Chief Bobby Gibson and The Dumberton Police Dept.
Apparently, Bobby Gibson liked his role as Mayor Pro tempore because Mayor Holder has returned from her sick leave and he's still doing interviews. That's quite strange since one of his campaign promises was to stay out of the newspaper, but he's been talking up a storm with the Hattiesburg American. A month after appointing Darren Dennis Hobson as Chief, the board has finally released the information to the public. The American reported that on the same day that it [Lumberton Board of Aldermen] accepted former chief Adrian Fortenberry's resignation, they deleted the adjective in front of Hobson's name, approving him as the city's chief of police. Well, those of us that witnessed the so-called changing of the guard realized that it went a little differently. The board had already giving Hobson the keys to the city and they worked in reverse to try and correct the fact that they put the cart before the horse. According to Bobby Gibson, "(Fortenberry) wanted to go and run for sheriff, and we didn't want to be a hindrance to him." Really??? Gibson was also quoted saying that "It was his call, and we wanted to accommodate him." Well, if they were truly interested in accommodating Chief Fortenberry, they would have let him resign on the date he specified and not on the date they felt was appropriate, but I guess he forgot to mention that in the interview.
Dennis Hobson said that he hope to build up the part-time roster. Seriously??? Then why did he terminate Officers Messner and Phillips?? They were certified, and they were willing to work part-time, but I guess they didn't fit in with the new plans for the Dumberton Police Department. Now don't get me wrong, there are some good officers still on the department, but if Dennis has anything to do with it, and he does, they will be vanishing from the roster. . soon. Hobson also said that ". . we've got the support of the board and that's going to make a difference." The police department has always had the support of the board, but now the aldermen will not be looking through a magnifying glass to point out Fuel man cost and overtime pay. There was a time when officers like Cassandra Fortenberry had to fight to get paid for two hours of overtime, now we have part-time officers getting paid more than deputy clerks. But this isn't an issue now that Dennis is over the department.
Hobson said while Lumberton's thin blue line is stretched, all shifts have adequate coverage. I don't think that is the case. Just the other night, a police officer was in pursuit of an assailant, and the police car either ran out of gas or broke down. The officer got into a car with a citizen to continue the chase and after catching the suspect, took the arrested individual to the county jail in his personal vehicle, not a Lumberton police car. If the city has adequate coverage, why didn't the other officer assist in the chase and why didn't the other officer transfer the person to jail? Hobson also said not only would officers be on patrol, but that LPD already has started foot patrols into various neighborhoods [Myrick and North 10th Street] in effort to get drugs off the city's streets. Currently, we have a group of officers that aren't sure if they want to be meter maids or police officers. But in the end, Bobby Gibson wanted everyone to know that he is "very proud of Hobson" and I guess that's all that really matters.
If they are so proud of Hobson, why did they wait a month to announce his promotion and why is the story about Hobson attached to a picture of Fortenberry?
ReplyDeleteI don't know why they're celebrating. Hobson think he's going to make a difference, by trying to protray our communites as drug infested. The board may be patting themselves on the back. The people of Lumberton better wake up and smell the coffee. You told us about the board's intention to make Hobson chief way back when he had his name put on that patrol car. I guess he forgotten one main point, the parents of the teenagers he's threatening are voters and we may have to ride out a storm for a little while, but we're getting a new board and we're going to clear house. Bobby Gibson may be proud right now, but this is his first and last term in office. On election day, I'm going to remember how he help tear our city apart and I'm also going to remember his co-hort, Ben Winston, when I go to vote this November. Kill the head and the body will die.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be good and there will always be bad. Why not support those in charge and get behind them and help make things better instead of always trying to create hate and hostility in the community. Don't you think things would be better if you took a more positive look at change instead of trying to always stir the pot because those YOU want in control aren't. You can't please everyone all the time but for Lumbertons sake please quit trying to tear apart the community with all this hatred and negativity. Remember God don't like ugly. I liked Chief Fortenberry and the other members of the department and yes they probably got done wrong but there are always two sides to every story and folks tend to tell things to make themselves out to look good and be a victim and I am not saying that is the case but things have changed so give it a chance support Lumberton, Mayor Holder and the other board members and work with them to do good things for Lumberton not against them. We can agree to disagree but at least be respectful.
ReplyDeleteis the officer yvess owens certified??
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous 3:36 p.m. . . . Hobson is a non-issue for me, but apparently I'm still on his mind since he's gotten his Byrd-dog to write me tickets when I'm parked in my parking spot (but that's a matter that will have to be settled in court.) I don't need certain officer in control because I'm a law abiding citizen. I can care less who partols the streets, but the hate and hostility is stemming from the fact that certain people are being targeted. I was ready to get an opportunity to meet the new officers despite the fact that they were hired by Hobson, but the fact that certain neighborhoods are being targeted for drug activity is proof that Hobson is trying to victimize certain areas and he feel that he can continue to throw his weight around because the board supports him, right or wrong. I was willing to start with a clean slate, but that's hard to do when the police department continually dump things in your lap. And yes the officers that were fired were done wrong and we can't continue to let those type of things happen without realizing that they have lives, they have mortages, they have families and for them to be fired because the board want to get rid of fair police officers is ridiculious. WTBS. . .if you want me to focus on something more positive, then give me something more positve to blog about. . And yes, we can agree to disagree and remain respectful. . Thank you for your input.
ReplyDeleteYes Yves Owens is certified. You need to be concerned if your new chief is certified.
ReplyDeleteYves has been in law enforcement for over 15 years. Check facts out, it is public knowledged. Call Columbia and check on Yves and then call Meridian and check on Hopson!!!!
OK
Get Real, support the people in charge? The people in charge have run this town into the ground. How many businesses has this board bought in? How many improvements have they made? Supporting someone does not mean you have to agree with the decisions they make. Just cause I voice my opinion against something you do, does not mean I don't support you. Two sides to every story? Wrong, there are three sides, your side, my side, and the truth. Each side will slant a story in their own interests. The problem here is we have only heard one side. Have you talked to any of these officers and heard their side. I doubt it. You so busy blaming Jonathan about what he is writing. Jonathan puts it out there like it is, but we don't want to face this crap, so we blame the carrier instead of looking into the package he is carrying. Yall better look into some of this mess. You thought he was just talking when he said things back in March about the board and Hopson. Look back at his blogs, what he said came to be true. Tell you what, ask Hopson and the board why they fired those people, then ask those people. Ask somebody to show you some proof and see who does. Yall better start demanding some answers from these fools in charge. Negative comments by the informer? What positive has this board said or done? And no, God does not like ugly and He aint too crazy about pretty either. We want to throw God in when we have a mess going on. The majority of the board hold a leadership position in their church. Check it out. So tell them just like you telling Jonathan that God don't like ugly. Like I said, we want to kill the messenger without looking at the message.
ReplyDeleteHow is Jonathan working against the board? They can't even work with each other. They don't respect each other. TELL THEM!! Tell them to agree to disagree and be respectful.
Get Real and look at the issue at hand. You got a board that is out of control. You got someone whose bold enough to speak about what a lot of us are thinking. Get the facts, they are out there, Jonathan knows they are out there. We need to get off our behinds and check the facts. I don't believe people will be accusing someone about non payment of their insurance if its not true. This can easily be proven so why would they lie about stuff like this. And everybody can not tell the same lie without it getting twisted. Why don't you question the clerk about this the next time you see her.