Comments (2)

By Marc, October 6, 2011 9:50 pm

It seems that Sheriff Jett wasn’t a big fan of our recent post about crime being up big in Stafford County.

So instead of fighting crime Sheriff Jett did what any reasonable person would do: he set out to slice and dice the numbers to try to change the narrative. The problem is that it didn’t work.

I find it interesting that a month out from Election Day that Sheriff Charlie suddenly finds a 6-year old “software glitch” in HIS 2005 crime numbers. Glad to see Sheriff Charlie is on top of things. One has to wonder what other “glitches” he’s overlooked?

Despite his “new” numbers, crime is still on the rise in Stafford County. Jett’s recent attempt to mask 5 consecutive years (2006-2010) of increasing crime in Stafford shows just how serious he is taking the disturbing uptick in crime in the county – he ISN’T!

If we discount the 2005 numbers because of Jett’s 6-year “glitch,” per capita crime in Stafford County is up 13% and violent crime is up 47% from 2006 to 2010. For comparison’s sake, Prince William County’s overall per capita crime rate has fallen 10% and their violent crime rate has also fallen 20%. During this time period we’ve had more overall and violent crime, per capita, then both Spotsylvania and Prince William respectively.

Source: Virginia State Police

Source: Virginia State Police

Crime isn’t the only thing that’s been on the rise in Stafford over the last 5 years as his department’s budget has also increased a whopping 42% over that time period. I wonder whether Jett used HIS faulty numbers to justify huge increases to his department’s budget?

Jett is clearly more interested in playing with the numbers then keeping us safe. Maybe if he spent more time in Stafford County instead of pursuing his political career the last several years, he could have done more to address the rather disturbing increasing crime trend. Of course, he would first have to admit that there is a problem.

Admitting there is a problem is the first step to recovery.

Is Sheriff Jett’s 6-year computer glitch an oops on the scale of Marilyn Monroe’s dress blowing up over her knees by a passing train? Can we expect MM’s patented pout on Charlie’s face next? Stay tuned…

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By Marc, September 20, 2011 7:50 pm

Here’s the transcript of Chuck Feldbush’s (I-Stafford) recent event to kickoff his upstart campaign (my emphasis included):

I stand before you as the Independent Candidate for the Office of Sheriff here in Stafford County. When I made the final decision to run for the Office of the Sheriff, I knew that there were numerous obstacles standing in my way. I was not born or raised here in Stafford. I didn’t grow up with any of the well known families that are prominent in Stafford County and I didn’t grow up with the boys that grew up on the streets of Stafford. I guess the bottom line here is that I am by no means one of the good ole boys. I consider myself to be a consummate professional dedicated to Law Enforcement and every facet involved with it.

Three years ago on June 29, 2008 a friend of mine that I have known since my days of growing up in Woodbridge was shot and fatally wounded at the rear basement door of his residence while his wife and a neighbor stood with him. It had been learned that Mr. David Gandy had had an altercation with his youngest son earlier in the evening and had been drinking when he made the statement that he would “Just shoot himself”. Mr. Gandy’s son believed that his dad might carry this threat out and as a result notified the Stafford Sheriff’s Office for their “assistance and help”. When the (4) deputies arrived on the scene that evening they spoke with Mr. Gandy’s son for under a minute and then promptly “Barnstormed” the back yard of the residence. Within (3) seconds Mr. Gandy was shot (3) times in the back and side with a .223 Assault Rifle carrying copper jacketed rounds.

It was not until the Civil Trial in Federal Court started on August 1, 2011 that all the facts were learned. Each of the (4) deputies involved in the shooting were all “IMPEACHED” during their testimony. This ladies and gentlemen cinched the decision for me to run for the position of Stafford County Sheriff. We all know that an individual needs a better reason to run for political office than to just say I want to run. It was very easy for my campaign to make the decision as to what the issues would be for this election. They are as follows:

1. The Budget: The 2011 budget for the Sheriff’s Office is just a few dollars shy of (21) million dollars. This is a staggering number considering that just as early as (6) years ago the Sheriff’s Budget was a little over (13) million dollars. In the last (6) since years the Sheriff’s Budget has increased a whopping (52) percent.

2. The Crime Rate: In a June 12th 2011 edition of the Free Lance Star an article was written concerning the crime trends across this country and the State of Virginia. The article went on to say that while those trends were down the Fredericksburg region was still quite high. In fact the article showed that Stafford Counties crime trends were very high. The violent crime rate was well in excess of (13) percent, while the property crime rate was a whopping (20) percent. In doing the research of the trends since 2005, it has been learned that Stafford County’s crime rate has soared a staggering (60) percent. The violent crime rate since 2005 has soared an unbelievable (66) percent. Ladies and gentlemen these are alarming numbers, and there has been absolutely no accountability to the people in Stafford.

