by Barry Levinson
Exactly 1,603 days after the savage beating death of a 135- pound “innocent man” (Police Chief Dan Hughes so proclaimed Kelly Thomas posthumously at a council meeting about a year or so latter), the tragic tale of Kelly Thomas comes to a dramatic close.
Although, I am very disappointed that Mr. Thomas chose to accept the City of Fullerton’s large offer of 4.9 million dollars, instead of going through an open civil trial, it should not be the focus of our thoughts and concerns.
Let’s just review that various costs involved in the Kelly Thomas savage beating death has cost the Fullerton public.
Payout to Mrs. Kathy Thomas $1,000,000
Payout to Mr. Ron Thomas $4,900,000
Estimated legal related fees $500,000
Potential estimated settlements with
fired officers who are attempting to get
their jobs back.
(We shall have to wait
and see on this one.) $5,000,000
—————
Total cost to pay off victims for the FPD’s
bad acts: $11,400,000
The impact this has for the Fullerton
Public. ………………………………… A lasting mistrust of the FPD
Here is the way to start the healing.
Removing Dan Hughes and Joe Felz from
Fullerton city government forever. …………… Priceless!!
Dan Hughes-FPD chief
It is ironic that the settlement approval came at a hastily called for “Special” City Council meeting for 8 AM the morning before the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. Any fool knows that the timing of this meeting was carefully selected by a majority of our city council along with City Manager Joe Felz.
Joe Felz Fullerton city manager
It was probably the same majority who voted for the $4.9 million settlement, i.e. Fitzgerald, Flory and Chaffee. So the next time Council members Flory, Fitzgerald and Chaffee have the audacity to talk about the openness and transparency of city government, I hope a large segment of the council audience will have the courage to remind them of this 8 AM council meeting.
Now that Police Chief Dan Hughes does not have to worry about testifying under oath before the civil jury (and the world) and answer some very embarrassing, tough and even a few unanswerable questions, he can now sit back and wait for his approximately 200K pension to arrive just over the horizon. It is good to be the king, which is what many of the top public servants truly are these days. It is we the people who get incredibly little consideration from all these so-called civil servants and elected officials. They are supposed to be looking out for the citizens of Fullerton wellbeing in their fiduciary roles. They make multi-million dollar decisions such as with the passage of several 4-year union contracts and in their public council deliberations did not even mention the word “taxpayer”. Their actions certainly show no empathy or concern for those that pay the city’s bills. Council member Fitzgerald as a self-described Republican, deserves the loudest shout-out for her apparent lack of concern for the financial wellbeing of the city and taxpayer.
But I want to leave the readers with a positive message. We the people of Fullerton can look forward to a better-run city government. All we have to do is vote out Ms. Flory and Ms. Fitzgerald next year and vote for people such as Joe Imbriano.
My role going forward will be to do whatever will do the most good for our city. I look forward to continue speaking out whenever our city leadership goes astray or fails in their responsibilities to you the good citizens of Fullerton.
P.S. The city of Fullerton government and its services are in very bad shape. Therefore, we must reject politics as usual. Too many elected officials either work against the people or try to straddle the fence and in so doing accomplish little. Well I am here to tell all of them, to either get with the people 100% or get out of the way for a change is coming.
I report, you decide.
Barry Levinson
#1 by Anonymous on January 7, 2016 - 12:01 pm
Ok all the incidents you mentioned have been dealt with. But I want Joe to produce his proof. Joe you said the trial was “rigged” that’s a humongous allegation. Your saying there was this huge conspiracy involving our entire justice system that started at the local level and continued all the way up to the federal level in regards to the Thomas trial. You need to produce some hardcore evidence of this conspiracy to the citizens of Fullerton. Joe your entitled to your opinion, but now your running for city council position and want our votes. You have no place in city government if your going to making such irresponsible and reckless allegations with out any sort of corraberated facts. You need to start putting your money where your mouth is Joe. If you can’t it’s ok. Just walk away.
#2 by Fullerton - The Cesspool City Government on January 7, 2016 - 1:17 pm
Dealt with….really? Any human being accused of sexually assaulting at least seven different women (i.e. Fullerton officer Rincon) would have been indicted and facing criminal prosecution. But not when the allegations are against a FPD police officer. Corruption thy name is Fullerton City Hall. This was then covered up by an out of court settlement given to the two women who had the courage to sue civilly, to protect the guilty and hide the truth from coming out. Taxpayer money used once again by the FPD and the City of Fullerton as hush money. There were at least 7 different women alleging sexual assaults by an on duty Fullerton Police Officer (Rincon) and you have no problem with that whatsoever. What a total fraud you are RI?
It is past time to rid ourselves of the council members who protect the police and the city while all this corruption continues to take place. It is past the time to rid ourselves of Fitzgerald, Flory and Chafee and the first two are up for reelection in 10 months.
#3 by Reality Is..... on January 8, 2016 - 10:38 pm
You have to have a victim willing to testify in order to prosecute. Understand? You get it yet? None of those victims could get on the stand so no prosecution. Simple.
#4 by Fullerton Lover on January 10, 2016 - 3:40 pm
You REALLY need to get your stories straight amigo if you want to stay ground in reality…
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/10/judge-slam-fullerton-for-keeping-cop-accused-of-groping-women-on-patrol.html
#5 by Reality Is..... on January 12, 2016 - 10:33 am
Amigo? What does this show? Talk was of prosecution. This doesn’t say anything about prosecution. It talks about discipline for the officer and a civil case. Get it straight bucko. I stand behind my reasoning for no prosecution.
#6 by Fullerton Lover on January 12, 2016 - 11:18 am
Reasoning from you Is a true oxymoron.
#7 by Telling It Like It Is on January 12, 2016 - 11:52 am
Fullerton Lover I suggest that you do not even respond to RI anymore. He is very morally and ethically challenged individual who should be both pitied and ignored. The scary thing is that he never denied that he was or is a police officer.
#8 by Fullerton Lover on January 12, 2016 - 6:25 pm
I appreciate what your saying, however I’m an optimist that believes we are all worth saving.
#9 by Anonymous on January 12, 2016 - 9:01 am
You also have to have a willing police department to do the proper investigation and arrest the alleged criminal. I forgot that Fullerton does not have such a police department.