I plan to watch your favorite video. However, for the first time, I could not watch youtube without interruption because so many people in the area are using Verizon Fios right now. I got a notice of this issue via a link on youtube demonstrating the high current usage of Verizon Fios locally). The internet users are probably trying to figure out what is going on in Mt Lebanon.
If only we all knew the truth and didn't have to search for it incessantly.
"The truth is the kindest thing we can give folks in the end". - Harriet Beecher Stowe
Mt Lebanon needs to stop relying on paid "experts".
First, those with true skill, problem-solving, knowledge, experience, and ethics do not market themselves as much needed "experts". Often times, these professionals will even offer their help for FREE. Imagine that!
Second, the use of so-called experts and reliance on these over marketed businessmen in and of itself is condescending and dismissive of community wisdom and input.
Third, true expertise will lead the commission into a multi- or trans-disciplinary approach to deer management that will most importantly, heal the division within the community and foster cooperative, ethical and sensitive solutions that minimize expense, potential harm, and respect both wildlife and the diversity of the community.
More radio time for Mt Lebanon NOW. If you want to be on, keep calling. They will asking briefly what you position is... then you get to elaborate when you are live:
Robert Mangino @ManginoOnKDKA 19m19 minutes ago The Deer Cull in Mt Lebanon has ended. But, what should be done about the deer now? @kdkaradio Call me 866-391-1020
From an update posted on municipal website: "Using the capture and euthanize method, Mt. Lebanon had hoped to cull 150 of the community’s estimate of 400-500 deer, in an effort to approach the goal of reducing deer/vehicular crashes by 50 percent within five years. Only six deer were killed utilizing the corrals."
The community's estimate of 400-500 deer, Ms. Morgans is based on what...by whom? The hired expert that didn't know what kind of bullets to use? Linfante's seat of her pants? Why not use the estimate from the 2014 aerial survey that found only 196? Please tell us Ms. Morgans where your community "estimate" came from?
As I was getting ready to see who sponsors the time slot Marty Griffith occupies on KDKA, I heard him BLASTING Mt Lebo for the cruel and inhumane manner in which they are killing deer. He stilled called us who have compassion "Deer Nuts" but ranted about Brenner's Dimwits taking 11 shots to execute 3 deer> He called it "Horrid and inhumane" He also had hunters calling in to tell how many shots it takes to kill a deer. "1" was the overwhelming answer. Marty's conclusion: That man (Brenner) should be fired Now! If Marty an show some compassion, what is wrong with the Bindel and the gang???
Love that commercial too Elaine Now if we could have humans be the same. The world would be a beautiful place. Tonight I will sleep well knowing that the deer are safe
I guess since only six were killed in the last two weeks, traffic accidents related to deer have skyrocketed, right? I mean, this whole thing was about a "safety" issue, right? Ane with the hundreds of deer still terrorizing the children and causing mass chaos on the streets, there must be calls floooding 911, right? Right.............
Exactly 8:13. For this grand- never been done in Pennsylvania- EXPERIMENT, we shelled out $12,000 for Benner's expert advice which led the commissioners to issue an RFP to which Benner was the only bidder. Which after 40+ days, countless hours of police corn and urine patrols, and long commission public meetings and bad community PR we achieved the remarkable goal of 6 deer killed. Then we have the municipal manager telling a commissioner that the traps are being moved less than 24 hours before Benner throws in the towel. On top of that the Public Information Officer declines to speak to a TV reporter "because she's a journalist" and the lead commissioner that pushed to kill deer back pedals and claims she was skeptical of the failed cull all along. Is this a well run community or what? Why don't we in the interest of efficiency and cost-savings can the 5 commissioners ($3,500/year each), the municipal manager (salary ?) and the journalist (salary?) and use a Magic 8 ball to run Mt. Lebanon. It couldn't do any worse.
Did anyone see this photo from Benner's camera that accompanied the one of Fraasch and friends cleaning up one of the cull sites in yesterday's Trib.
The quality is pretty damn good. Let's see the photos taken of the saboteurs. Especially the one of someone putting a stick in the gate of a trap or of the one showing someone moving the corn feeder. The police were on anyone getting near corrals so who could get near the corrals with out interference... hmmmmm.
I though that all of the people in Lebo were the brightest and most educated. I went to a small country school and even I know the definition of Euthanize. We should buy Mt Lebanon's PIO a dictionary! Maybe she would let the commissioners use it also. They could look up the definition of expert before they hire another jerk to give them advice.
Cori Viperman needs under eye concealer or Botox. Saw clip of her on kdka.She is not giving up. Maybe the under eye circles are from lack of sleep over the cull failure.
