REENSTATE Col Chris Knight, Dir of FHP

[TOMMYSB1]

The FDLE investigation of Colonel Chris Knight can be obtained in a PDF format by going to http://www.box.net/shared/5ah4fvotjr... Colonel Knight was cleared of all allegations except an incorrect date on a memo. The State's own Supervisory Assistance System lists this offense as NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION required, since there was no malicious intent.

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:

"REINSTATE CHRIS KNIGHT as the DIRECTOR of the FHP"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/chrisknight?e

I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes less than a minute of your time.

Thanks!

[Tazer101]

I can't believe whats happening down there.

[frostbiteCRA]

I can tell you, for those people that do not know him, Col Knight is a genuine good person. He cares about his people. Many times he will call me on my cell phone to check on me when I got sick and was hospitalized for 3 weeks. He would spent the Holidays with Troopers over on the west coast, working the road mind you. He would bend over back wards for the patrol time and time again. What other Col or chief of police does that? He has moved the Highway Patrol forward like nobody has. We are so sadden by his early resignation. I'm a 5 year member of FHP and he has treated me, and everyone else I know, with dignity and respect. Morale is at a all time low due to his departure. I ask that everyone please sign the petition on behalf of the men and woman of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Thank you for your time.

Frostbite.

[Tazer101]

Col. Knights Repuation reached over to Mississippi as well. Especially during Katrina. It was so nice to see FHP just knowing those guys have been in the face of hurricanes before and knew what they were doing. Very sad to see him leave.

[trinityalumnus]

I can tell you, for those people that do not know him, Col Knight is a genuine good person. He cares about his people. Many times he will call me on my cell phone to check on me when I got sick and was hospitalized for 3 weeks. He would spent the Holidays with Troopers over on the west coast, working the road mind you. He would bend over back wards for the patrol time and time again. What other Col or chief of police does that? He has moved the Highway Patrol forward like nobody has. We are so sadden by his early resignation. I'm a 5 year member of FHP and he has treated me, and everyone else I know, with dignity and respect. Morale is at a all time low due to his departure. I ask that everyone please sign the petition on behalf of the men and woman of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Thank you for your time.

Frostbite.

Frostbite:

Could you take a stab at these questions / thoughts:

1. Fred Dickerson (sp?) was executive director of FHP's parent agency. He appointed Col. Knight to his job. Mr. Dickerson retired/resigned seven months ago. The investigation of Col. Knight began the following month. Coincidence?

(a). Was Dickerson protecting Knight from something, which is why an investigation was not started until after Dickerson's departure?

(b). Did Knight not get along with Dickerson's replacement (Electra Theodorides-Bustle) and did Ms. Bustle start the investigation upon taking office?

2. Who investigated Knight? What were the charges? Who was the initial complainant?

3. Is there any connection between Electra Theodorides-Bustle and the previous Major Tharpe (highest ranking FHP female, a continual thorn in Knight's side)?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Deuce]

I'm sure frostbite will agree, answers best left out of an open forum..

[chfwighim]

Hey bro, you do probably know him better than me, but I have heard from several Troopers here that were happy to see him leave. Not so much for his personal feelings towards his men, but because he didnt seem to address the issues plaguing FHP.
For instance, salary,equipment,policies, restrictions, etc...etc...etc... I do know your agency is restricted by the state more the county sheriffs offices are, but some kind of public announcement may have been helpful to address those issues.
As I say this, please understand that 1) I do not know Col. Knight personally (as it sounds you do) 2) I do not work for FHP 3) alot of my buddies in FHP are not happy with it, and this is where I base my arguement.

[frostbiteCRA]

Frostbite:

Could you take a stab at these questions / thoughts:

1. Fred Dickerson (sp?) was executive director of FHP's parent agency. He appointed Col. Knight to his job. Mr. Dickerson retired/resigned seven months ago. The investigation of Col. Knight began the following month. Coincidence?

(a). Was Dickerson protecting Knight from something, which is why an investigation was not started until after Dickerson's departure?

(b). Did Knight not get along with Dickerson's replacement (Electra Theodorides-Bustle) and did Ms. Bustle start the investigation upon taking office?

2. Who investigated Knight? What were the charges? Who was the initial complainant?

3. Is there any connection between Electra Theodorides-Bustle and the previous Major Tharpe (highest ranking FHP female, a continual thorn in Knight's side)?

Inquiring minds want to know.

I would love to answer those questions (at least my personal opinion and what I know to be fact) but I better not do it in an open forum.

[alpha1906]

The FDLE investigation of Colonel Chris Knight can be obtained in a PDF format by going to http://www.box.net/shared/5ah4fvotjr... Colonel Knight was cleared of all allegations except an incorrect date on a memo. The State's own Supervisory Assistance System lists this offense as NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION required, since there was no malicious intent.

