UPDATE ......Power Struggles at the Police Department !
When I posted the following piece this morning about the Police Chief and the internal power struggles that were happening in the Police Department, and rumors that the Chief might not last long, I had no idea that he would resign just hours later!
Chief Roberts and his replacement ?
To read the Chief's resignation letter, check out Brittany Wallman's (Sun-Sentinel) blog post at http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2008/05/lauderdale_police_chief_slaps.html
If you didn't catch my post this morning, I'm including it again here.....
The Fort Lauderdale Police Union and the City's Management and Commission reached agreement yesterday on a contract, but just barely. All the Police Officers except one refused to vote to protest what they consider to be unfair and incompetent management.
The blood has been boiling for months, tension is high, and many neighborhoods have seen abrupt increases in their crime levels.
Behind the scenes, all this turmoil has sprouted an internal fight for control.
George Gretsas, the City Manager has ultimate control, but those just under him have been jockeying for position:
The Chief of Police
Chief Bruce Roberts started as a Patrolman 35 years ago and has served as Chief for about 6 years. He has been in the unenviable position of instituting the will of the City Manager and keeping the respect of his troops. That has put him (at times), at odds with both.
The Assistant Chief of Police
Assistant Police Chief Robert "Bobby" Carter is an up and comer.It is widely believed that he is high up in the running should the Police Chief not opt for a new contract himself in November, or even leave earlier. Many of the Police Officers feel that Carter has taken the side of the City Manager over them.
David Hebert
Assistant City Manager David Hebert was personally selected by City Manger Gretsas as his man in the Police Department. The rank and file have never been happy with that position. Hebert is considered by many in the Department as the main source of their unease. They point to Hebert's lack of Police experience and believe he was put there to see that Gretsas's edicts were being carried out.
Now that the Police contract dispute is over, many expect changes at the Department. Stay tuned!
Chief Roberts and his replacement ?
To read the Chief's resignation letter, check out Brittany Wallman's (Sun-Sentinel) blog post at http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2008/05/lauderdale_police_chief_slaps.html
If you didn't catch my post this morning, I'm including it again here.....
The Fort Lauderdale Police Union and the City's Management and Commission reached agreement yesterday on a contract, but just barely. All the Police Officers except one refused to vote to protest what they consider to be unfair and incompetent management.
The blood has been boiling for months, tension is high, and many neighborhoods have seen abrupt increases in their crime levels.
Behind the scenes, all this turmoil has sprouted an internal fight for control.
George Gretsas, the City Manager has ultimate control, but those just under him have been jockeying for position:
The Chief of Police
Chief Bruce Roberts started as a Patrolman 35 years ago and has served as Chief for about 6 years. He has been in the unenviable position of instituting the will of the City Manager and keeping the respect of his troops. That has put him (at times), at odds with both.
The Assistant Chief of Police
Assistant Police Chief Robert "Bobby" Carter is an up and comer.It is widely believed that he is high up in the running should the Police Chief not opt for a new contract himself in November, or even leave earlier. Many of the Police Officers feel that Carter has taken the side of the City Manager over them.
David Hebert
Assistant City Manager David Hebert was personally selected by City Manger Gretsas as his man in the Police Department. The rank and file have never been happy with that position. Hebert is considered by many in the Department as the main source of their unease. They point to Hebert's lack of Police experience and believe he was put there to see that Gretsas's edicts were being carried out.
Now that the Police contract dispute is over, many expect changes at the Department. Stay tuned!
Ms. Rodstrom.... will you show support for the Police Dept. and the citizens and vote to fire george gretsas?
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Georgie boy, it is time for your ass to get out of town!
I will be more than happy to buy you a one way ticket to hell for this is where you belong. You have & still are ruining our city.
It is time that the commission stop being such jerks & get rid of this damn fool.
Chief Roberts will be missed by many!
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Sic Transit Gloria Mundi...For Chief Roberts..now if this would only apply to our City Manager -- or should I say City "Mangler" -- as well. This fellow has vastly overstayed his welcome.
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Gretsas was never qualified for the job of City Manager. A poor choice for such an important position by Commissioners and a Mayor who continue to show no leadership. But then the Mayor and Commissioners never took responsibility for the money shell game they forced City Manager Johnson into. They asked him to rob Paul to pay Peter because money would be coming in from some other source in time to cover the next shell movement. In the end, they hung him out dry.
Chief Roberts is a good man put in a difficult position and not allowed to do his job. Our "leadership" in City Hall, or lack thereof, has crippled the police department, cut the number of officers and then wanted to play a shell game with the facts regarding how many officers we are down. "Leadership" further wanted to cripple the department by cutting the PSA's from the budget. They are the workhorses of the department that allows the officers to get back on the street protecting us.
