Social Services and Abuse of Power

The American Party of Colorado ^ | 9/19/03 | Robert H. Teesdale

[Robert Teesdale]

To All:

This thread is from a discussion that began from an announcement on the Colorado chapter page. LiteKeeper properly requested we move to a thread, as it was becoming an actual discussion there.

Accordingly, here is the latest post. And the Colorado Announcements page is here, where you can review the beginnings of this discussion.

Best regards to all,

Robert Teesdale
Chairman
American Party of Colorado
www.theamericanparty.us
chairman@theamericanparty.us

--------

Patriotic American:

Personal attacks merely demonstrate, Sir, that your arguments are more emotional than rational. I am neither an idiot, a propagandist, and certainly not a skinhead.

To suggest so is both pointlessly insulting and also factually bereft. I have no patience for bigotry, prejudice, or other absurd and ridiculous conduct. And neither the Party or our officers will tolerate it, as has been made quite clear in the Party Leadership and Party Values section of our site.

You ask for examples? Case in point: My ex-wife had her visitation with our son terminated twice by the social worker assigned to our case, based solely on her order and with absolutely no hearings in any courtroom or any signed documents from any judge. In fact, there was no documentation at all - merely a verbal order given to me and to my ex-wife.

Did it have legal binding force? Strictly speaking, perhaps it did not. I cannot cite the statute that gives a social worker that constituted authority. However, what is clear is that she unmistakably represented that she possessed that authority; unmistakably exercised it; and unequivocally demanded compliance with it.

That my custody case benefited from it at the expense of my ex-wife's case, is irrelevant. It was wrong. As helpful as it was to my case, I was displeased and offended at how it played out. My research online, in courtrooms listening to Dependency and Neglect hearings, and talking to various social workers and CASAs has since demonstrated to me that the system is simply top-heavy with many of the same sort of mentalities that infect the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.

One believes it has a mandate to disarm. It shoots people and burns homes to the ground at any sign of defiance or resistance. The other believes it has a mandate to remove children in the name of forcing the same sort of groveling before the State. It destroys families and permanently traumatizes children and parents both.

I won sole custody and sole decision-making for my son, permanently, in May of this year. The case number is 01-DR-1055. Feel free to look it up.

I know another family that is involved in a custody conflict. Their two children were in my home, under the care of myself and my fiancee, for approximately 30 hours each week for several months this year. Social Services twice removed the children from the father without a court order and placed them with the mother; the first time this occurred, my home ended up being where they were placed during working hours.

Their names and case number is not, bluntly, your business. Especially with your apparent attitude in this matter.

The father's supposed wrongdoing? Reporting suspected sexual abuse by the mother's boyfriend to Social Services, after being instructed to do so by the children's physician. They called it "alienation" while ignoring the disgustingly unfit conditions in the mother's crowded and filthy apartment.

Yet another father I know had a social worker leave her card on his front door. He left several messages for her, the last one stating that "I see no reason to speak with you." The social worker subsequently attempted to question his child at school without his knowledge. Fortunately, the child refused to answer questions and told the caseworker that his family life was not her business.

Result? A Dependency and Neglect was filed, and the caseworker attempted to have the child removed from his custody. The accusation? "He was uncooperative."

Note at this point that the social worker had not seen the home; had no effective interview with either the child or the parent; and was basing her attempt to harm that family upon the father's disinterest in accomodating her bureaucratic designs.

The father refused to sign their pro-forma Dependency and Neglect paperwork. I was there in the courtroom listening to the hearing. He refused to work with Social Services. He told them he would fight it with everything he had, and began to do precisely that.

End result? They withdrew the Dependency and Neglect petition and have left him and his family alone since.

This tells me - and any other objective observer - that a) the social worker had no real fear that the child was in danger; b) had no information that there was in fact anything wrong; and worst: c) was willing to sunder and sever a family merely because her ego was not stroked in a sufficiently acquiescent manner.

That is abuse of State power.

I certainly understand that your spouse is a social worker. Neither I, nor the Party, nor its officers have opposition to social workers per se. They fulfill a necessary and important function in our society.

