Bill Medvecky hits the Radar Screen

BLIP !

From Brooke Adam's blog, "The Plural Life."

"So what did we do to pass the time? The reporters chatted. Caseworkers and ad litems (there were 13 in the courtroom by my count) chatted. And read.

Copies of an article were being passed around among the state workers, and I got a glance at the headline: 'CPS dykes want to groom [girl’s name omitted].' Yikes, I thought, not exactly material you want CPS caseworkers reading dur(i)ng a hearing on whether you are capable of caring for your daughter."

Thanks to Bill, we know for certain now that CPS in Texas reads the blogs. Thanks guys and gals. Hope you love it. I'm assuming of course they cruise mine from time to time. Sorry 'bout your Cowboys. Maybe next year.

At any rate, as I tried to explain to an alleged attorney poster at Brooke's blog, Rule one, DO NOT DIGNIFY THE MINOR OPPOSITION BY RESPONDING TO THEM (or naming them). Rule two? Refer to rule one. Next thing you know Bill will be getting tickets to Oprah to be her guest. When all you really have is a "convict them in the press" strategy, it's not a good idea to create news for the other side. Yet that is what they have done.

Since I now must assume that DFPS in Texas reads the "Pro FLDS" or "FLDS Centric" or "FLDS Friendly blogs," I'd like to provide them with a handy little tool.

Whenever you're wondering, just click.

As of today (it may change tomorrow) the number one PRO FLDS or ANTI site is:

Truth Will Prevail.

The rest in order are:

The Modern Pharisee! (Me Me Me Me Me Me!)

Free the FLDS Children (Bill)

The Common Room

Contraries

Sore Toes and a Bleeding Heart

Child Brides (Flora's site?)

Texas Polygamy

All of these are ranked by "Alexa Rankings" in the United States. The overall number at the bottom of the page, not the top. If your blog or site didn't have such a number, it didn't make the list. Comment if you think I missed one, and I'll insert it in the appropriate place right away. For a limited time. I assume that rankings will change over the next few days or weeks, Bill might outshine Google if he doesn't watch it.

I left out blogs like "Grits for Breakfast" which is a high ranking and great blog, but Scott doesn't blog consistantly on the FLDS so his fame is largely due to other pursuits. I can't break out Brooke's blog from Salt Lake Tribune statistics, but I would assume that if I could, it would outrank us all. Maybe all of us combined. Since I believe the facts are on the FLDS side, Brooke, though nominally neutral, would appear to be "Pro" FLDS most of the time.

What's notable is that they are almost all PRO or FLDS leaning blogs. 7 months ago, "Texas Polygamy," a nominally neutral (but really anti) spot was on top. Child Brides has never drawn very much traffic, and I now rate just below what must pass for the official FLDS mouthpiece, "Truth Will Prevail."

This shows you what people believe, where the news is, whose anaylsis they trust and where sympathies lie. Beyond inflaming the ill informed, the Anti FLDS side hasn't got much. As soon as the truth breaks through, and dawns on most of the nation, if it ever does, Texas is toast, and they've started giving us publicity. Hopefully, they'll try to investigate or arrest someone.

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Routine Swinton "appearance" goes ahead without her appearing.

David Foley showed up and talked to the judge. Her involvement in the Texas case is noted.

KRDO - "Texas Rangers traced a call to her, following the raid of a polygamist compound in April. In that case, a girl named Sarah told a social worker she was trying to escape the religious sect. Swinton has not been charged in that case. The next review of Swinton's case in the El Paso County incident is set for February 4."

Now we know the next date for her next irrelevant or put off non appearance. Yeah, "a girl named Rozita," not Sarah. More →

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Childress Sworn to Secrecy? CPS Resignation REEKS of internal warfare.

The evidence becomes overwhelming for a clear and sharp dispute behind the scenes leading up to the Charles Childress resignation. A more detailed article appeared today in the San Angelo Standard-Times:

"I cannot say a word about it," Childress said when reached at his Austin home Friday. "There is nothing I can say that wouldn't be out of line."

Wowsers. This sounds like it really got heated. Nothing he could say? Not even "This is best for me and my family" like Gary Banks said? "I think I'll go back to teaching?" Nope. There's NOTHING he could say that wouldn't be out of line. This more clearly seems to be the emotional residue of a forced resignation. Normally when someone says things like that one of two things are true, or both. Childress is still so angry over the affair that he can't trust himself to speak of it for fear of losing his composure and/or the dispute would be so damaging to one or both of the parties in the dispute that an agreement was signed not to speak of it.

"Banks, who sent the letter Sept. 5 and left the agency early this month, could not be reached for comment Friday."

Yeah right, "No comment."

"The attorneys join a growing list of officials associated with the April raid who have since left their jobs. Cary Cockerell, commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services - of which CPS is a part - retired Aug. 31 for personal reasons, while Texas Ranger Lt. Barry Caver, who commanded the April raid, left law enforcement in June to pursue a better-paying oil-industry job.

None of the officials has cited the FLDS case as a reason for leaving. In Cockerell's case, CPS officials said specifically the case was not a factor in his decision.

