A Message from Sean Paden

Dear Fullerton Voters:

I want you to know that the false attacks on Councilman Greg Sebourn by the allies of Larry Bennett and Doug Chaffee in a recent mailer are shamefully misleading.

The vote that the Fullerton police union claims Greg Sebourn made “against transparency” is completely false.

Here are the facts:  On June 17, 2014 Greg voted FOR transparency and it was Doug Chaffee, Larry Bennett’s ally on the City Council, who voted against it.

At issue is an ordinance called COIN. Two versions were proposed and Greg voted for one of them. The version Greg voted against exempted citizens’ oversight of labor negotiations of Fullerton’s police union.

Let that sink in a minute folks. The police unions just spent at least $15,000 on a direct mailer criticizing Greg for wanting their labor negotiations to occur out in the open – and they want you to believe that was a vote against transparency. Do not believe any of it.

Another deceptive attack was circulated in a scurrilous robo-call last week.  I have known Greg Sebourn for four years now and have attended almost all of the council meetings on which he has been a member. He is a man of good character and integrity and would never stoop to spreading the kind of falsehoods that are being spread about him.

Fullerton voters, please do not be fooled by these deceitful mailers and phone messages.

On Tuesday, November 4, please cast your vote FOR transparency in city government.

Sincerely,
Sean Paden
Candidate for Fullerton City Council
 

Proudly Vote for Greg Sebourn and Sean Paden
on Tuesday, November 4.

OC Register Columnist Avoids the Obvious

OC Register columnist David Whiting shows the same trait as the Fullerton City Council members being recalled- denial.

Whiting gives his impression of the Fullerton recall election and the reaction of the public since the video was released.

While Whiting is entitled to express his opinion, he chose to use his creative writing skills over his journalist skills to express his support of the three doomed council members Jones, Bankhead, and McKinley.

I suppose when the facts are present, one need only close their eyes and the facts go away.  I'm sure my toddler would agree.

Unfortunately, sticking one's head in the sand doesn't resolve anything.  It only drags out the inevitable demise that is certain to follow.

Whiting gives the before and after impressions of the soon-to-be ex-councilmen and uses some mild quotes. He ignores, as city council candidate Matt Rowe pointed out, numerous tasteless, insensitive, and demeaning comments made by McKinley.  Bankhead and Jones also made plenty of similar remarks that have reflected poorly on our city.

From Matt's Facebook post at the OC Register on-line:

Here's some better quotes for Councilman McKinley.
---
Theme: Compassion
On sexual assault and the FPD (Rincon).
"Those ladies weren't people like this." 
This is not compassion. This is judgement. Does Pat McKinley side with the victims here or with the officer? You decide, then read the next one.
"It was just inappropriate touching. Not a good thing, but it ain't a dangerous thing."
This is not compassion. Pat McKinley actively dismissed what it feels like to be sexually assaulted and defended the officer's actions. Need more, read below. 

On Kelly Thomas.
"You can't get six people around one guy."
This is not compassion. This is attacking witnesses to the crime. As the video demonstrates, you can certainly get six officers on one guy. They piled on and crushed Kelly to death. Again, this is not compassion, this is Pat McKinley defending the FPD on national television. Need more?
"I've had my eyes bloused a few times myself... facial injuries are not life threatening."
This is not compassion. This is Pat McKinley minimizing the injuries that Kelly Thomas received. He's making a foray into medicine and is not acting appropriately for a councilman. No eye blousing every received by Pat McKinley should EVER be compared to Kelly Thomas's injuries. Need more?
"I can guarantee neither of these officers intended for Kelly Thomas to die. They had no intention of murdering him."
THIS IS NOT COMPASSION. This is Pat McKinley, again, sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. He has no idea what the officers' intent was. Here he is AGAIN advocating for the FPD and not advocating for a citizen of Fullerton, a victim of the FPD. Still need more?
"This should be an interesting trial and Mr Barnett is an extremely competent lawyer, and he has said that he has other information."
This is not compassion. This is Pat McKinley alluding to evidence held by the defense that may exonerate the officers. He has no business stating this, true or untrue. He's supposed to be advocating for citizens, for Fullerton, and for victims of crime inside the city limits. Making a statement about how good the defense attorney is and how interesting he's going to make the trial is not compassion. If it is, it's only for the FPD.
---
Theme: Police Discipline:
"I probably hired them all."
Yup. You probably trained them, too. Not exactly who I want ensuring my rights aren't violated.
"We changed the entire culture of the department."
I have no doubt you did.
"We put Rincon on administrative leave, immediately."
Really? This is a lie. Pat McKinley left Rincon on the job after receiving multiple complaints. He assaulted many many women. What did Pat McKinley do about it? He left him on the street, retired, then blamed the incoming police chief. View it yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg3uCUnivlU&feature=youtu.be
---
I have no idea why the person writing this article wrote what they did. What I can tell you is that we're not all on the same page. The quotes presented by the author, at best, occurred weeks and months after Kelly was killed. What the author should be presenting is what the council members said before the press got a hold of the case. That's the justification for the recall.
I guess this really sums up the reporter's journalistic ability: "As one speaker in council chambers put it, 'The world is watching this meeting.' I'm not so sure about the world."
The speaker was Ron Thomas. The world is most definitely watching. 10 million views and counting.
YES ON RECALL.

