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Sheriff, of course it's political
Two days after he publicly endorsed the challenger for his boss' job, sheriff's Sgt. J.R. Rodriguez heard he was being transferred.
Sheriff Mack Wimbish said the transfer is not payback and has nothing to do with politics. I'm not sure the sheriff can say that with a straight face. It's political, the same way it was political when • Sheriff's public information officer Sgt. Chevy Garza was transferred out of his high profile job after announcing he would run against Wimbish. • Former Sheriff Carl Sparks transferred Cmdr. Hal Chealander from a high profile job to Lake Isabella in 2002 when Chealander was challenging Sparks' re-election. • Sparks himself was transferred from the high profile Search and Rescue leader to the Lerdo Jail when he announced he would run against then sheriff John Smith. The latest transfer of Rodriguez is unfortunate. He has a sterling record fighting drug trafficking in Kern County as head of the county's meth-busting unit known as Cal-MMET. But, that's politics. At least let us call it what it is. Sheriff's candidate Donny Youngblood said it is unfortunate that the Rodriguez transfer is sending a message to deputies not to support another candidate. That sounds political too. Posted by Steve E. Swenson 31 comments from 14 users
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posted by
randomfactor
on Aug 25, 2006 at 08:44 AM
One-term Wimbish. Thank God.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 09:12 AM
I'm not sure if I am the only person realizing this but the KCSD has some major issues. Could it be the leader? I am for sure of that! Look at the recent killing at the downtown jail. The manager of that facility should be just as responsible as the officers involved. Where is Internal Affairs play into the incident. Look at the prisoners that are escaping the Lerdo Facility. What type of circus is WIMBISH running. He needs to pay more attention to his management staff on Norris Rd instead of his opponents.
Mack you should've stuck to morning radio shows. posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 09:27 AM
I THINK MACK WIMBISH IS NOT A FAIR PERSON & IS A COWARD LOOK AT THE PATTERN FROM ALL THE RUNNINGS IN THE PAST !! MAYBE HE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE DOWN TOWN JAIL MURDER & ALL THE ESCAPEES FROM LERDO & FIX THOSE PROBLEMS FIRST & NOT MESS WITH HIS COMPETITION HIS BEST PEOPLE IN THE FIELD. J.R. RODRIQUEZ MY BEST WISHES TO YOU DON'T LET YOUR GARD DOWN YOUR A BETTER PERSON THEN THAT ! posted by
dgrealish
on Aug 25, 2006 at 09:51 AM
Steve Perez was on the radio this morning talking to (duck & cover) Scott Cox about this. He certainly is of the opinion this is in retaliation for JR's participation in a commercial promoting Donny Youngblood. Donny Youngblood however, being quite the politician said we'd have to wait to see if there was an investigation under way surrounding JR. I think that's a load of C*%#. But he can hardly come out and say Wimbish is a vengeful weasel, can he. posted by
NancyII
on Aug 25, 2006 at 09:57 AM
Sounds like all the previous sheriffs were a little vengeful too. I'm not sure I'd be happy with someone openly going against me and being on my watch.It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out. It will also be interesting to see how badly the public demonizes the next sheriff. Abe Lincoln supposedly said "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time. " We at least need to get one in place who is smart enough not to make himself look stupid most of the time. posted by
dgrealish
on Aug 25, 2006 at 10:05 AM
It's probably just human nature to go after a guy you think is out to get you. But what stupid timing! And put that with the fact that JR heads the Cal-MMET team, his reason's for transferring him better be more than he pi$$ed me off. posted by
samheath
on Aug 25, 2006 at 10:46 AM
Wimbish is simply taking his cue from most politicians in the White House, Congress, and others in power. Abe Lincoln should have said "You can fool some of the people some of the time and that is all that is necessary."
posted by
NancyII
on Aug 25, 2006 at 10:50 AM
Bless his heart, I don't think Mac has done anything right since his last traffic report. ;-)
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 11:05 AM
I don't blame Wimbish, if I were in his place this ingrate would be patrolling the streets of Boron. It is time to play hardball!
