Brewer passes the buck on treason, while QPOA police officers on "house arrest"

Quartzite officials have become enemies of the Republic. When officers no longer have the right to remain silent, citizens cannot speak, there is no due process with the building official and enforcement of town codes and ordinances, equal treatment and equal protection have long gone by the wayside, town officials have committed TREASON!

 People are apparently receiving the following letter from Governor Jan Brewer's office:

The Governor’s Office of Constituent Services is in receipt of your email received July 13, 2011.  We are responding on behalf of Governor Brewer.

Thank you for contacting the Governor’s Office to express your concerns regarding the current situation in Quartzsite, AZ.  As you may know, the Governor does not have the authority to intervene in local law enforcement matters.  Nor does this office have the authority to investigate misconduct by the police, county jails, federal prisons, and/or judges.

We understand that you have filed a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.  The Attorney General is the appropriate office to investigate allegations of Open Meeting Law violations.   We trust that their office will respond to your complaint in a timely manner.  For your convenience, we are providing their direct contact information.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne

Office of the Attorney General

1275 West Washington Street

Phoenix, AZ 85007-2926

602.542.5025

1.800.352.8431

Fax 602.542.4085

Website: www.azag.gov

In addition, complaints against law enforcement officers are filed with the Arizona Peace Officers Standard and Training Board (AZ POST), which is under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).  If you have not already, we suggest you contact the AZ POST to submit a formal complaint for review.  Once the complaint is received by their office, the investigation process begins.  The length of the investigation varies depending on the circumstances surrounding the case.  Upon completion, the AZ POST will then forward the results of its investigation to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, which has the authority to take action as deemed appropriate by their office.  For your convenience, we are providing the contact information for the AZ POST. 

Arizona Peace Officers Standard and Training (AZ POST) Board

2643 E. University Drive

Phoenix, AZ 85034

Voice: 602.223.2514

Fax: 602.244.0477

Website: http://www.azpost.state.az.us/

Thank you again for contacting the Governor’s Office.  We trust our response fully addresses your concerns. 

Sincerely,
L. Lerma
Director, Constituent Services


/s/
Arizona Governor's Office
Constituent Services

www.azgovernor.gov


In the meantime, all members of the Quartzsite Police Officers have been put on paid administrative leave, and Assistant Town misManager Al Jognson is in charge of investigating whether or notit was an ethical breach of town policy to blow the whistle on Chief Gilbert. Clearly, the Constution appears to be suspended within town limits!

Better late than never!

