Bebb's actions merit impeachment

[Police Moderator]

Bebb's actions merit impeachment: State lawmakers must act quickly

Last August, Times Free Press reporter Judy Walton wrote an extensive, multipart series detailing the apparently corrupt, incompetent and inappropriate behavior of 10th Judicial District Attorney General Steve Bebb.

Walton's investigative reporting found a number of examples of abuse of power and violation of the public trust by Bebb, as well as evidence of wrongdoing by employees under his supervision. Among the more startling revelations were that Bebb:

• Refused to charge police officers for conduct that would have landed civilians in jail, including apparent theft and a shooting incident that led to a standoff between an off-duty officer and Bradley sheriff's and SWAT officials.
  
  
• Attempted to prosecute defendants despite having a clear conflict of interest.
  
  
• Apparently perjured himself under oath.
  
  
• Inappropriately used a 2007 Chevy Impala seized in a drug arrest for business outside state guidelines.
  
  
• Improperly received mileage reimbursement checks that he was not entitled to.
  
  
• Used his office to retaliate against people who got on his bad side.

Maybe worst of all, Walton noted that "in four high-profile cases, court records alleged that prosecutors' and investigators' errors or mishandling had one of two results: Either people's lives and freedom possibly were imperiled by tainted evidence and poor procedures, or defendants who may have committed vicious and violent crimes could not be held to account."

Read more: times free press

[Police Moderator]

Is it just me or does it kinda look like the Honorable Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper, and his investigators, would have difficulty finding drugs at a CVS? Or, maybe, experience awkwardness in tracking a menstruating elephant through 6 feet of Gatlinburg snow? Or, even, distress over the question of whether the naked ass emperor has no clothes?

And here is another curious thing.....

Why is the TBI (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation¹); which is supposed to lead all Tennessee law enforcement agencies when it comes to investigating allegations of our own government's corruption, completely, by Legislative Act, exempt from the Tennessee Open Record's Act?

Of all law enforcement investigations that should be transparent, and openly available for a check and balance, upon the completion of the investigation, these are the really important ones, in the great scheme of governmental things.

Investigations of government agencies, government employees (Including politicians), allegations of police corruption, abuse or malfeasance, or misuse of taxpayer money are laid at the feet of a Tennessee state agency that is exempt from sharing it records on their 'closed' cases?

Remember, the TBI investigates most police officer involved uses of force/deadly force in Tennessee. The TBI then provides their 'findings' (Not the actual records, reports, statements, etc., mind you) to the local District Attorney General's Office for 'review.'

I mean, good grief, even the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility (The Tennessee Bar), is open with their records regarding investigations of allegations of lawyerly wrong doing.

I always thought the motto of the TBI was, ""That guilt shall not escape, nor innocence suffer."

My question is, "How are we supposed to know?"²

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¹The state legislature established the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) as an independent agency in 1980. As the state’s primary criminal investigative agency, the TBI is responsible for assisting local law enforcement with major crimes. The TBI also launches its own special investigations into illegal drugs, fugitives, public corruption, official misconduct, organized crime, domestic terrorism, gambling, Medicaid Fraud and patient abuse. The TBI has the statutory authority to investigate any criminal violation upon the request of the District Attorney in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred.The bureau manages the state’s three forensic crime labs, which conduct tests on more than 70,000 pieces of evidence annually. The total number of tests conducted in a year is more than 200,000.

State law requires the TBI to collect statewide crime statistics and publish those annually in the “Crime in Tennessee” report. The TBI also manages a number of high profiles programs including the TBI Most Wanted, AMBER Alert, the statewide Sex Offender Registry, and a Meth Offender Registry. Additional responsibilities include instant checks for gun purchases and statewide background checks to the public for a fee.

The Director of the TBI is appointed to a six year term by the Governor and serves as a member of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Planning Commission.

The TBI employs about 500 people statewide, nearly half of whom are commissioned officers. Continuing education is also a priority, with the TBI conducting nearly 2,000 hours of law enforcement training for 12,000 people annually.

Source: The Tennessee Blue Book, Page 271

² I personally know, and have worked with, many fine, educated, righteous, courageous and forthwith TBI Agents in my years in LE. I am in no way attempting to impugn the TBI in general, I just abhor governmental secrecy, especially when it comes to things governments have generally liked to keep secret, all the while claiming 'transparency.'

[Police Moderator]

It does befront me, a little, to actually agree, again, with half of the TFP Editorial Staff.

But, it is Easter, with a Gang Truce in ACTION, after all. ;D

[Police Moderator]

Anybody got the Governor's, and the Divisions, Offices, Boards and Agencies of the Tennessee Comptroller's Office email address handy?

The last time I got some actual action out of the State of Tennessee, I cc'd both of them on some email I sent.