Childress, a former University of Texas law professor who worked for CPS in the late 1990s, was brought back to help coordinate the massive case, which involved 439 children and 26 adults initially believed to be children."

Folks, this is war. This is an agency lurching out of control without direction. If you have any doubts, read on.

"The loss of essentially the two lead attorneys in the case likely will bring another CPS lawyer to the fore - perhaps Jeff Schmidt, who has represented CPS during some hearings.

'There is a group of attorneys out there' at CPS' San Angelo offices, said agency spokesman Patrick Crimmins. 'He (Childress) was just acting as lead attorney. We're just trying to figure out their roles and responsibilities.' "

CPS doesn't know WHO is going to take over. By the way, who would want the job? It's a greased rail to unemployment and disgrace. This wasn't planned IMHO. Someone threatened Childress without knowing how he'd respond and he quit or some issue came to light that someone had to take the blame for and Childress got the nod. Something happened that scattered the pieces on the chess board and they're in full scramble mode.

Once again, a rule of politics is that you don't make your constituency (your co workers in a bureaucracy) LOOK bad. This LOOKS bad, so it IS BAD. You don't DO it unless something profound happens because it looks that way and everyone will think it is for some earth shattering reason. Planned resignations take place with the outgoing head giving plenty of time and citing "good reasons" and praising their peers. Tom Brady doesn't quit the Patriots during the introduction of the starting line up in the Super Bowl. It's DESTRUCTIVE. It's not what a career "team player" does. Bureaucrats are CONSUMATE team players. They don't survive unless they are.

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What a concept, there is no evidence of a crime that did not occur.

In the Austin American-Statesman it seems that Texas has a hard time grasping the obvious. When there is no crime, it's hard to find.

"'The FLDS group is very difficult to penetrate,' (Texas Attorney General Greg) Abbott said. 'They have a veil of silence that they operate under, and as a result, the kind of evidence that's necessary to prosecute the crimes that they may be committing is difficult to obtain. I think with what Senator Reid is proposing, what the committee is considering, it will provide greater tools for the federal authorities to help go in and begin to eradicate some of the criminal activity that may be taking place.'"

You said it yourself Greg, "may be taking place." Examine your own words for a moment. They mean that there COULD be NO CRIME taking place. Nothing leaves no trace, which COULD account for the difficulty of penetrating the "veil of silence." There always is silence when no one makes a sound. There is no evidence when something does not occur, making it "difficult to obtain."

What a concept. Spend time and money on places that crimes aren't difficult to find, because they actually leave evidence. The idea that you THINK there is a crime, and are frustrated by the absence of evidence leads many people to believe that they were wrong. But not Texas. Not Greg Abbott. More →

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Yeah, parenting class, that's it, it's a "Parenting Class" (nudge nudge wink wink)

The total lack of abuse discovered at the FLDS ranch suggest we should all be polygynists, yet the State of Texas is customizing it's "Parenting Classes" to fit the FLDS. Want a sample of the agenda?

"During hearings prior to those rulings, Child Protective Service workers had said that one aim of the parenting classes would be to educate FLDS parents about Texas laws regarding marriage, bigamy and other legal issues."

Yeah, that's right, a, um, "Parenting Class." Sounds like a brainwashing session. Oops, sorry, a "Deprogramming the cult" session. The article appears in the Salt Lake Tribune.
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The Official News Release

NEWS RELEASE

Albert Hawkins
Executive Commissioner

Date: June 27, 2008
Contact: Stephanie Goodman, 512-424-6951

Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner to Retire

AUSTIN – Carey Cockerell, commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services, will retire on Aug. 31 after overseeing a reform effort that led to dramatic declines in caseloads, an increase in adoptions, and improvements in training and technology for caseworkers.

“For many years, Commissioner Cockerell has dedicated himself to protecting those who cannot protect themselves,” Gov. Rick Perry said. “At a time when there were reports of cases being closed too quickly and children and the elderly being left in dangerous conditions, Carey helped our state refocus protective services to its vital mission ― protecting Texas’ most vulnerable. I thank him for his tireless service and effective leadership, and wish him well in his future ventures.”

Cockerell joined the agency in January 2005, just months after Gov. Perry had issued executive orders directing review and reform of the state’s protective services programs. During the 2005 legislative session, state lawmakers approved a $248 million Child Protective Services reform plan to add 2,500 caseworkers and support staff, strengthen management of the program and improve caseworker training. The Legislature also approved additional staff and resources for Adult Protective Services.

“Carey took on one of the most difficult jobs in state government and achieved significant improvements in just a few short years,” said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins. “His thorough and thoughtful approach made real reform possible, and he quickly earned the respect of staff and caregivers across the state as a leader deeply committed to protecting children and vulnerable adults.”

Under Cockerell’s leadership:

• Child Protective Services began an aggressive hiring effort to fill new positions and reduced investigation caseloads by 41 percent, from a daily average of 43.2 cases per worker in fiscal year 2005 to 25.3 cases in 2007.

• The number of residential child care inspections almost doubled, going from 4,590 inspections in 2005 to 8,839 inspections in 2007.