Well said Matt!  

Sticking our head in the sands of Fullerton have left us with over $1-BILLION of debt, no less than a dozen law suits, several former police employees incarcerated or on trial, accounting gimmicks and misappropriation of public funds, illegal taxes, and a blood on our streets.  \

The only cure for Fullerton's failed leadership is to replace the council with competent and caring leaders who will not look the other way while Rome is burning.

CAUSE: head in sand, EFFECT: (see images below)

A DUI crash mock-up. Unlike many

other Fullerton images, no one died

or was injured in this picture.

Fullerton Police Chief Michael Sellers to Retire (for good?)

Fullerton City Manager Joe Felz today (Feb. 3) announced that Michael F. Sellers has informed the city that he will retire from his position as chief of the Fullerton Police Department.

           

The retirement will be effective Feb. 18.

           

Felz, who wished Sellers well, said the retirement will help the department and the city in the process of moving forward.   He added no decision has been made as to a permanent replacement.

           

“We will be reviewing our options with the Council in the coming months and will determine the best course for the city in finding a replacement,” Felz said.

           

Police Capt. Dan Hughes, a 28-year veteran of the department, will serve as acting chief until a decision is made on a permanent replacement.

           

Sellers, who became Fullerton’s chief in May 2009, has been on medical leave since Aug. 9, 2011. The announcement of his retirement coincides with resolution of Sellers’ workers’ compensation claim.

           

That resolution involves a payment of $127,500 to Sellers, plus $22,500 in legal fees. In addition, it relieves the city from any future responsibility for medical costs related to the claim.  

           

William McCormick, the attorney who represented the City of Fullerton in the workers compensation claim, said he is pleased with the outcome of the case. “Chief Sellers’ treating doctor and an independent doctor both said he was unable to return to work at his job, and the settlement ended any potential liability for future medical treatment costs, which could be significant,” McCormick said.           

           

Sellers will be eligible for an industrial disability retirement based on findings from his doctor, as well as from the city’s doctor, who determined Sellers is disabled from performing his job as Fullerton’s police chief.

Sellers began his career in law enforcement in 1976 when he joined the La Palma Police Department. He left La Palma in 1995 for a captain’s position with the Los Alamitos Police Department. In 1997, he was made chief of the Seal Beach Police Department. He accepted the post of Laguna Beach chief of police in 2005.

He left Laguna Beach to become Fullerton’s chief of police.

REMINDER - FOCUS ON WEST FULLERTON - TONIGHT

You’re invited to…

A Dialogue with
Fullerton City Manager Joe Felz

Fullerton Police Captain Dan Hughes

Fullerton Community Development Director Al Zelinka

And other members of your City of Fullerton team

TONIGHT!

WHY?
Over the next several months, meetings will be organized to facilitate dialogues between the Fullerton community and members of its City of Fullerton team.

The purpose of this planned meeting is to have a productive dialogue between West Fullerton community members and City staff about quality of life issues and explore approaches, ideas, and solutions related to them.

WHEN?
TONIGHT - Wednesday, November 2, 2011 – 6:00pm-8:00pm

WHERE?Fullerton Main Library – Conference Center
353 W. Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton, CA 92832

MORE INFORMATION…For more information, please contact Al Zelinka, Community Development Director for the City of Fullerton at 714-738-3347 or alz@ci.fullerton.ca.us.

