Dr. G again breaks down Bledsoe's "Cops in black and white" Here. The most amazing thing to me about this is the silence around the blog world. No Cone? No Carmany?No Greensboro 101? No Hogg? No Coon?I am sure I am missing some. I just did not think everyone would be so quiet about this. I personally would like to know what the Big Bloggers think of the story. Does the Rhino not count? Does this side of the story not count? If there are things that are wrong should they not be talked about in the Blogsphere? I am open to meeting at Twiggy's with any of blogger's named above. Let's have a small chat. If facts need to be questioned we can ask someone at Twiggy's. Seriously, why the silence folks? Below is a copy of the ride along form mentioned in Bledsoe's story.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Silent Ride Along.
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29 comments:
Hey Mr Bledsoe? You can't get both sides of a story talking to one side.
I'm not a Big Blogger, but for my part all I can say is I'm just reading it, and will be interested to hear responses from those who are named/involved/have first-hand knowledge.
It's not matter of that version of events not "counting", or facts needing to be questioned, it just seems like a straight-reporting piece that doesn't lend itself to much in the way of interpretation, debate, or opinion-spouting. Jerry's reporting speaks for itself, and will either be borne out by facts and corroborating accounts or it won't. I wouldn't jump in this early and try to predict things based on no first-hand information. I can't speak to the veracity or lack thereof of what he's claiming, so what can I contribute, other than yet another uninformed opinion in the mess? I'm following the story, and will continue to.
In other words, it's hard to know what about the series I would blog, other than simply calling attention to it or summarizing as Guarino's doing -- which if I were Bledsoe, I wouldn't care for very much. Seems a writer would always prefer people read their actual words on the page rather than an introduced layer of interpretation that purports to be a summary. That's always dangerous - too much room for a missed nuance or a not-quite accurate summation of a quote, and suddenly a summary can become very inaccurate. I don't know that that's happened in this case, but I think many writers would prefer a link to the actual piece rather than a "let me tell you what he said" story.
And the fact that there were things that were wrong in the GPD? No news there, so I don't think Bledsoe's shocking anybody, except those who are mentioned by name in print and have to deal with the consequences of that.
Chewie,
I checked your blog. I think you are a big blogger. Thnx for commenting. So u aint shocked huh? were u there at that party? Chewie were u working the room?
Reference the first comment, I guess you are saying the wrecks did not occur, just a made up story by Wray? The party did not happen, another made up story by Wray? Hinson is a womanizer, made up by Wray? The other side can talk, but the city won't let them-------made up by Wray! I see your point.
admittedly, i know practically nothing of the story beyond a very short conversation with you, ben, so i haven't given it much thought. but i'm down for a beer any time...
Well... a little shocked, I guess, but trying to arrive at a locked-in position on this story is difficult. I still feel like there's much more we don't know, and may never know. Someone does, though, or someones... it's increasing my affection for the idea of a citizen review board. I'm also increasingly in favor of more police officers in Greensboro. I think we need 'em. I appreciate the ones we've got and the thankless job they do. I think they're too outnumbered and spread too thin. They're also wasted on stupid stuff like disrupting political rallies, while there are urgent issues like Hispanic gangs taking over neighborhoods. Know what I'm sayin'? The officers can be good and the system can still be broken. Greensboro needs some leadership -- it's growing too fast for old and slow thinking.
I was working security, in case things got out of hand. Seems like all the good stuff always happens on my lunch break.
As I've said before, I'm reading it with interest and waiting for it to reach some sort of conclusion. I've made a few comments on it, but we have yet to reach the stuff that's really at issue: what is Wray's version of the events that actually led to his departure?
John Hammer wrote in January: "The Police Chief David Wray resignation story isn't about a black book, although there is a black book in it. It isn't about Greensboro Police Lt. James Hinson or drug dealers, although they are in it. And most importantly it isn't just about race although there are some racial factors that cannot be ignored.
"This story is about honesty and trust, and it can be summed up simply: City Manager Mitch Johnson, Mayor Keith Holliday, and [the rest of the Council members] didn't trust former Police Chief David Wray and don't believe Wray was honest with them."