Gretsas is a control freak who micro manages staff. David Hebert was brought from White Plains New York and planted in the Police Department to spy on and micro manage Chief Roberts and every move he made. In fact Gretsas filled many key positions with his friends from White Plains regardless of whether they were qualified for that particular job or not. In most cases, .... not. But then, George Gretsas was not qualified to be City Manager either. Perfect. Look at his salary when he left White Plains, not much, and the people of White Plains were glad to see him leave. Our "Leadership" gave him an big salary and an additional raise before he even started the job. What was that about?
How about the reserves the City has amassed? Don't give the credit to Gretsas, those tax revenues were already online to be reaped before he was ever hired.
It is sad that we have lost so many dedicated City employees that were replaced with residents from White Plains. Employees who were dedicated to Fort Lauderdale and it's success. For many this was not just a job, it was their life, they were proud of serving their community. As they were cut from our staff, or forced to leave, I was saddened by the loss of so many great leaders, their knowledge and wisdom.
George Gretsas should be fired. He is responsible for no morale among the City's employees, combined with no "leadership" in City Hall, it is a sad day. The wrong man is leaving. Good luck Chief Roberts, you deserve so much better.
Ginnee
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I wish all the best to Chief Roberts, he did a wonderful job with what he had to work with, and good luck to his replacement, he/she has some big shoes to fill...
A note to the chief... I would like to see him run against the District I Commissioner Mrs. Teel for the seat on the commission. Wouldn't that be poetic justice. Enjoy your job then George...
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I will quote myself from a May 12th article about the chief canceling a speech:
5/14/2008 8:31 PM Fort Liquordale wrote:
I don't see Roberts going after another chief's job. Don't forget that he already has a city pension as a police major (apparently around 70,000/yr), AND will get a chief's retirement. He won't even need a commissioner's salary.
He has the endorsements of many prominent homeowners groups and local politicians/bigwigs. I see him resigning to save face, although he has been so cowardly lately when facing Gretsas or Hebert that he may think that getting fired is his last stand to save face with the officers, sort of like he ultimately stood up to them and paid the price. But we'll all know what really happened...
Sounds eerily similar. The chief resigned to try and save face with the officers. My real concern is where was he during all of the negotiations? He helped disseminate Gretsas' lies and tried to coerce officers to accept Gretsas' contract offer. He may have been a great chief (before Gretsas got here), but he should have taken a stand on this a long time ago. The officers are unhappy, and now he rides off into the sunset feeling like a defender of the little guys.
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This City lost a good man. How offen do we have a leader that started from the bottom has a Officer and become the Chief. just think of all that experience he had and we lost because of a City Manager that doesnot know how to manage. Very Sad. And frankly I am more concerned about my Neighborhood. I feel even more alone out when I walk around and see drug dealers and Hookers. This City always has problems, we seem to go from crisis to crisis. It shows that we have a problem with our Elected Leadership.
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If you think the City lost a wealth of experience with Bruce Roberts, it pales in comparison to all the other police and other City employees who have left the City to escape to greener pastures. The negative effects Gretsas and Hebert have had on the retention of experience qualified personnel will take many years to correct. They(GG & DH) have shown that their only true skill lies in their ability to manipulate the media, mislead the public and rule by threat. They have long over stayed their welcome.
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Tim, why don't you go on TV and stick up for our chief?
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Will the Commissioners investigate the Ex Chief of Police claims that he wrote in his letter or will they just look the other way???. I hope the State Attorney keeps a eye on the City of Fort Lauderdale.
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See Mayo's blog, http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/mayo/blog/2008/05/lauderdale_turmoil_is_wrong_ma.html
It is time for all of you to stand up and speak out, write letters and protest. Since there is no leadership at City Hall it is time to take back the contol of your city. I am sure that Tim will provide the leadership needed to organize a protest. He has always been about leadership.
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Ginnee your right. I have just sent an e-mail asking that my City Commissioner look into the Claims that Chief Robert wrote in that letter about the dealings of City manager Gretsas. In my view, Mr Gretas is painted like a monster and it hurts our City and I want to know the Truth and if it is true that Mr Gretsas is doing that stuff I want a new City manager.
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Please post the commissioner's response on this. I would love to read it.
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Now that we have a new police chief I certainly hope that he can bring the spirit back to the police dept. Hopefully Gretsas and Hebert will leave him alone..I would love to write that we have a new city manager that would be just great..maybe very soon our commissioneers will wake up and listen to the people of the city when they say get rid of Gretsas..we have had enough of him and his henchmen! Get Hebert out of the police dept..he does not belong there....
Good Luck Chief Frank Adderley
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ahhh isnt this like a cartoon? How long have the majority of taxpayers been calling for "City manager Gretsas" head?
Anybody know? That boy is sitting as pretty today as he was a couple of years ago.(with more money) His new name should be "teflon George".....dont know who he is sleeping with, I have never seen a more hated man in Ft. Lauderdale and no one has the guts to unseat him...
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