But they must obey the rule of law. And unequivocally, to use the threat of tearing a family apart in order to force compliance with the personal political or social agenda of the caseworker, is wrong.

Sir, in the last several weeks since the Party has announced action on this issue, it has been inundated with stories from family after family from across the entire United States. They are horrifying. Many of them, no doubt, had legitimate issues that required active social services involvement. But when one reads the statistics - such as over 80% of Nebraska children released from foster care listed as "missing"; the majority of state social services failing the Federal performance levels; when a caseworker in Louisville - who I have met, and briefly worked with in my capacity as caretaker for the aforementioned two children - is indirectly responsible for the deaths of two children on her caseload and is still working without even having to undergo paid administrative leave - one begins to suspect, just perhaps, that the matter requires some attention.

The Party is not advocating hanging social services workers from lampposts. What we are demanding is an independent review board to hear and investigate complaints of malfeasance and abuse by social workers.

Do you believe that social workers are paradigms of professional responsibility? Do disagree that they should be held accountable for their conduct?

The Governor of Colorado has ordered that "government must measure its every action against one simple standard: If it harms the family, it shouldn't be done."

That is pointless rhetoric without teeth behind it.

The common thread that runs through all these disturbing and sorrowful stories we are hearing, Sir, is that they have nowhere to turn to have their story told.

Their pain is indescribable. Their terror and sorrow are beyond description. They are terribly, terribly alone.

The Party intends to give them a voice. And will do so.

My very best regards, Sir -

Robert Teesdale
Chairman
American Party of Colorado
chairman@theamericanparty.us

[Robert Teesdale]

To All:

Fire away!

Best regards,

Robert Teesdale
Chairman
American Party of Colorado
chairman@theamericanparty.us

[PatrioticAmerican]

Listen, nitwit, you can post all you want that you believe social workers can take kids in Colorado without a court order, but you still haven't posted that law or any other factual information to prove it. Nothing, zip, nada.

So, so far you have done nothing but spread lies and slander about social workers in Colorado, my wife being one of them, for your own political gain.

You are trying to use an emotional issue such as child welfare to get elected. Sorry, but it ain't working. Since you only got here in 1998, let me clue you in: Colorado isn't so stupid. Even our liberals are fairly well educated, as dumb as they are.


Now, as far as that Boulder case you trumpet, name it. Name the case, the court case number, etc. Your not arguing with an ignorant schmuck. I have access to all the social services and legal databases I need within Colorado. So, go ahead, give us the references, well only check. Liar.

[PatrioticAmerican]

YOu got taken by someone whom you thought had power and you claim they, therefore, have that power? Get real. If you're that much an idiot, you deserve to be suckered. You are a bitter young lad with nothing to go on. Don't blame a system when you don't even understand the basics of that system.

You claim to be part of a political party that wants to take back America but you don't even understand the basics of our legal system or our form of government. If you did, you couldn't have been suckered. No way, no how.

So, your earlier claim is that social workers can and have taken children without court order in the state of Colorado. So, name it. Name the cases. We're waiting. I'm sure Bill Owens would like to hear how. Unlike you, I'm sure I can get him the message.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Before reading your comments I was already of the opinion that, what is called Child Protective Services here in Texas, is an out of control group of brown shirts nationwide. Anyone who keeps up with the news is frequently reading examples of that group removing children from homes for little or no reason and, worse, sometimes placing children in foster homes of people totally unfit for the responsibility. All of us know, or should know, about the chaos of that department in Florida who even lost a child and has yet to find her.

There are many cases of perfectly wonderful couples being unable to adopt while gays and lesbians easily get kids, sometimes as singles rather than couples.

You are correct that the situation is a national shame. Your protagonists seems an emotional tunnel visioned non-thinker.

[Robert Teesdale]

Patriotic American:

Permit me, if I may, to respond to your post as directly and efficiently as possible.

"Listen, nitwit..."

Name-calling is rather irrelevant.

"...you can post all you want that you believe social workers can take kids in Colorado without a court order, but you still haven't posted that law or any other factual information to prove it. Nothing, zip, nada."

As I stated in my post above, I do not know of a specific Colorado Revised Statute that gives them that legal authority. However, I also know that I have seen them prevent parents from seeing their children without an order. I have had that authority directly represented to me. And I so stated.

