Thursday, November 27, 2008

Hendry Sheriff Sells Car To Georgia Town

Transferring Assets To Keep New Sheriff From Getting Them Says Story

LABELLE, FL. -- A news story in the Cordele Dispatch in Georgia says Hendry County Sheriff Ronnie Lee is selling his 2007 Dodge Charger police cruiser to a Vienna, Georgia Police Department to keep Sheriff-Elect Steve Whidden from getting it. The issue came to light according to the story when the Vienna Mayor questioned the purchase at a city council meeting Monday.

According to the story Vienna Police Chief Jamey Reed bought the vehicle without notifying the Mayor. According to the story "Reed said a sheriff in Hendry County, Fla. had lost his bid for re-election and had a black 2007 Dodge Charger he did not want the new sheriff to get."

The Vienna Mayor was disappointed that he wasn't notified of the deal made by the Vienna Police Chief.

"Reed said the total price for the Charger was $18,950. He informed council that he had a quote, also from Brannen, on a new Crown Victoria like the ones currently in use by the department. The quote for the Crown Victoria was $28,285. The purchase of the Charger saves taxpayers almost $10,000 and payment for the vehicle is not due until January 2009 when it was originally approved for, Reed said."

The cruiser is already fully equipped with lights, siren, and radio and had been traded to Brannen Motor Company in Unadilla, according to the story. Although it is unknown from where the Dodge Charger police vehicle was purchased originally, Sheriff Lee's son Ronnie Jr. worked for a local LaBelle Dodge dealer. Nearly all of the other Hendry Sheriff's department vehicles are Fords.
 

13 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:18 PM

    Here's an interesting article from Cordele, Georgia about our very own out-going Sheriff Buford. Skip down to the 4th paragraph and check out the quote from Chief of Police for the Vienna Georgia Police Department. So much for being cooperative and cordial.

    http://www.cordeledispatch.com/local/local_story_330203043.html

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  2. Anonymous11:06 PM

    I can not help but wonder if any laws were broken in this? This can not be proper or legal to just sell off assests like this? I certainly hope somebody is keeping track for legal actions later against former sherrif lee!

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  3. Anonymous11:23 AM

    I can't help but wonder if this is the same Georgia area that a former Hendry County Sheriff back in "the day" moved to.

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  4. Anonymous11:28 AM

    Ronnie, too bad you could not be so efficient busting and siezing assets from the gangsters in hendry county.

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  5. Anonymous1:40 PM

    It did not surprise me when Ronnie did this. The Florida Statutes clearly define how a sheriff can dispose of items on/off inventory. The dealership is not a governmental agency nor is it a non-profit organization. If these items were to be disposed it must be done in the the way dictated by law if you fail to due so it is a misdemeanor. I just firmly feel it is theft. The items in the car were not apart of the car and was bought by county assets, but these monies derived did not come back to the county.

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  6. Anonymous10:04 PM

    Ronnie Lee pig still playing underhanded games.

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  7. Anonymous4:51 PM

    Hendry County Sheriff Ronnie Lee breaks the LAW!

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  8. Anonymous8:59 PM

    Is every NOT re-elected official in Hendry County going to throw a temper tantrum like Lee and Kulpa or is this the last of the 4 year old behavior we'll hear about.

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  9. Anonymous9:34 PM

    Its more like the terrible two's.

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  10. Anonymous2:46 PM

    See problem is that Lee always busted the small time dealers in Harlem and Montura to make it look like he was doing something. DUH! Fair law my A$$. They were never pulling over the drunks leaving the Elks clubs, Country clubs and any other sociable drinking intuitions.

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  11. Anonymous10:34 PM

    You people sure have no idea what you are all talking about ..do you...You all should be saying Thank You to Sheriff Lee for SAVING Hendry county a boat load (or should I say car load) of money, when he TRADED in the Charger towards NEW cars for the new Sheriff and the deputies that will be staying on...
    You fools..You all need to look into stuff before, you make comments that are not true...Enjoy your crow pie....

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  12. Anonymous11:07 PM

    Only a fool calls people fools! Its you who should quit being BLIND to the crimes. Lee has no right to sell said car. As for Lee busting the socalled drug dealers of Hendry county. ITS A JOKE! Drugs have been out of control for years and not just the small time Harlem or Montura dealers. Its easy to bust those dealers . What about the dealers who are already rich? What about drunks leaving the Elks clubs, Country clubs and all the sociable drinking intuitions.

    Don't be BLIND and TWO FACED!

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  13. Anonymous10:48 AM

    How did Buford save us the taxpayers of Hendry County a "car load" when he traded a perfectly good patrol car which was fully loaded with only 13K miles on it in for $10K on a new Crown Vic that costs $28K+. Sounds like we the taxpayers just paid a lot of money for a car we already had on hand, equipped and ready for the road. Now we have to wait for the new one to be outfitted and placed in service.

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