3. The training that the deputies go through in this jurisdiction is done through the Rappahannock Criminal Justice Academy. It is also known as a minimum standards program, meaning that our deputies do not get the same training as do the police departments just to the north of Stafford in Prince William or Fairfax Counties. The number of weeks attended in the respective academies is significantly different. Under my administration my goal is to significantly change the training program that deputies go through prior to being released to the street for duty in Stafford County. These deputies will be trained to deal with mentally ill patients as well as suicidal subjects so that we never have to go through again what the Gandy family of Stafford County has gone through for the past (3) years.

4. My fourth goal is to enhance the communications that the Sheriff’s Department has with the businesses in Stafford County. Businesses in this county will not have to worry whether or not their case is worked and they will never be told by this “Sheriff” that “we will not be working their case’.

5. Accountability: Over the last (12) years that Mr. Jett has been in office here in Stafford County, there that been little to no accountability to the people of Stafford County what so ever. It has been business as usual with this Sheriff’s Department. It is time that changes. Our slogan for this campaign is a very simple one. “Change” through Integrity, Loyalty, and Commitment. It can be no other way. If the people do not trust their Law Enforcement, where do they go!

Over the next several days, weeks and months our campaign will do everything possible to make sure that we reach as many of the voters and citizens as is possible. The message is clear and strong! We need change in Stafford County Law Enforcement, and there has never been a year like this year to accomplish that.

Thank you and on we go to November!

Feldbush touched on a few points that I’ve made about the need for accountability and results in the Sheriff’s office. Overall, it’s a nice start to his campaign. On November 8th, it’s to time to JETTison Jett and vote for Chuck Feldbush (I-Stafford) for Sheriff.

Comments (1)

By Marc, September 3, 2011 10:40 am

According to the Virginia State Police, crime was up in Stafford County for the fifth straight year. It wasn’t just up, but has soared by 60% since 2005. Worse yet, when strictly looking at violent crimes, crime has soared a whopping 66% over that same time period. Violent crimes include the following subcategories: Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter, Forcible Rape, Robbery and Aggravated Assault.

At this point, you must be asking yourself how this stacks up in our region? For comparison purposes, let’s take a look at Spotsylvania County.

Table 2. Population/Demographics of Stafford vs. Spotsylvania County, Source: U.S. Census Bureau

As you can see from Table 2, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population and demographic makeup of the counties are nearly similar over the last 10 years. Additionally, Spotsylvania is a neighboring county in our same region. So we would expect a pretty similar rise in crime, correct? WRONG. Over the last 5 years, in Spotsylvania, overall crime has actually fallen 1.5%. In Stafford, overall crime has soared 60%! During the same time period, in Spotsylvania, violent crime has slid 25%. In Stafford it has soared a whopping 66%!

Stafford is clearly headed in the WRONG direction. Worse yet, according to Stafford County, the Sheriff’s office budget has increased by 52% since 2005. Even worse, the Commonwealth’s Attorney budget has increased by 82% since 2005. I’d say that taxpayers are NOT getting a good return on their tax dollars!

The rise in the Commonwealth’s Attorney budget could have something to do with their practice of asking for jury trials too often. Last year alone, they requested 600% more jury trials than Spotsylvania County. In fact, they were second to only Fairfax County in the number or jury trials held last year.

Don’t get me wrong; I don’t necessarily take issue with the budget increases so long as they are producing results. After all, public safety goes hand-in-hand with providing a safe learning environment for our children – which is an issue that is extremely important to me. We can’t keep throwing money at our problems and getting zero accountability in return.

For 72 years the Chichester family has controlled the Commonwealth’s Attorney office. Daniel Chichester has now endorsed his top prosecutor, Eric Olsen, to take the family reigns. Likewise, Sheriff Charles Jett has held his post for 11 years. Sheriff Jett was recommended by Sheriff R.M Williams who was recommended by Sheriff Ashby and so on. Talk about a good ol’ boy network.

It’s time that Stafford citizens demand accountability and ends these family dynasty’s. It’s not even about how long these families (or networks) have served. It’s simply about results and they are not there.

It’s time to sweep the courthouse clean and elect Tim Barbrow (I-Stafford) as our new Commonwealth’s Attorney and Chuck Feldbush (I-Stafford) as our next Sheriff on November 8, 2011. Stafford is in dire need of a new direction. We need a return of accountability and results!