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently signed:

"REINSTATE CHRIS KNIGHT as the DIRECTOR of the FHP"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/chrisknight?e

I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes less than a minute of your time.

Thanks!


Whoa, Whoa, whoa. Ok, I have not been on this site nor the FHP site since July. Whats is going on? What do you mean "reinstate COL Knight"? I didnt realize he was gone. I have emailed this man and I like him. So, someone please bring me up to date. I am going over to the FHP now but I doubt I will get the "real" story over there.

[trinityalumnus]

Who investigated Knight? What were the charges? Who was the initial complainant?

.

I found answers to those particular questions by reading the actual report:

http://www.box.net/shared/5ah4fvotjr

[frostbiteCRA]

Hey bro, you do probably know him better than me, but I have heard from several Troopers here that were happy to see him leave. Not so much for his personal feelings towards his men, but because he didn't seem to address the issues plaguing FHP.
For instance, salary,equipment,policies, restrictions, etc...etc...etc... I do know your agency is restricted by the state more the county sheriffs offices are, but some kind of public announcement may have been helpful to address those issues.
As I say this, please understand that 1) I do not know Col. Knight personally (as it sounds you do) 2) I do not work for FHP 3) alot of my buddies in FHP are not happy with it, and this is where I base my arguement.

You hit the nail in the head with that one. Those several Troopers that are happy to see him leave because he did not address the issues plaguing FHP, in my opinion don't really understand how State Government works. We are at the mercy of State Legislators every year when it comes to money. For the past 6 years, since Knight took over, we have become a 21st century law enforcement agency. But he had an uphill battle up in Tallahassee.
Now here is an example. Up until last year FHP was in the same bargaining unit as ALL State LEO's. FHP is the ONLY State Agency that works 24/7, 365 days a year. So, the Colonel would ask the legislators for a pay raise for his Troopers/Duty Officers (about 2400 people) year after year and it kept getting shot down. Why? Because our then bargaining unit said "if Troopers are going to get a pay raise, so are ALL State LEO's, because we represent ALL state LEO's". So now instead of a pay raise for FHP (2400 people)legislators were looking at a much higher number (6000 or so?), and of course the request would get shot down. We now are under our own bargaining unit.

I urge everyone to read the investigation and see what a bunch of B.S. that is. Please help us in our cause.

Sincerely yours,
Frostbite

[trinityalumnus]

Is there any connection between Electra Theodorides-Bustle and the previous Major Tharpe (highest ranking FHP female, a continual thorn in Knight's side)?

.


As I suspected, the firing of Major Rebecca Tharpe in 2006 may have played a large part in starting the process which led to Colonel Knight's resignation.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20070919/NEWS/709190480/1039

[deputyryan]

I read the report begining to end. I wasnt even all that interested in this at first but I read it anyway... Its pretty obvious from the report that all this comes back to the Tharpe thorn. All of the allegations surround her firing.

From what I can see the Colonel's only misleading or "wrong" action was re-writting a memo that at one point did in fact exsist. He re-wrote the memo after he was unable to find the original (that he wrote himself). The Col. decided to re-write it again and pass it off as the original. BIG FRIGGEN DEAL! While its not the correct thing to do and he probably sh ould have made it known that it was a re-created memo...it doesnt ammount to any punishment. Certainly shouldnt have forced him to resign...

All of the other allegations were not sustained or unfounded. The complainants clearly had biased motives to make these alligations and are in my opinion bottom feeders. It's a shame that a good man is taken down by scum.

[frostbiteCRA]

I know. I Should have known better. Sorry for the negative post. Did it out of hurt and anger. Wont happen again.

[ufresdave]

I wanted to weigh in on this. Col. Knight, awesome leader or not, falsified a date on a memo he typed. It was not a simple error. He purposefully back dated it to make it look as though he wrote the memo in 2003 (based upon what I understand). This is untruthful. You cannot be a leader of a law enforcement agency having done this. HE stepped down. Maybe he was under pressure, BUT, HE stepped down.

Bustle is the DIRECTOR of DHSMV. That is the parent organization of FHP. She is higher than the Director of FHP. There is no logic in thinking she wants to be the Director of FHP. She is one of the highest ranking females in state government. She isnt in this to take a demotion to Director of FHP.

Whie I respect the support Knight has from his rank and file, I think you guys need to be a little less naive to how state government works. You can sign 10000000 petitons. Knight is gone and not to return. The GOVENOR said it was the right thing for him [Knight] to do. End of story. Maybe Crist wants to be director of FHP too, right?

Knight may have been taken down by scum, as you put it, but he was still taken down. I would focus your efforts on supporting whoever Bustle or Crist permamently replace Knight with.