Private Outsourcing of Police Services

I'm not sold on the idea of outsourcing Fullerton's police services to a private company but we do need to look at all of our options. 

Fullerton council member describes a completely dysfunctional City Hall

Fullerton City Council Member Bruce Whitaker spoke on camera about the dysfunction plaguing Fullerton City Hall.  He describes receiving reports that were complete fabrications and being stonewalled by City Manager Joe Felz and the City's Risk Manager. 

Fullerton's previous risk manager, Darryl Raymond Phillips, pleaded guilty in June to several work-related felonies. 

After all of the signs of government corruption that we have seen in recent months its no surprise that managers and department directors are not cooperating.  Their actions beg the question, what are they hiding?  Public humiliation or something much larger?

Please watch this video through to the end. 

Did Fullerton Police Chief Violate Contract?

From KTLA

KTLA: Council member Whitaker says police chief violated his contract by living in San Clemente

Chief Michael Sellers, who is currently on medical leave, never moved to Fullerton as required by his employment contract. KTLA’s David Begnaud’s filed this report Thursday night:

 

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (KTLA) -- Fullerton Police Chief Michael Sellers, who has been on medical leave since August, has some questions to answer about one of the terms of his contract with the city.

Chief Sellers' contract -- signed on April 1, 2009 -- dictated that he had to "make a bona fide effort" to make Fullerton his primary residence by December 2010.

That deadline passed almost a year ago, but Sellers still lives some 40 miles away, in a gated community in San Clemente.

Property records indicate that he has lived there for the past 10 years.

"I think there were no efforts of any sort that he exhibited," Fullerton City Councilman Bruce Whitaker told KTLA.

Whitaker is one of two councilmembers who have, in the past, called for Sellers to resign.

"I think we should press the matter," Whitaker said.

"On behalf of taxpayers, they understand right now that we're paying large amounts of money for a chief not to be on the job."

Sellers was hired at a salary of $192,000 per year -- about $16,000 every month.

"If he hasn't lived up to the terms of this agreement, I'd be in favor of pushing our side of the equation," Whitaker said.

But legal expert Ken Rosenfeld says the phrase "make a bona fide effort" is so vauge that it would almost be impossible to prove that Sellers did not make an effort.

Councilman Whitaker says he will try anyways.

"I've talked to the city manager about it, but we haven't pressed for an internal opinion about it," Whitaker said. "I imagine that will follow shortly."

Sellers' medical leave began in August amid growing scrutiny of his department's handling of a violent altercation between six police officers and 37-year-old homeless man Kelly Thomas.

He recently asked a second extension to his medical leave, which would last at least another 60 days.

City Manager Jose Felz says Sellers is legally allowed to take up to 12 months medical leave as a law enforcement officer.

The city has hired a doctor to review Sellers' medical records, however, then make a recommendation to the city.

Capt. Kevin Hamilton has taken over as acting chief in his absence.

Mayor Throws City Manager & Interim Police Chief Under Bus and Apologizes

After FPD interim chief Kevin Hamilton apologized to the Nordell family and after Mrs. Nordell accepted the apology, Fullerton's Mayor Dick Jones said that it wasn't until the apology was placed on the council's meeting agenda did the council begin to get information.

Mayor Jones went on to blame the lines of communication between the council and police chief are poor. 

"Its not real easy to get information out of departments.  We don't have direct access to them," said Mayor Jones who added "Usually the information chain goes through the City Manager to us."

Mayor Jones apologized as both the Mayor of Fullerton as well as an individual.

The Mayor uses the excuse of poor communication as a way to not apologize for the council's clear lack of concern until a month ago after a year-long bureaucratic ordeal.  The Mayor's admission of poor communication tells us a few other things as well:

1. The Mayor is aware that his department heads and managers are not openly communicating very important information to the council;
2. Our fears of a dysfunctional City Hall are justified;
3. The severity and depth of corruption within the walls of the FPD is being kept from the Fullerton City Council;
4. The Fullerton City Council is ill-informed and, therefore, unable to adequately govern;
5. The Mayor and perhaps other council members do not seek out information on their own from department heads, choosing instead to rely solely on the City staff and the Council's meeting agenda;
6. If the Council is being kept in the dark, how much is being kept from Fullerton residents? 