I wrote to the PIO and copied the Commissioners. Ms. Morgens said she relied upon the Game Commission. So I called the Game Commission and after bumbling around said it was the definition from the American Veterinary Medical Association. They also said it was humane because it was a bullet to the head. So I called that association and they were appalled. They reiterated that euthanize refers to taking a life of an animal that is in distress: too sick or too injured.
Ms. Morgans knew exactly what she was doing.
Thank you again to everyone for keeping up the pressure and making the cruelty stop.
I personally know these garden women..most are 65 and over bundles of money, why do you think they can afford these gardens?? the dont give a darm about accidents.. its all about their yard and the deer eating their expensive plants that they just put in from JimJenkins, Buck Drake or SugarRun down in Venetia. They feel that the Township protects its citizens/homes against crime thus they their gardens should be protected..end of story.. they actually are the minority but since the have the most $$ the have the most power..
12:42. Shoot a letter to the veterinary association acknowledging their observation, cc the PGC, Commissioners, Feller and the media.
Doing this prevents the commissioners from weaseling out, and puts the spotlight back on them and Feller. You must start building a documented case to get Morgans out.
Has anyone traced the money in this "bucks for bucks" money making scheme. Seems like there could be illegal campaign contributions, kickbacks, bribes, etc. involved here. This whole thing reeks and should be investigated.
How can it take 11 bullets to put down three deer, if Benner was supposed to put bags over their heads for "euthanization"? The service provided was not the proposal presented to the community.
Any strategies for removing Feller and Morgans from their cushy life time jobs on the Mt. Lebanon taxpayers doll? These two have poisoned Mt. Lebanon gov., and it can't recover and get well until they're removed. Based on their arrogance, I'm sure they feel untouchable. However, if this bipartisan coalition can organize and work together we can get it done.
Can someone please use meerkat (a new app) to live stream the next commission meeting? Meerkat allows live streaming of video content to Twitter followers. Sadly, there was a time when commission meetings were live streamed but once this was discovered by staff, the transparency and convenience of live streaming was "fixed". Now residents have to wait until videos are uploaded for viewing.
I received word from a credible source that another dead deer was found today in somebody's yard. It had been shot. So much for shooting deer inside the corrals! There were so many violations of the contract that I seriously doubt that Benner left town of his own volition.
I hope the current momentum of anger and outrage does not diminish. We have to keep it going to prevent a catastrophe like this from ever happening again anywhere else, especially Mt. Lebanon.
I agree with the author of the 4:35 comment. Why else would the commissioners forge ahead with a plan so reprehensible when the majority of the community was overwhelmingly against it if there were not money to be had? I smell a kickback somewhere, and I hope somebody will dig and dig until he/she smokes out the guilty party(ies). If that is so, it's even more reprehensible if innocent animals suffered and died so that somebody could be paid off. Pathetic.
11:31 I've wondered about kickbacks too...but have no idea how to trace them since the endowment and high school fundraisers surely won't be transparent
i want to see the correspondence between the game commission, berlin and the muni during this ordeal. betcha benner knew those corrals were coming down a lot earlier than he wrote that letter... and so did feller and the bad boy commissioners.
This is the second rumor of a shot dead deer found in someone's yard, but no data or report to substantiate the rumor. How do we find out if these rumors are true or not?
So happy to hear that Police Chief Coleman McDonough is retiring in May. He's been an absolute nightmare for this community. He allowed himself to be manipulated by Commissioner Linfante, and did her bidding. He tried to turn Mt. Lebanon into a private hunting club, and a shooting gallery, both of which threaten the safety of all Mt. Lebanon families, children, and pets. He also destroyed 30 years of excellent police/community relations established by Chief Thomas Ogden, who was a class act. McDonough was a bad match and hire for Mt. Lebanon. Too bad he didn't pack his bags and leave town with Benner.
Please, if you've heard rumors about shot deer dying in yards, the truth needs to come out, so trace it back, find the facts, post them here, please...
Chief McDonough does need me to fight his battles, but lest anyone who reads this blog wants to listen to people like 1:40 I will gladly offer the other side. Chief has spent 30 years in law enforcement and before coming to Mt. Lebanon he was a Lt. Col with the Pennsylvania State Police. Many people don't know that when the Chief was a child, his father City of Pittsburgh police officer and (a former member of the Pittsburgh Steelers) was shot and killed in the line of duty. He was just 49. I'm sure that Chief McDonough's father would be extremely proud of his son's career in law enforcement and the service and protection tha he has provided in Mt. Lebanon. Thanks Chief. Good luck in your retirement. Many of us are hoping to find a new chief with your skill, leadership, professionalism and class.