[deputyryan]

I wanted to weigh in on this. Col. Knight, awesome leader or not, falsified a date on a memo he typed. It was not a simple error. He purposefully back dated it to make it look as though he wrote the memo in 2003 (based upon what I understand). This is untruthful. You cannot be a leader of a law enforcement agency having done this. HE stepped down. Maybe he was under pressure, BUT, HE stepped down.

Bustle is the DIRECTOR of DHSMV. That is the parent organization of FHP. She is higher than the Director of FHP. There is no logic in thinking she wants to be the Director of FHP. She is one of the highest ranking females in state government. She isnt in this to take a demotion to Director of FHP.

Whie I respect the support Knight has from his rank and file, I think you guys need to be a little less naive to how state government works. You can sign 10000000 petitons. Knight is gone and not to return. The GOVENOR said it was the right thing for him [Knight] to do. End of story. Maybe Crist wants to be director of FHP too, right?

Knight may have been taken down by scum, as you put it, but he was still taken down. I would focus your efforts on supporting whoever Bustle or Crist permamently replace Knight with.

Brother, with respect, I think you’re the one being naive here. From what I understand Frostbite was stating that the DHSMV director wants to restructure FHP so that she is in direct control over it. Obviously there is a power conflict between the FHP director and the DHSMV director. Frostbite was saying that the DHSMV director wants to change that so there is no conflict and so that she has the power she wants.

You really need to read the entire report before making a judgment. I don’t believe for a second that you have. Maybe you glanced at it but you didn’t read it. The dates were an honest error. Obviously he would have used the correct dates if he REMEMBERED them. Its silly to say he intentionally falsified the dates. It didn’t make a difference if it was written on November 23rd or December 23..it doesn’t change anything.

The only misleading thing the director did was re-write a missing memo and pass it off as the original. There was no personal gain intended and wasn’t trying to cover anything up. He just wanted to show the investigative board that he had written a memo back in 2003 and showed them what it said. Since he couldn’t find the memo he re-wrote it from his memory.

What would have been the proper thing to do was to write a new memo explaining what was told to him back in 2003 and mention that the original memo wasn’t available because of misplacement.

If that warrants being forced into resignation then I’m at a loss. That is absurd.

You say that he "stepped down" at free will. I think you would be singing a different song if and when it’s you that makes a minor mistake and are told to resign or be fired.

Do you really think a man with I’m sure over 20 years of time on the job is going to stay in office, then get fired, loose his pension, just to prove a point? Do you really think he should have just thrown all that away simply to say "I was fired for not remembering a date"?

I’m sure the governor doesn’t want to get in the middle or escalate a political battle. He would rather just see it end.

Be a little more open minded here...There is a great deal more involved in this than meets the eye.

[ufresdave]

I have read the entire report. It is apparent that some people on this board have not. Col. Knight was sustained on Negligence and Falsifying an Official Document. Mitigate the seriousness of his actions all you want. I, personaly, will not pass judgment on Col. Knight or the supposed justice of the sitution.

However, I do believe this investigation was needed. It addressed many issues that deperately needed to be addressed. Fortunately, the vast majority of the allegations were unfounded. SOME were not sustained. 2 serious ones were sustained. Passing a memo off that you just wrote as one that is supposedly 3 years old may, or may not, seem like a big deal. But I think it is important to remember that it was being used as official documentation in a EEOC investigation. As LEO's, we do not walk into depo on a 3 year old case on "good memory", as he puts it. It would be neglignt to do so, as the investigation found accordingly. In addition, there is no evidence, absent his memory, to substantiate that the memo was ever written in the first place. Just food for thought and no implication intended.

Im not saying that what happened to Col. Knight is right, or fair, or just. But I think it is important that people, especially troopers, understand what it is they are commenting on. Just because Col. Knight wrote tickets, was 10-8 or called you when you were sick, does not negate the factual findings of the FDLE investigation.

In addition, there needs to be transparency in the promotional process at the higher levels, among other things.

As to Bustle's attempts to restructure DHSMV to maximize her power and authority...if you read the full report or are in tune with the workings of state government, I believe you already know how powerful Ex. Dir. of DHSMV is.

While I admit that my post will not find much support in this forum, I think it is important that people truly understand what is going on, in what context they are occuring and the reality that surrounds this investigation.

DeptuyRyan, this post certainly isnt meant towards you. Quite the opposite; you seem to have a good grasp on whats going on. Additionally, this post is not directed towards anyone. It is simply written to add a different point of view and to encourage those demanding or hoping for Knight's return to fully evaluate the situation. Most importantly, we must attempt to remove our personal bias, opinions and prejudices from the issue and evaluate the situation on its merits and facts, just as we would on the road. I support Col. Knight and respect what he has done for this agency. I wish him the best of luck in the future. Be safe.