The City Council should be given progress reports from each department regarding allegations of misconduct.  The Council should know that their were several reports against former Fullerton cop Albert Rincon alleging sexual assault, kidnapping, battery, false imprisonment, etc. all under the color of authority.  And when Federal Judge Andrew Guilford slammed the City saying, "the City’s failure to investigate or punish sexual harassment allegations suggests tacit authorization."

But the Judge didn't stop there. "As stated above, Plaintiffs raise a triable issue of fact as to exactly when the City first learned about allegations against Rincon. The sheer volume of incidents in 2008 alone relative to Rincon’s arrests is sufficient to call into question what exactly the City knew or should have known before November 2008."

It would appear that the command staff of FPD chose not to do anything. 

The sergeants, lieutenants, captains, and chief (McKinley at the time Rincon was implicated) ALL CHOSE TO DO NOTHING.

Last night I suggested the council publicly share what a contract with the Orange County Sheriff's Department might look like.  How much money would we save, not just from law suits but from the actual contract services? $5-million?  $10-million?  More??? 

And if you wondered why the FPD should be scrapped, please read this conclusion from U.S. Judge Andrew Guilford:

You can read the entire Motion for Summary Judgement at FullertonsFuture.org.

seven women certainly raises questions about the City’s custom and practice around sexual assault. Requiring Rincon to attend “pat-down” training is weak sauce that does nothing to hide the unpleasant taste of complicity. At the end of the day, the City put Rincon back onto the streets to continue arresting women despite a pattern of sexual harassment allegations. A reasonable juror could conclude, based on these facts, that the City imply did not care about what its officers did to women during arrest.

Most shocking is the City’s weak “Reprimand” of Rincon. If one woman had brought an allegation of sexual assault, then the Court could understand how the City might have concluded that the allegations were not believable, and find no misconduct on Rincon’s part. But to dismiss the accounts of

Clearly the Fullerton City Council has relinquished their elected authority and are no longer able to effectively communicate or lead.

How long will Fullerton residents allow this to continue before they have had enough?

The Apology

It is not often that you find an apology in the Regular Business of the City Council’s Agenda.  I have a bad feeling this is just the first of many apologies to come.

The Council’s Agenda for Tomorrow’s meeting includes a staff recommendation that the Fullerton Police Department publicly apologizes and acknowledge that the department’s narcotics unit mistakenly raided the wrong home.

Staff Report to Council:

“On October 20, 2010 Fullerton PD Narcotics Unit detectives were attempting to conduct a probation search on a male adult subject living at 219 S. Ventura Place, in Fullerton.  Armed Fullerton PD detectives mistakenly entered the Nordel family residence at 223 S. Ventura Placefrom the rear alley, and ultimately through the back door, believing it to be 219 S. Ventura Place.”

It has taken the City nearly a year to issue the Nordell Family an official apology and devise a process to prevent future unlawful entries by our Fullerton Police Department.  

I am concerned that had the Nordell family not brought this to the City Council on several occasions, this public acknowledgment and apology would not be forthcoming.

There are a few lessons we can learn from the illegal raid.

First, people make mistakes.  Officers are people and are not infallible. 

Second, police officers must understand that blindly following their fellow officers into a fight can have deadly consequences.  Although it might not always be practical, officers know the circumstances of the fight first.  Had officers entered a different wrong house, it is reasonable to conclude officers would have been met by a gun wielding home-owner whose door was being kicked in by a gang of masked thugs all yelling. 

The third lesson is that the Nordells have successfully managed to have the Police Department review their actions, recognize the Department’s mistake, and develop a policy for conducting future raids.  The Nordell family did not have to sue over the raid though they certainly had the right to.  Instead, they sought to make their community safer.  In the end, the Nordells may have saved many lives by being vocal and active in the administration of their City’s police services.

Fourth, the Fullerton Police Department has listened to the public and made changes that will protect officers and the public.  This shows that the Department is willing to look at new ways of serving the community.    

I commend the Nordells for coming forward publicly and holding the Police Department and City Council responsible.

Editorial - Toxic Waste Dump In Fullerton

By Joe Sipowicz for FullertonsFuture.org 10/1/2011

In yesterday’s OC Register, Councilman Pat McKinley, the chief architect of the Fullerton Police Department ‘s profound culture of corruption, responded to the news that KFI’s John and Ken are coming to Fullerton to promote his recall.