"So, so far you have done nothing but spread lies and slander..."

Tanner Dowler is dead. Is his death the result of total, unquestioned professional conduct by the social worker?

"...about social workers in Colorado..."

We're getting stories from absolutely everywhere. Even from the United Kingdom. And why?

Because to threaten someone's children is the surest way to terrify them and obtain compliance.

And I suspect, Sir, that you know that.

"...my wife being one of them..."

Irrelevant. Whether your wife is a social worker or not has no bearing on whether some social workers commit abuses, backed by the lethal force of the State, in pursuit of their own personal agenda.

Or whether that is wrong

...for your own political gain."

I do not believe that anyone can read accounts of social services malfeasance; listen to parents torn inside from the harm done to them; watched social services workers serve astonishingly blatant lies in a courtroom; hear the children in question sobbing in the back seat of your car, asking why they took them away from their father; and fail to be both moved and determined to take action.

"You are trying to use an emotional issue such as child welfare to get elected."

I am not currently a candidate for office. Consequently, your accusation is irrelevant. My motivation is that I am sick, tired and infuriated at what I have witnessed and continue to.

"Sorry, but it ain't working. Since you only got here in 1998, let me clue you in: Colorado isn't so stupid. Even our liberals are fairly well educated, as dumb as they are."

This is relevant how? Is it your considered position, Sir, that abuse of power by social workers does not happen in Colorado?

"Now, as far as that Boulder case you trumpet, name it. Name the case, the court case number, etc."

The case number of other families is not your business.

"Your not arguing with an ignorant schmuck."

I have not suggested ignorance on your part. Nor do I.

"I have access to all the social services and legal databases I need within Colorado."

Now this is a telling point. It is extremely improper for you to have any access at all to any caseworker files, as a private citizen. How do you have such access? Does your spouse improperly permit you to browse through confidential case files? If so, does that not prove my point?

If you are a social worker or law enforcement officer yourself, it is still highly improper for you to review confidential case files in order to bolster a political argument that is outside the confines of the case in question. Again, this would tend to rather radically underline the point I make about abuse of power and unaccountability.

If not, and if you refer to divorce and custody court files, then your claim of access is both true and unimpressive. Colorado divorce and custody files are public records.

"So, go ahead, give us the references, well only check. Liar."

I've given you a case number. My recommendation, Sir, is that you remove your personal investment in this argument sufficiently long enough to consider the objective points being made. I offer no insult or disrespect to you or your spouse; and to attack my points by way of claiming such insult, is simply disingenuous.

The Party's demand is simple. An independent civilian oversight board to hear and investigate complaints of misconduct by social services workers in Colorado.

My very best regards,

Robert Teesdale
Chairman
American Party of Colorado
chairman@theamericanparty.us

[Robert Teesdale]

Patriotic American:

"YOu got taken by someone whom you thought had power and you claim they, therefore, have that power? Get real."

Rather, my ex-wife got taken. As I said, I won sole custody and sole decision-making for my son. As a father in Boulder County I suspect I did something, Sir, that was right. But they system malfunctions sufficiently often that I count that victory as being, in large part, due to luck. Had a different Child Advocate been appointed in my situation, my son's future would perhaps look quite less bright.

"If you're that much an idiot..."

Ad hominem. Irrelevant.

"...you deserve to be suckered."

Is it your considered argument, Sir, that those who are less educated or have less resources, deserve to be trampled underfoot by the force of the State?

"You are a bitter young lad with nothing to go on."

Bitter? I won my case, Sir. If there is bitterness, it stems from the brutality I have seen them do to others. And I care sufficiently about my community, and my people, to say that it is wrong and must be rectified.

An unjust society is intolerable.

"Don't blame a system when you don't even understand the basics of that system."

It should be quite clear, Sir, that it is not the system I oppose - it is the unaccountable actors within that system that the Party is demanding a means of obtaining redress from.

"You claim to be part of a political party that wants to take back America..."

More specifically, the State of Colorado. The nation quite obviously is a larger, more long-term task.

"...but you don't even understand the basics of our legal system or our form of government."