[frostbiteCRA]

Deputyryan and ufresdave and all others:
first let me apologize for my previous postings which were written out of anger and hurt. Just like ufresdave said we must remove our personal bias, opinions and prejudices and move on. I was in state of shock and disbelieve when I heard the news from a news paper and not our leadership. As a professional law enforcement officer, I was wrong to write negative stuff in an open forum and for that I am sorry. I very well know it could cost me my job, but at this point it's irrelevant.
But now, please know that Chris Knight is a good man and it hurts to see him go like that. He was not dealt a fair hand. He was not done yet leading this agency further into the 21st century. Yes I agree that he re-wrote a memo and at his level anything could cost a person his/her job. I am also well aware of the fact that he serves at the discretion of the executive director and the governor, and that at any time either could have asked for his resignation. For any reason.
If you go to the petition page and read posting #952 you will see why it hurts so much, and what I based my anger and frustration on. If you knew Chris Knight and the type of person he was you will hurt too. I personally know the signer of the memo and I doubt he will fabricate such a story.

We hope and pray that the governor will reinstate the Colonel, and that he would want to come back. If not, we'd like to wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Signed
FrostbiteCRA

[ufresdave]

Frostbite, I agree. It is always frustrating when politics interferes with law enforcement. It is hurtful when the combination of the two strikes at a personal level. I hope the Patrol and its troopers finds light at the end of the tunnel.

[frostbiteCRA]

Frostbite, I agree. It is always frustrating when politics interferes with law enforcement. It is hurtful when the combination of the two strikes at a personal level. I hope the Patrol and its troopers finds light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you. And we appreciate everybody's support.

[HeineyGirl]

First to frostbiteCRA, you have no reason to apologize, you were only stating your opinions as they surfaced. Good for you and I'm thankful that we all have a website where we can openly express our opinion's no matter what!!!

I will say first that I did not read the summary for the investigation (yet). I did however read alot of the comment's that were posted.

If this whole story is actually true, then how can so many others in FHP be accused of committing much more serious "crimes" and get away with them?

The answer is it's all about politics. Period.

Unfortunately, it's ALL about politic's!!!!

[ufresdave]

we are aware that it is about politics. that is why its that much more important for Knight to turn square corners (not cut corners), especially when new leaders take office (although the alleged violaton occured before Bustle took office, I belive).

You wonder how Col. Knight could be held to a higher standard then other LEO's/troopers??? Are you serious? He is a politically appointed LEO charged with leading one of the largest LEA's in the state. He is going to be held to a very high standard; much higher then a regular trooper. I think most of us agree it is an unfortunate situation with an unfortunate result.

[WaterCop18]

You hit the nail in the head with that one. Those several Troopers that are happy to see him leave because he did not address the issues plaguing FHP, in my opinion don't really understand how State Government works. We are at the mercy of State Legislators every year when it comes to money. For the past 6 years, since Knight took over, we have become a 21st century law enforcement agency. But he had an uphill battle up in Tallahassee.
Now here is an example. Up until last year FHP was in the same bargaining unit as ALL State LEO's. FHP is the ONLY State Agency that works 24/7, 365 days a year. So, the Colonel would ask the legislators for a pay raise for his Troopers/Duty Officers (about 2400 people) year after year and it kept getting shot down. Why? Because our then bargaining unit said "if Troopers are going to get a pay raise, so are ALL State LEO's, because we represent ALL state LEO's". So now instead of a pay raise for FHP (2400 people)legislators were looking at a much higher number (6000 or so?), and of course the request would get shot down. We now are under our own bargaining unit.

I urge everyone to read the investigation and see what a bunch of B.S. that is. Please help us in our cause.

Sincerely yours,
Frostbite


The part in red is not 100% accurate.....;) and at least you're 10-94 isn't 30 minutes away, if available AT ALL. The state screws all the state agencies, but FHP is recognized....people look at our patches and trucks wondering who the hell we are.

[frostbiteCRA]

The part in red is not 100% accurate.....;) and at least you're 10-94 isn't 30 minutes away, if available AT ALL. The state screws all the state agencies, but FHP is recognized....people look at our patches and trucks wondering who the hell we are.

I stand corrected then if I was wrong. But I was told by a FWC Capt. that after certain hours you are on call and that there are times when you guys are not out at all (maybe I misunderstood what he said)
LOL, you are right about people wondering who you guys are... but some days I wish I had your job. :D

[WaterCop18]

We dont have an actual "midnight" shift, but we do have a flexible time-frame
"window" where we can choose when to go 10-8. So, when I'm on night shift, I like to work late, meaning there are times when we will be out til 4 or 5am. But there are a larger number of officers who like to go home early and not be out too late by themselves. You're right, some days there is a small window(usually between 2am-6am that we dont have any units on the road or water. I kinda like be un-recognized...it has a certain level of mystery to it....on the flip side, our trucks stick out like sore thumbs, unlike FHP or Miami-Dade Police that have tons of cars on the road at any given time.