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 11:18 AM
Wimbish, I hope come voting time you LOSE You Loser, What goes around comes around !! It's people like you that make people unhappy in the work place. Good Luck J.R. I hope your happy with the outcome...Maybe this is a good thing so the public can see the real side of this Clown. posted by
dgrealish
on Aug 25, 2006 at 11:19 AM
But Wimbish is trifling with public safety. JR has done an outstanding job in his current position. And it's his right to stand behind anyone he chooses. Heck, he ran against Wimbish and that didn't have the same consequence. I just feel Wimbish better have something more substantial than retaliation behind this. posted by
randomfactor
on Aug 25, 2006 at 11:25 AM
dgrealish, you hit the nail on the head. Wimbish has *LOUSY* instincts--his first inclination when faced with a problem is to lie, even to the press. That's a *BAD* sign. It's even worse politically.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 11:28 AM
People always see bad signs....in their opponents!!
posted by
mattloch
on Aug 25, 2006 at 11:31 AM
And people wonder why no one in the DA's office will run against, or even say anything bad about, their boss.....
posted by
dgrealish
on Aug 25, 2006 at 11:33 AM
Helluva point mattloch!
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 11:42 AM
Helluva point, except for the fact that the same people who keep Jagels in office are the same ones who want Wimbish out of office. No, NO, abolutely no, outsiders are not welcomed into Kern and Bakersfield's tightly knit law enforcement family!!
posted by
robbwillis
on Aug 25, 2006 at 12:33 PM
Another Wimbish story, another reason sheriff should not be an elected position.
posted by
Glocker
on Aug 25, 2006 at 12:40 PM
Jagels is another issue. The fact is Wimbish has not been a leader for this county or the department. A leader leads from the front. Not the rear. He has been caught in more than one "untruth". His own people despise him as a leader (because he doesn't lead). Hell, if you know any CHP well enough to tell you the truth they will tell you he was not a real cop for at least the last 10 years of his time with the CHP, and some have doubts about any time before that. Lets see.........there was the "We'll Kick Your Ass" sticker. There was the drunk friend being let out of holding issue. Then there was Corner Jim Maulof issue. Perhaps someone can refresh my memory, but was there not an issue with a fellow CHP officer that was working with Wimbish before the first election that was treated somewhat unfairly by Wimbish (his superior) after endorsing Perez? If memory serves correct this seems to be a pattern with Wimbish. This does not seem to be the type of behavior that is conducive to a good work environment. Or is it just me. Lets see.........if you cross me or mess with my political aspirations you will be punished. Hmm.........no thanks. Mack hang up your spurs and find a job in radio. It seems that is what you are best suited for.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 12:54 PM
Same book different page, don't be coy all your illigitimate family problems geeting daylight are at stake. Wimbish loses, Jagels wins, simple as that!
posted by
dgrealish
on Aug 25, 2006 at 12:57 PM
Well said. But I can't think of any radio he'd be suited for. I think his days in the public eye (ear) are numbered. posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 01:01 PM
I agree completely but they are ended for all the wrong reasons.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 02:54 PM
incompetence is a wrong reason? being a blatant liar is a wrong reason? pull your head out of the sand and listen for once! he is a vindictive weasel. the bad thing is, these aren't even his original ideas. he has incompetent people standing by his side whispering in his ear telling him what to say. the deputies on the street don't trust him enough to say anything for fear that they will be retaliated against. it happens over and over again. I'm afraid that there has been too much damage done by mack that Donny will have a hard time fixing it.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 10:27 PM
Do any of you work directly with any of these folk? Do any of you truly know what goes on behind closed doors in that place? Did anybody stop to think that maybe there are issues that we are not aware of? I think the only way to know what is really going on here is to wait out the whole thing and see what comes in the end. What I am interested in hearing is what the people who work for these politicians know, think, and feel. Let's get some real insight on who these people are who are running this county. I can say one thing though, it does seem really odd that someone who has supposedly had such an outstanding career heading up the meth-busting Cal-MET can't even get the endorsements of his own crew. Maybe there's more to the story? You have to wonder.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 11:05 PM
go home JR and come to the realization that you were never in the race to start with. Your inability to realize that you are not an important enough person for anyone to really care what you do is beginning to get really old. If it makes you feel better to believe that the Sheriff feels that you supporting Donny is a potential threat to his already deminishing support, then so be it, but for once I think Mac maybe on the right track. Do you think that the Sheriff is so stupid that he would make an election mistake so big as to transfer you at such a crucial time? Or is he really concerned with the well being of the department and public and feels that the benefits and necessity for you transfer far outweigh the inevitable public scruntity that will follow? Everyone knows(including Mac), from your short career as a wanna-be politician, that you are willing to do and say anything, at everyone else's expense, to make yourself look and feel better; this is just another prime example. Your predictable last ditch effort to save face for loosing a race you should have never entered is only creating an issue within the eyes of the public which should have never been created.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 25, 2006 at 11:51 PM
"incompetence is a wrong reason? being a blatant liar is a wrong reason pull your head out of the sand and listen for once! he is a vindictive weasel", you could be talking sbout anyone of the candidates " . "Donny will have a hard time fixing it" yeah this guys are good at the FIX, but trust me he will not have a hard time, there is plenty of sleazy help in that Department.