Speculative ad hominem. Irrelevant.

"If you did, you couldn't have been suckered. No way, no how."

As I previously noted, I won my case. Sole custody, sole decision-making in a state where joint custody/co-parenting is the expectation.

Did I mention that I was pro-se in my case? I submit, Sir, that this indicates some small understanding of both our legal system, and our form of government.

"So, your earlier claim is that social workers can and have taken children without court order in the state of Colorado. So, name it. Name the cases. We're waiting.""

Read my posts. Social workers can - and do - take children from homes without orders. Do they obtain orders after the fact? Yes, perhaps they do. An ex-post-facto order. The Party's position is that they should require a warrant to enter the home to begin with.

An example? See the Stumbo case in North Carolina. Their predicament is repeated across the nation.

"I'm sure Bill Owens would like to hear how. Unlike you, I'm sure I can get him the message."

Appeal to authority. Irrelevant.

I regret that you consider this topic to be one in which you are sufficiently emotionally invested, so as to resort to commentary such as "idiot" and "sucker". And if, as you appear to subtly represent, you hold official power with ready access to the chief executive of the state - I find that attitude towards those seeking redress of grievances, to be not merely worrying - but also demonstrably symptomatic of the issue before us.

That is unfortunate.

Best regards,

Robert Teesdale
Chairman
www.theamericanparty.us
chairman@theamericanparty.us

[PatrioticAmerican]

So far, you haven't impressed anyone. As a matter of fact, based on your criminal and civil record, you might not want to be in the public limelight.

I know, you tried to change your name to avoid public humiliation and flight from prosecution, but, ROBERT HAGGERTY BAKER-CARR, your record still haunts you.

From a divorce in 2001, where you so pleasantly got a permanent restraining order for domestic violence that prevents you from ever owning a gun, to the wiretapping charge (Felony Class 5). Nice guy, huh? All pissed off at “the system” for “doing this to you”?? You gave your wife Hell and now you want to tell US how this country should work?

You were so pissed off that in 2002 you violated your bail conditions (Felony class 6).

Just this year you were so pissed that you failed to carry insurance?

Should I go on? I can, I have even more. Care for me to post these records?

[PatrioticAmerican]

What you have failed to understand is that every action of court is accompanied by a lawyer from the county. A social worker has no authority and cannot bring a petition to a court. These actions that are against you were by a judge, preceeded by a county lawyer, but you blame the social worker.

The fact is, your violent actions caused your restraining order. Your domestic violence, your stalking your wife, tapping her phones; your abuse caused those orders, not some social worker.

As far as records, they are public records. Most information of a social worker, including their e-mails are of public record. What is confidential is usually personal information of the protected, including their medical, financial, and personal history information. Once again, you fail to understand the basics of civics or government, and you want to lead a political party??

[PatrioticAmerican]

"Read my posts. Social workers can - and do - take children from homes without orders. Do they obtain orders after the fact? Yes, perhaps they do. An ex-post-facto order. The Party's position is that they should require a warrant to enter the home to begin with.

An example? See the Stumbo case in North Carolina. Their predicament is repeated across the nation.
"

You blatantly said in Colorado a social worker does not need a court order to remove a child. Having first hand information and legal knowledge that they do, I challenged you to name a single factual case in Colorado where a social worker took a child without a court order.

So name it. Name the case. Just one.

You are using that statement as a basis for your party in stating that the government is out of control and that your party will reel it back in, so, as an American doing his civic duty, I challenge that statement and your party's use of it.

Name a single case or admit you lied for political gain.

[PatrioticAmerican]

P.S. There isn't a topic on FreeRepublic that a FReeper isn't personally involved with or doesn't have first hand knowledge. That's what mkes this site to powerful: We know because we are.

[Robert Teesdale]

Patriotic American:

How amusing.

Call the District Attorney in question and he will inform you that:

a) there are no restraining orders against me;

b) there are no convictions on my record (other than the odd moving violation);

c) there were false complaints filed by my ex-wife;

d) any and all charges against me have been dismissed with prejudice;

e) I am not a "prohibited person" for firearms ownership; and

f) that I won sole custody and sole decision-making, permanently, for my child.