• With the addition of more than 200 new staff, Adult Protective Services caseloads fell 31 percent, from a daily average of 52 cases in 2005 to 36 in 2007.

• Adoptions of children in the Child Protective Services system increased 27 percent.

“I’m proud of the improvements we made in our programs, but I’m even prouder of the thousands of caseworkers and other staff who made it all possible,” Cockerell said. “They really came together and supported the rebuilding of the agency into one that was stronger and better equipped to protect Texans.”

Cockerell said he’s been thinking about retirement since late last year.

“I’ll soon be a grandfather, and I’m looking forward to a lot of quality time with my family after four decades of working in state and local programs.”

Before joining the Department of Family and Protective Services, Cockerell was director of Juvenile Services for Tarrant County. He served in that role from 1984 through 2004, and he pioneered the first Texas youth advocacy program using paid mentors to work with youth. He also established an education program for expelled middle school students that became a statewide model for mandated juvenile justice alternative education programs.

Hawkins said the selection process for a new Department of Family and Protective Services commissioner will begin quickly.

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The Dallas Morning News Reports on Cockerell's Resignation.

Brace yourself.

"Department spokesman Patrick Crimmins said Mr. Cockerell is departing for personal reasons. The release said Mr. Cockerell will soon be a grandfather and wants to spend more time with family.

'There is no connection between the Eldorado operation and the commissioner’s retirement,' Mr. Crimmins said"

Hehe...

Ho ho...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....!

(medic! I think I broke a rib..)

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Heads start to roll, Cockerell Resigns

I told you (on June 4th), when I found out Perry was keeping up, BUT NOT BY EMAIL, that people below him would go. Cockerell resigns. The buck stops a few rungs lower than the Governor.

The Salt Lake Tribune Posted: 1:25 PM- AUSTIN, Texas - "The head of the Texas agency behind the seizure of more than 400 children from a polygamist group announced Friday that he is retiring.
The news release announcing Carey Cockerell's retirement as commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services offered no reason for his departure, but he said in the announcement that he had been thinking about stepping down since late last year.
'I'll soon be a grandfather and I'm looking forward to a lot of quality time with my family after four decades of working in state and local programs,' said Cockerell, 61."

Oh yeah, spend more time with the family. If I were the Grand Jury, I'd forget about meeting again. I'm on the road, so I'm hardly following this closely, but, there it is.

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The Grand Jury Final Report for June? No Indictments?

With this confusing story it seems that the Grand Jury is done for the month, and won't meet again for another month. There were no indictments. My UNDERSTANDING is that the Grand Jury has to be empaneled to issue the indictments, and if they're done, and there are none, no one knows even now who to indict and for what. That is frankly amazing. Alan Futrell seems as confused about it as I am.

The San Angelo Standard-Times - ELDORADO - "With today's meeting of the Schleicher County grand jury at an end, no indictments have been issued and the panel has agreed to meet again July 22.

Alan Fatrell (sic?), the criminal defense attorney for the 16-year-old daughter of Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints leader Warren Jeffs, told reporters earlier in the afternoon that the grand jury would call one more witness before recessing until July 22. However, he said he did not know whether the continuation means the panel will not issue any indictments until that date."

Unless a Grand Jury can have a PHONE conference and issue indictments this turned out to be one big wet firecracker. That in and of itself should be a major news story across the country in the MSM. They can't even get a Grand Jury in their own home town to tell them what they think might have happened, when they are SPOON FEEDING them the "Evidence." My only guess is they were trying to gather evidence against Warren Jeffs, otherwise unless and indictment comes out, Walthers looks like a complete moron and hack.

UPDATE: It's probably fair to say we don't like each other much but I have no reason to think that "Texas Blues Man" over at "Coram Non Judice" is SUBSTANTIALLY wrong about this one, so I'll pass his answer along to you about Grand Juries in Texas;

"Hugh, the GJ is still technically in session, and they serve for the term of the court. In this case, the term ends on September 30th, so a quorum (9 jurors) can meet at any time between now and then.

If they decide to indict, the DA will prepare the indictment and the foreman will sign it.

Conceivably, the GJ could have indicted some today, and it is merely waiting for the copy for the foreman to sign, but more likely it will be ready for signature in July.

They can meet at any time until the end of the term, but usually will meet once a month or so - more often if needed.

Also, the term of the GJ can be extended for 90 days if needed.

Finally, if the indictments were sealed, they could already be issued and they are just waiting to serve them."

There were no indictments today, signed or unsigned by the foreman. That is unless news reports are wrong and about such technical details they usually are not in this case. I have no reason to suspect that the San Angelo Standard-Times got it wrong. This does mean that Barbara can call a quorum of the GJ at any time including tomorrow and get an indictment issued. The last time the GJ met they handed down 18 sealed indictments right away but the indictments were said to have nothing to do with the YFZ case so I doubt that there are any sealed indictments.

IMHO the failure to hand down any indictments in this case indicates it's extreme weakness. It would sound like the DA and the Judge were trolling today, trying to find something on which to build a case.

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