NC, the local media are in the pockets of the wrongdoers, er, uh, leaders. Things happen here, and the victims are treated like lepers, or like they're crazy, etc. . . .
Well, the DA is part of the local lawyer-judicial machine: TOO much is at stake for corruptors of county and municipal processes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.