He will also advise you that he recommended that a felony perjury complaint be filed against my ex-wife. His name is Timothy Johnson. His number is 303-441-3700.

Contact Detective Wilcox at the Boulder Police Department. Her number is 303-441-3090. She can verify that her felony perjury reports refer to my ex-wife as an "indisputable liar".

Another point? Social services initiated no less than three Dependency and Neglect petitions against my child. The case file contains information on my political activities but no information that warrants attempting to take my son.

All three petitions were denied by the county attorney as groundless, and never even made it to the point of filing with the court. I learned about them long afterwards, when I was quietly provided a copy of my case file.

My disbelief at finding that my political work: a gun rights activist, in Boulder County, former national director of the Tyranny Response Team - was apparently offensive enough to a public bureaucrat for her to attempt to take my child from me, would be expected. What shocked me was hearing from so many other families, after my case was over, about how they had been steamrolled for equally baseless reasons but lost.

There is an incalculable human cost in this issue.

You will find that the caseworker we eventually ended up with - the one I mentioned as both professional and humane - closed our case within a week of being assigned to it after my complaints against the former caseworker. The new caseworker said that her involvement in our lives would be purely pointless. Her name is Susan Unger. Call her. Her number is 303-413-7000.

Call the Special Child Advocate in my case. Her name is C. Peggy Goodbody, Esq. Her number is 303-440-5736. She will also confirm for you that my legal name change was prior to, and had nothing to do with, my divorce and custody battle. She can confirm for you the relative credibility of the parties in the matter.

In short, I came out of my encounters with the legal system in good shape, and having won each legal battle rather decisively.

Also in short, your attacks upon my person are pointless - and also disingenuous.

Many other families, however, are not as fortunate as I was. I stand by my position, and that of the Party, that an independent review board is both warranted and a proper response to misconduct by Social Services.

I have seen them do it. The initial worker on my case said bluntly, that my ex-wife was not to see our son again, per her order. No such order was ever issued by a judge. Was that legal? If there is no statutory authority for her to issue that "order" herself, then no - it wasn't legal, which is the entire point.

You are correct that there isn't a topic on FreeRepublic that a FReeper somewhere isn't personally involved with. Divorces and custody cases are, as is well known, often bitter and fierce, with false accusations and charges flung left and right. One of the reasons that men often refuse marriage these days.

What I will say, Sir, is that all of the bizarre, unpleasant, and unbelievably stressful nonsense I've fought through over the last two years was well worth the effort. I have my son. No permanent damage done to me or to him.

And you can take that to the bank.

I will close with a responding challenge to you. I posted my case number, the details, and have provided several names here and their phone numbers. I do not hide behind a pseudonym or fling insults. You are, Sir, currently doing both.

That is disreputable, dishonorable, and rather disgusting.

Any FReeper is welcome to contact any of the individuals and agencies involved and ask them anything they wish.

I stand by my name, my conduct and especially by my child. I also, in apparent contrast to your own person, stand by my fellow citizens when they are subjected to unwarranted and improper abuse by the State.

I make no secret of my public work or my contact information. I do not hide my face or my address. I do not hide, Sir.

I urge you not to sweep human pain and unnecessary suffering under the rug, in order to glorify and advance the power of the State.

I cordially invite you to provide me with your name, and your position, so that you may demonstrate that you have the capacity to be as forthright as I have been.

You retain, Sir -

My very best regards,

Robert Teesdale
Chairman
www.theamericanparty.us
chairman@theamericanparty.us

[Jack Black]

The Party's demand is simple. An independent civilian oversight board to hear and investigate complaints of misconduct by social services workers in Colorado.

That's not going to do much. These boards will be staffed by social workers or psychologists who will rubber stamp the actions of the out-of-control agencies. This is what many police review boards end up doing.

Better to legislate strong limits on the behavior of the social workers. I believe Utah is in the process of doing this.

B.T.W. social workers are civilians, no matter what they think or do. Only the military are rightly referred to as non-civilians.

I applaud your refusal to engage in name calling.

[Robert Teesdale]

Jack Black:

"That's not going to do much. These boards will be staffed by social workers or psychologists who will rubber stamp the actions of the out-of-control agencies. This is what many police review boards end up doing."