That's the statement I'm waiting to see addressed.
I've found Jerry's narrative to be a fascinating look inside the GPD. It has a clear agenda, but that's fine, it's right on the table so there's no confusion there. But in terms of actually moving the Wray story forward, well, that part is still to come.
Chewie,
Thank you for commenting and reading. I see you still have your sense of humor.
Sean, I hope you begin to give it thought.
i'll do my best to try to catch up with it all, ben.
Unlike some you might have noticed that I (not even accepted as a blogger by the group!) have thrown out some of my questions and theories all along on Joe's blog. I too have wondered what the "big bloggers" are thinking. But many of them are old timers in Greensboro and I believe would just like for the whole thing to go away and the clean veneer over the mud (status quo) to continue. This isn't going to continue to be the case as Greensboro is growing up and there is too much new blood coming to town. BB
As for me, Ben... I'm witholding any comment or opinion until I've read the entire thing.
Jerry's story is still unfolding...
To Ed Cone's comments it appears Cone is convinced the problem may be honesty and trust on Wray's part. Could it be honesty on Johnson's part and a possible mistake by Johnson when he bought hook, line and sinker the stories told to him by the black officers (race card). In today's political world it is so hard to say anything against the race card OR be labled a racist yourself. Johnson and Miles may be scrambling. Their leak about civil rights violations was shot down by the FBI. Now their hopes lie with the SBI criminal investigation. If that fails they will surely find something to blame Wray and Brady for!
By the way has Hinson taken a Lie Detector exam?? Don't think so and don't take that too lightly!!
Thank you all for commenting! it was neat to hear from each of you. One thing for Hogg...you certainly didnt have this wait and see approach when the N&R was busting stories of K&W meetings.
Ed,
The Rhino's early statement is uninformed. if lying was the problem, there would be lots of people locked out of their office. Most importantly Linda Miles!
i am not "convinced" of anything.
i don't think this should go away.
i have published my views in the news & record, that the city needs to give us a lot more information on what it knows and thinks it knows.
"Hey Mr Bledsoe? You can't get both sides of a story talking to one side."
The other side has already been heard in the N&R when the story first broke. I was amazed at the one-sidedness of the initial reporting.
Some of the information coming from Bledsoe should have been revealed in follow up pieces by the N&R. Apparently they didn't feel much of a need to follow up.
Why is that?
Ben,
Thank you.
I agree Ben, the perfect place for this to be discussed would be Jerry's blog or The Rhino blog (anybody know the URL's?).
Dr. Joe's reviews (which are hampered by the fact that he cannot link to a timely online version of Bledsoe's articles) have appeared on the main page of Greensboro101.com.
Well, that abiout does it. Everyone has added to the conversation. Almost everyone, where is Carmany? I would really like to know what she thinks about all of this.
Regarding "One thing for Hogg...you certainly didnt have this wait and see approach when the N&R was busting stories of K&W meetings."
You are correct, Ben, because I didn't have to wait to form an opinion. I responded to that N&R article in its entirity with the information I had at the time... it was not serialized like Bledsoe's rhino series.
I don't generally evaluate a book until I've completed it either.
Blah blah blah. There is nobody I like better to squabble with in the comments section than my main man Snoop Hoggy Hogg.
You have seen us battle before. The Troublemaker was the first to post the amazing Hogg Wash and Hogg Wash II series. Some of the greates quotes in the blog world have been generated during our battles. Such as "Trust is earned" and "Keep it civil" And who could forget when I wrote to Hogg.."It appears you were born on the third base of Greensboro and walk around as if you hit a triple." We have also been seen at Twiggy's together.
It is now time to once again get it on with Boss Hogg.You wrote on March 10th of the K&W meetings and had decided that Lorraine was right. Wray didnt like black people. Then in late April you talked of "the tip of the iceberg" and how there is lots left to uncover. To say you are unable to have an opinion until the whole story is complete is silly. In March the whole David Wray N&R secret police story was not over. But you felt good about calling him a person that did not like black people. Damn Hogg, the N&R tries to mention the secret police in every single police article to this day. You jumped on the racist band wagon early. later you admitted that there is lots unknown. I am gonna get you a book to read.