“They are toxic people who create problems for a lot of folks. I wish they would stay away.”
More PR gold from the man who ran the FPD into a moral cesspool during his 16-year stint as Chief of Police.

Oddly, McKinley has offered no public opinion as to the comparative toxicity of:
1) police officer sentenced to jail for fraud to support his pill habit.
2) police officer arrested in Miami airport for iPad theft.
3) police officer who smashed recording device on jail wall to avoid complicity in jail suicide.
4) police officers beating up and falsely arresting Veth Mam.
5) police officers lying on the witness stand about Veth Mam.
6) police officer beating up and falsely arresting Edward Quinonez.
7) police officer sexually assaulting a dozen women in the backseat of his patrol car, with recording device turned off.
8 ) police officers issuing traffic citations to harass protesters.
9) police officers ambushing and murdering a helpless homeless man.
10) police officers turning off recording devices during murder.
11) police officers colluding to falsify reports about said murder.
12) superior officers coaching said falsification.
13) return to street of said miscreants.
14) police officer spokeshole deliberately issuing lies to the media to misdirect, temporize, stall and otherwise obscure said murder and cover up.
15) councilmembers insulting protesters as “lynch-type mob.”
16) councilmembers discounting injuries of murder victim.
17) etc., etc. etc.

Good God! What a litany of toxic behavior, and the really scary part is that this is only the stuff we know about. And the chowderhead McKinley has the nerve to call anybody else on the planet “toxic?” The level of denial of responsibility is remarkable. Of course being given a $215,000 a year pension may create an unavoidable attitude of arrogance and self-entitlement.

However, Mr. McPension has a generous streak, to be sure:
“Councilman Pat McKinley said he supports the radio hosts right to stage a rally, but the former Fullerton police chief certainly disagrees with the pair’s opinions…”

Well, thanks awfully, Pat. You support the First Amendment. Well, you support it when people are watching, obviously. No elaboration about what he specifically disagrees with John and Ken about.

Bankhead Speaks Up, Sort of

The "No Recall" camp released this half-hearted statement from our Mayor Pro Tem, Don Bankhead the other day.

“At the outset, I offer my apology to the Thomas family. Your son spent many safe nights on the streets of our city – on July 5th two rogue police officers failed Kelly and the God fearing residents of Fullerton. Today is one of the darkest days in Fullerton’s history. I spent 31 years on the Fullerton police department, retiring in 1988. It’s an organization that I cherish – however today I believe two officers have disgraced the department and our city. I reviewed cases where lawful force was used during my extensive career and understand their complexity. The D.A. has initiated the legal process by charging Officers Ramos and Corporal Cicinelli, a judicial process that makes America the best in the world. May Kelly Thomas rest in peace and may God bless his family.”

Bankhead was one of the council members who hired former Fullerton police chief Pat McKinley.  McKinley readily admits, almost as a badge of honor, that he was responsible for hiring the officers charged in the murder of Kelly Thomas. This trail of bad decision-making is long.  

Bankhead's statement that "Your son spent many safe nights on the streets of our city" is shockingly insensitive.  Bankhead assumes that one unsafe night is not so bad when compared to many safe nights!  He assumes that Kelly actually had many safe nights, a fact which remains to be proven.

Bankhead also uses the term "rogue officers".  I take exception to that term because it implies that these two officers are the only bad apples in a tree of perfect fruit when in fact here have been many cases of significant police misconduct within the ranks of the Fullerton PD in just the last 3 years.  I don't think these officers are alone in their attitude toward their job or the way they fulfill their mission.  I believe the Fullerton Police Department employs several officers with the same sort of callous disregard for humanity and lack of respect for life and liberty.

That said, not all of Fullerton's police officers are bad.  Just how bad the problem is remains to be seen.  I've heard some say that 99% of Fullerton cops are great.  Just based on the number of pending criminal and civil cases against Fullerton cops for on- and off-duty behaviour, that percentage looks a lot more like 85% might be great.  Regardless of the numbers, we can hope that Michael Genaco's investigation will help make Fullerton a better place for us to live and work.

Genaco's investigation has the potential to close down the FPD or clean it up.  In the end, the public trust in law enforcement must be restored.   