Yes, this is a problem. How to surmount that issue is one of the enormous practical difficulties. You want neither witch-hunters nor rubber-stampers on that board.

"Better to legislate strong limits on the behavior of the social workers. I believe Utah is in the process of doing this."

Any links would be appreciated.

"B.T.W. social workers are civilians, no matter what they think or do. Only the military are rightly referred to as non-civilians."

Quite correct. In practice, however, the thinking process of those employed by the State often becomes rather unfortunately "non-civilian" in nature. But a minor point of semantics. You're correct, and you know what we mean.

"I applaud your refusal to engage in name calling."

And I thank you, Sir, for that courtesy.

It is perhaps, also worth pointing out that "PatrioticAmerican" apparently has access to county and municipal court records on a Saturday morning. Per my good friend, a State Patrol officer who's here this afternoon, this is misuse of State resources for personal matters. He is suggesting I pursue the matter. I have declined. It's really not that important.

But I do find it archly amusing that "PatrioticAmerican" attempts to deny my assertions of abuse of State power, by abusing State power himself in an attempt to discredit me. I wonder if the moral, ethical, and argumentative contradiction is apparent to him.

Sincere regards,

Robert Teesdale
Chairman
American Party of Colorado
chairman@theamericanparty.us

[Robert Teesdale]

Jack Black:

My friend here is rather annoyed. He said that C.R.S. 18-8-404 covers this matter. County traffic records are not public records. Access to them in order to post here is "an act relating to his office but constituting an unauthorized exercise of his official function."

How deliciously ironic.

My thanks are in order, to "PatrioticAmerican", for so elegantly if inadverdently supporting my point.

Sincere regards,

Robert Teesdale
Chairman
www.theamericanparty.us
chairman@theamericanparty.us

[PatrioticAmerican]

"Better to legislate strong limits on the behavior of the social workers."

No state allows a social woker any authority in removing children. No state. EVERY action by a social worker is proceeded into court by a county attorney with a judge.

I hear case after case of proclamations of innocence only to discover the truth. Yes, there are some social workers with serious egos, but a simply "Piss off!" does the trick.

[PatrioticAmerican]

"The Party's demand is simple. An independent civilian oversight board to hear and investigate complaints of misconduct by social services workers in Colorado. "

There already is: It is called a court. If you have a beef with a case worker, file suit, or better yet, call their supervisor. SAying social workers have some kind of superman powers is BS. They don't.

Again, name a single case in Colorado where a social worker has taken a child without a court order. Name one. You can't, it doesn't exist.

This is just more Uban Legend which makes anyone opposing the government a wacko. I oppose many things our government does, but I don't see the need to lie about it, slander, spread false information, or anything else in order to get attention. Sorry, but the "American Party" isn't. America isn't about lies, propaganda, or deceit.

Again, name a single case in Colorado where a social worker has taken a child without a court order. Teesdale said they can and have, so I want his proof, the wacko liar.

[trussell]

Just as a demonstration of their misuse of power, CPS used dishonest means to wreck havoc on me and my children.

My ex and I had separated-he abducted the children-and he had people from Oregon calling Colorado CPS with reports of my house being unfit for my kids. (Thinking it is absurd to take the word of someone who is three thousand miles away as to the condition of my home).

When they came for the visit, the only thing they could find to write me up on was that my dog had shed and the worker had gotten some dog hair on her sweater. They used this to harrass me for the next three months!!

[Robert Teesdale]

trussell:

The months of harassment for dog hair is beyond absurd. If you'd like to include your story, here's the link:

Tell your story to the Party

Best regards,

Robert Teesdale
Chairman
American Party of Colorado
www.theamericanparty.us
chairman@theamericanparty.us

[Columbine]

I've gone to your site and don't see a platform or any indication of where this new party stands on issues.

I do see some lofty aspirations for spreading American ideals to the world. How do you plan to accomplish this?

Your forum seems to be mainly devoted to discussion of Social Services.

I'd like to hear from you or from others who know something about the background of those who formed this party. Where do the founders stand on issues important to Colorado and the country?