To summarize: First you decided quickly that Wray was a racist. about a month later you wrote: "and I further believe we are only getting glimpses of the top few centimeters of this iceberg’s tip."
You got a few glimpses of the whole story now and you sure are quiet.
ps
keep it civil!
Thanks, Ben. Keeping it civil here.
Regarding my 3/10 post responding to N&R report aaccount of the exclusion of any black officers from Wray's K&W meetings, my actual statement aimed at Wray's attorney Locke Clifford was, "...perhaps Wray is not a “card-carrying racist” as you insist, but I’d sure say he doesn’t like black people very much."
I'll admit that it was a kneejerk response to what I read in the article and, given the information provided, not an unreasonable kneejerk at that.
The "tip of the iceberg" quote came from Councilman Tom Phillips and I think it was prophetic.
As Jerry's serial unfolds, I think Tom's statement, and my predictions of the Wray story being deep and wide, is being realized. (Although, perhaps, in unexpected ways)
You are laboring under the assumption that I am some kind of puppet for the N&R and will "tow the party line" at all costs regardless of whatever evidence surfaces.
You've been surprised before. Haven't you?
"N&R report aaccount of the exclusion of any black officers from Wray's K&W meetings" That wasnt even true. In the end hopefully u will be able to see the RMA report was biased and just plain wrong. However, instead of seeing that RMA was heavily influeneed by Miles and Johnson u just ran with the racist agenda. I forgive you.
ps,
when I took you to twiggy's, I told you all about what was just in the Rhino. Ice cubes and all!
Dear Troublemaker, Hogg ain't the only one who has failed to see the influence Johnson and Miles had on RMA.
If our liberal sisters and brothers on the City Council had any balls this problem would be over , long ago!! The power they gain from politics and that need to be " in power " allows them to overlook the obvious so that the votes will not disappear.
We need a new City Council, one that will call a spade a spade and do what is best for the City not just a small group.
Stand up to the RACE CARD and be truthful!
Just read the Abraham letter. Seems to me that he has some of the facts right. Wray did lie/forge/lie some more/have a questionable black book/put it in a trunk. Someone please tell MR Abraham that you don't mix white/black officer in the same line-up when you know the suspect in black. What a moron. But needless to say, lets not forget that Wray did do some of these things.
To anonymous who just read the Abraham letter I agree with you about the line-up part. We know that is accurate because we read the letter. Now about Wray, have we seen the actual facts/evidence? If you are in LE you know there are many black books in use at any given time. Do you think Bellamy or any Chief in the past knows about all the black books? Could there have been more than 1 black book being used during this time period? Could more than 1 black book have pictures of black officers used for differant cases? Is it a violation of law or policy to have a black book?
Would it make you mad or hurt your feelings if you found out your picture was in a black book? Yes and if you are black throw out the race card to Johnson and Miles and they will believe all!!
It's not over yet!!!
Wray did what according to who? Miles and Johnson?? Come on, get real!!
After reading the Rhino article, I thought Tom Phillips and Mayor Holliday came across as rather smug and arrogant in their blind loyalty to Mitch johnson.
With comments like "As far as Wray is concerned he should have been fired long before he got canned, well he resgned."
" And if you knew what I know, you would know why we have confidence in M.J. and the steps he has taken"
Well, please tell us what hell David Wray did that was so awful!
Come on now!! His Dept used black officers in a photo line-up (never done before in LE history). He should have asked Hinson if he socialized with Prostitutes and Drug Traffickers instead of covertly investigating the numerous complaints. Hinso would have told the truth. He failed to tell Hinson that SID had placed tracking devices on Hinson's police vehicle so Hinson would know he was being watched.
All the things Wray did wrong just go on and on! Treating that poor black officer with such disrespect while not conducting the same type on investigation on a white ofiicer at the same time clearly shows racisim
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