Fullerton - Emergency Closed-Door Council Meeting

Eureka PD to Pay Out $4.5-Million for On-Duty Murder

Martin Cotton Family Awarded Over $4.5 Million in Trial Against Eureka Police, Interview: Video

Martin Cotton Family Awarded Over $4.5 Million in Trial Against Eureka Police, Interview: Video

by dave idFriday Sep 23rd, 2011 7:22 PM

On August 9th, 2007, Eureka police officers Justin Winkle, Gary Whitmer, Adam Laird, and five others were involved in beating an unarmed Martin Cotton II to death. Eureka police pummeled Martin Cotton's body and head in broad daylight, using pepper spray repeatedly. Martin Cotton was then sent to jail without being offered medical treatment. He died in jail within about an hour. A federal civil rights trial in Oakland was filed to seek justice for Martin on behalf of his young daughter. The case, Siehna Cotton et al v. City of Eureka, included the testimony of police readily admitting they beat Martin Cotton all over his body and did not seek medical assistance for him afterward. The police however denied that they hit Martin Cotton in the head, most likely because blows to the head were determined to be the cause of death. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT COTTON 

###

Commentary:

On-duty officers beating a man to death.  A year ago I would have had some doubts about these types of allegations.  Now, after hearing Orange County DA Tony Rackauckas describe what he saw and heard on the Fullerton Police Department's own audio and video recordings and the way in which Kelly Thomas was beaten, I have a new perspective.  I'm not lumping all officers in with either Eureka's or Fullerton's accused murderers but it certainly gives me a reason to question the credibility of officers when arrestees and the public at large claim officer misconduct.

The loss of trust is difficult to overcome.  With the evidence in the Thomas case likely being publicized in the coming months, the gap of distrust will continue to grow.  Fullerton PD needs to root out their problematic employees and begin community outreach efforts which have been missing for years.  That's what we call "getting ahead of the problem."  It is also what has been missing from our police chief and city council for years.

The work needed to bridge the gap of community division and anger is monumental and over due.

Orange County DA: FPD Officer Ramos Murdered Kelly Thomas

Fullerton Police Officer Manny Ramos and Corporal Jay Cicinelli murdered Kelly Thomas after Ramos said, "Now see my fists?  They're getting ready to fuck you up!"

What the DA describes is extremely disturbing and sickening.  It is shocking beyond words. 

To say that I am disappointed that the Fullerton Police Department did not take action against Ramos and Cicinelli earlier is a gross understatement.

What happened is unconscionable. 

The Fullerton Police Department is done.

Ramos & Cicinelli

Fullerton PD, it will get worse before it gets better

Just when you think things couldn't get worse for the Fullerton Police Department more police corruption is uncovered.

Acting Police Chief Captain Hamilton has ordered an internal affairs investigation into the arrest of Veth Mam.  Mam is the person who recorded Fullerton Police officer Kenton Hampton approach him.  Hampton is then seen smacking the cell phone to the ground.  Someone picks up the phone and continues to record Hampton attack Mam and then arrest him.

According to the Orange County Register "(Hamilton) became very concerned because upon initial investigation, it appears we may have arrested the wrong guy that night," Goodrich said. "During our examination of the video, it appears that Mam was not the person who assaulted the first officer earlier in the video, but that's what the investigation is going to look into."

Welcome to Fullerton.

If the story involved the LAPD or LA County Sheriffs it wouldn't be much of an indicator of the department since those departments have several thousand officers.  If you have 10 bad cops, you still have a great department.

Fullerton is blessed (or cursed) with 144 officers, including those on leave.  A rough count of the officers that have been implicated in recent months in various allegations of police corruption while on and off duty, both proven and unproven, indicates that about 10% of the sworn personnel could be tainted in some way.

And just to put the numbers in perspective, 10% of the LAPD would equal about 1,000 of the nearly 10,000 officers employed. 

Even if we cut the estimated percentage of Fullerton officers involved in some sort of misconduct to 5% of the department, it is still too high.

So, as the Fullerton PD tree is shaken even harder, how many more bad apples will fall?  Better yet, who will be left with their badge untarnished?  And most importantly, how high up the chain of command does the corruption run?  I hope recently hired consultant Michael Gennaco will be able to tell us sooner rather than later.