What we really need is Fed investigation of the whole place, to blame all the problems on the man least responsible is kind stupid. He is an outsider resented by the whole department including his staff he gets stabbed every time he steps on the ld bys toes. But if we get Donny, that is what we deserve, he will put all those skeletons back in the closet and it will be Hawaii time with the fat overtime checks back in vogue. Forget fixing the jail problems, it is only low lifes that don't deserve a trial, what counts in the the family gets back to the good times. posted by
Glocker
on Aug 26, 2006 at 09:46 AM
Quote: "What we really need is Fed investigation of the whole place, to blame all the problems on the man least responsible is kind stupid. " End quote.
While I agree that an investigation is warranted for a for a plethora of abuses that occur within this department, it is wrong to say that blaming Wimbish is stupid. He is at the top of the food chain. He ran and is running for the top job again. If he is not to be held responsible for the abuses that take place with his own personal and subjects/suspects/detainees then who? He is charged with overseeing the care and custody of everyone who comes in contact with the department, be it a victim of a crime or a suspect in something as minor as a traffic infraction and everything in between. He is also charged with the well being of all of the personal that work for the department. More importantly, Wimbish, as an elected official is or should be held to answer to us, the public for any discrepancies in policies that may arise within the scope of those duties. And here is the point that he does not get, he must do so truthfully. Something that we have not seen from him in his first and hopefully last term. So to trivialize his responsibility by saying it's "stupid" is a disingenuous statement at best and one you should reconsider. If Wimbish is not to be held responsible, then who do you suggest? posted by
anonymous
on Aug 26, 2006 at 11:36 AM
maybe transferring JR is for the well being of the public and department as a whole. who knows, maybe he is trying to do his job and everyone around him is non-supportive, scrutinizing, and judgemental. we may never know.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 26, 2006 at 01:02 PM
Just to set the record straight on the CHP incident where Wimpish was concerned in his first election, it was a dispatcher not an officer, and he put his hands on this person's shoulder and basically told him to back off his position. When this person told him to get his hands off him, the situation went south. Just for info, that dispatcher in question, was also a reserve deputy for the Sheriffs dept and had been for several years prior to, then promtly resigned with in months of Wimpish taking office. Wimpish does not have very much support from anyone, if anyone with in his own dept, and he has "faithful friends" with in CHP ranks. That is not saying that they really believe he can handle the job, it merely says they support him because he was "one of them" once. posted by
Glocker
on Aug 26, 2006 at 02:51 PM
Anonymous, thanks for the refresher. I was racking my tiny brain for the details and could not remember them. I had not heard that about the dispatcher being a reserve deputy, that I remember. If that is true, and I have no reason not to believe you, then it's very telling about this individuals perception of Wimbish's vindictive behavior.
posted by
anonymous
on Aug 26, 2006 at 05:06 PM
Actually if you are going to use the blame game start with the Board of Supervisors who have provided absolutely no oversight in to the department's operations until Wimbish blew the whistle.
For years the have operated an an autonomous paret of government responsible to no one, and Youngblood even if he is a "good" guy will bring back the good old days, he owes his life to the company store. posted by
anonymous
on Aug 28, 2006 at 11:27 AM
JR is a POS. He has been in his position way too long. He thinks he is the Grand Pooh-bah of drug enforcement. I would laugh my a$$ off if it came out that he was involved in something illegal. He said on the news that the ones that would really be adversely affected by his removal from the CalMet team are the citizens of Kern County. What arrogance! Of course there are no cops out there that could possibly do the job. Just because no one wants to work with him doesn't mean he's the king of the department.
All of this does not change the fact that Mack is a dimwit that has no business being dog catcher much less sheriff. Mistake after mistake, lie after lie, cover up after cover up. He doesn't even have sense enough to shut his yapper when he can see he's put his foot in it.
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