The DESERT FREEDOM PRESS has just announced the following press release:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BREAKING NEWS! Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert SCANDAL!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/31/11 Quartzsite, Arizona Police Chief Jeff Gilbert is struggling desperately to maintain his position after three quarters of his own officers filed formal complaints against him with Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS) and Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST). The timing of these complaints appears to be in response to evidence and testimony expected to be revealed in currently pending lawsuits against the town and the ongoing criminal prosecution of citizens who have a documented history of complaining about the police chief's patterns and practices. Now that Governor Brewer has signed  a bill which amends A.R.S. 14 - 1822  and allows AZPOST to revoke an officers certification, many citizens and law enforcement officers are hoping that's the least of what happens to Jeff Gilbert. A former officer with the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), Gilbert is also a current legislative member of the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) Allegations have been made against Quartzsite's Police Chief for both criminal conduct and ethical violations of the town's personnel manual. They range from assault, illegal searches and arrests, surveillance and investigation of political opponents, "official police business" being conducted without reports filed, false reporting, and grant fraud, to abuse of National Crime Information Center (NCIC) background checks for personal use and/or without probable cause. La Paz County Republican Precinct Chairman Michael Roth maintains he was falsely arrested for "disorderly conduct" and placed on the FBI "terrorist watch list" for his outspoken criticism of Police Chief Jeff Gilbert. After being notified that officers of the Quartzsite Police Department intend to publicly announce a vote of "no confidence", read their formal complaints and ask the Town Council to terminate Chief Gilbert's recently renewed contract for "cause" at the next regular meeting of the Common Council on June 14th, Mayor Ed Foster has now scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, June 1st at 6 pm, to discuss the situation. The police chief's current contract, which included additional pay raises, was prematurely renewed on February 8th, 2011 by unanimous council approval, after Mayor Foster recused himself from the meeting. Foster wanted no part of what he believed was an orchestrated plot by Town Manager Alexandra Taft to secure ongoing employment for Gilbert, before the majority of the Quartzsite Town Council faced a March recall election. All five political challengers wanted Chief Gilbert terminated, but narrowly missed in their attempt to unseat recalled incumbents. Rather than have the officer's complaints investigated at no charge by the Major Crimes Division of the state police, Town Manager Alex Taft has instead chosen to hire a private firm, in what appears to be a pattern of damage control and cover up. Last spring, it was rumored that a friend of Chief Gilbert's at the Sheriff's office was specifically requested to investigate complaints made to AZPOST by Mayor Ed Foster, former Councilman Bill Moore, and businesswoman Jennifer Jones (Harris). This assignment was alleged to be the result of a deal struck between Taft, Gilbert, and La Paz County Sheriff Don Lowery. Lowery had also refused to investigate the assault complaint made by Jones against Police Chief Jeff Gilbert and Quartzsite Detective Felipe Rodriguez on April 13th of 2010, despite the video being posted to Youtube. A recent  town council candidate with no prior criminal history, Jennifer Jones has been arrested three times, and charged with a total of 10 misdemeanors since filing her AZPOST complaint. Her husband John was also arrested over the same incidents, and charged with three misdemeanors. Neither has been brought to trial. The police chief compared Mrs. Jones and Michael Roth to Tucson gunman Jarrod Laughner at the January 11th Quartzsite Council Meeting. After a year and a half of contriving criminal complaints that didn't hold water, the Police Chief finally arrested the mayor May 10th, on charges of "disorderly conduct". Apparently, the result of Foster calling Gilbert an "idiot" five days earlier in the parking lot of Town Hall. The rift between Chief Gilbert's supporters and numerous critics runs deep.  La Paz County Prosecutor Sam Vederman has repeatedly refused to insert his office into the political fray. Pending the results of the current AZCOPS/AZPOST investigation, many in the community are now hoping that the FBI and Justice Department will take a serious look into Quartzsite corruption. For more information, contact: Mayor Ed Foster (928) 750-8113 Michael Roth, La Paz County Republican Precinct Chairman (602) 791-5401 AZCOPS http://www.azcops.org/ 333 W Ft Lowell Rd Ste 211 Tucson AZ 85705 Office 520.622.2215 (24/7) Toll Free 888.622.2215 Fax 520.622.2216 AZPOST http://www.azpost.gov/index.htm 2643 E. University Drive Phoenix, AZ 85034 Voice: 602.223.2514 Fax: 602.244.0477 AACOP http://azchiefsofpolice.org/ 75 East Civic Center Drive Gilbert, Arizona 85296 Office - 480-635-7757 FAX - 480-635-7761 "Quartzsite Police Chief Gilbert assaults man for videotaping "           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBwCW9gX2jg&feature=related "...Gilbert's warning to town council" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zHOlbYWHdo&feature=related "...Mayor and Publisher arrested" http://quartzsitearizona.blogspot.com/2011/05/politically-assisted-suicide-mayor-and.html Jennifer "Jade" Jones Publisher, The DESERT FREEDOM PRESS (928) 575-6594 News you can use for La Paz County, AZ! http://thedesertfreedompress.blogspot.com/

Mayor receives death threats! Hate flyers posted around Quartzsite.

What sort of person would support our current council? Well, apparently the sort of person who would print and distribute this around town. Handwriting analysis anyone?

This particular example was retrieved from the Main Street Laundry owned by Councilman Jerry "dirty laundry" Lukkasson. Other copies have been posted on bulletin boards around town.

When Mayor Ed Foster was asked for a comment, he said "It looks like it may be the same person that's been sending me death threats." 

DEATH THREATS? SERIOUSLY? 

Yes. Mayor Foster stated that he has received two written death threats in the last few weeks, delivered by U.S. mail. The letters were turned over to the La Paz County Sheriff's Office for investigation and it is unknown what Don Lowery is doing to assure the safety of our mayor at this time. 

Sheriff Don Lowery to join Sam Vederman in La Paz County recall

http://www.parkerpioneer.net/articles/2010/08/04/news/parker03.txt

Text from the recall petition:

*Sheriff Lowery does not have the experience, management skills or budget preparation to carry out his position. *Lowery has shown unwillingness to work with the Board, County Manager and Finance Department. *Lowery appointed Under Sheriff Paterson, with compromised managerial skills, fiscal understanding or ability to communicate with key figures in county government.  Paterson has micro-managed personnel to the point that moral is at its lowest. *Lowery has shown an inability to make command decisions because of his lack of knowledge of the position and what it stands for.  Continuously “unavailable” for key decisions and issues needing to be resolved *Lowery moved or kept personnel in key positions that do not deserve or belong. *Lowery filed a frivolous law suit against the Board.  Paterson did not follow proper procedures in obtaining legal council resulting in unpaid attorney fees.  This is a flagrant misappropriation of funds and tax payers money.  Decisions to obtain legal counsel was pushed through by Paterson, but was ultimately Lowery’s decision. *Continuously allowing agency staff to drive county assigned vehicles to Havasu daily.  This is a flagrant violation of county policy and procedure and waste of taxpayers money. An interesteing comment thread can be found at: http://www.parkerliveonline.com/2010/08/16/sheriff-recall/