8:23, Penn State... ethics? Where have your been the last four or five years.?
Also, didn't see any of the deer kill proponents cleaning up the corral sites. I guess parental guidance like "always clean up after yourself" went out with "never lie."
I wrote it on my phone while walking the dog, so yes, the comment and the mistakes are mine.
Zach, you're just embarrassing yourself. There's no ass kissing necessary. I consider the Chief and the rest of his extended family that lives in Mt. Lebanon my friends. They are good people who contribute to our community in ways well beyond his service as police chief. Now put down the Hot Pocket, get out of mommy's basement and enjoy the day.
Mr. Franklin, for the most part Mt. Lebanon has been a very safe community. There are some deep underlying problems, but every community should we say— has skeletons in their closet. It is unfortunate though the Chief allowed himself to be drawn in so deeply on this deer control fiasco. No one believes the severity of the deer problems that have recently been suggested by the deer incident reports. Most I suspect are things like "there' a deer in my yard" and not the "oh my god I'm in the hospital because a deer crashed through my windshield" variety. Most of the reports are trifling and the chief could have very well spoken up and detailed the incidents rather than sitting by and letting certain leaders spin that we have impending death and destruction on our roadways. Sure people do get injured in deer-related accidents, but I'll bet the statistics are far worse for DUI, texting and speeding-related crashes. Then we have the intimidation tactics employed by the PD. Really, 3 officers stopping people and asking for ID because they're near a park that contains a corral! What is this Orwell's "1984?" Communist Russia? This resident thanks the Chief for his service, it's too bad he allowed himself to be drawn in on this hotly debated issue.
As for the rumors that dead deer with bullet holes are showing up on people's lawns. How hard is it to get a picture? I believe those rumors as much as I will the ones that vandals were tampering with Benner's equipment. Photos for the most part don't lie.
Had this cull gone on, I fully expected to see the MTLPD urban assault vehicle parked outside the Commission chamber wIndows with a masked SWAT team standing at the ready for the rioting and vandalism that would be pouring onto the streets of Mt. Lebanon. Most of the country is debating whether it is fair for police to profile people because of the color of their skin, whether they're illegals, whether they're transporting contraband. In MTL we profile people to seeif they should be near a park or not. We've become a joke. Not the Chief's fault but he did play along, Mr. Franklin.
Franklin likes the chief because he did not enforce staking laws when franklin engaged in such behoove to intimidate a public official. Maybe we could have a female chief to mix things up for you franklin.
Put down my Hot Pocket? You sir, clearly have been on the Hot Pocket diet for a long while based on your round, greasy appearance. I was out running with my dogs in our shared neighborhood early this morning, but didn't see you. Maybe it was because you were going to town on McDonough's butt from the comfort of your couch. Maybe you were planning out which bowties you'd be wearing in the coming week. Dave, your influence in this town is tapering away. Time to be a man, not a weasel.
Ah yes Mr. Franklin, once again bringing the community back together, healing wounds and creating an atmosphere of camaraderie. Good work, Dave, you've done it once again.
Dave, one more thing. You are the living embodiment of one of George Orwell's Animal Farm pigs. Two legs good, four legs bad! That's all we hear when you open your filthy cake-hole.
Correction to 10:43 instead of "staking" the author meant to write "stalking". Mr. Franklin likes a Chief who doesn't enforce Stalking Laws so that he can attempt to intimidate elected officials into voting for his sports turf. If convicted, I wonder if Mr. Franklin would be permitted to continue practicing as an attorney?
The number one question in my mind, and one that I hope is adduced at tomorrow's meeting, is why the photos or videos purporting to show vandalism of the contractor's corrals have not been released to the media. If I remember correctly, Chief McDonough said that the perpetrators were wearing "hoodies" and/or had their faces covered. Yet we have all seen photos of bank robberies that are simply terrible. Even so, they are released to the media in hopes that someone will recognize some small detail, and consequently help the police make an arrest. I think it's fair to ask the police why that was not done in this case.
As to Mr. Franklin's defense of the Chief, he has stated quite clearly that he considers the Chief and the Chief's family to be his friends, so as far as I'm concerned his post of 8:53 AM is understandable. Mr. Franklin's ideas are fair game for criticism - certainly he and I are on opposite sides of a variety of issues in this town - but personal attacks are something else; and while it may give someone momentary satisfaction to engage in such actions I think doing so is counterproductive.
Note to Dave Franklin: I sincerely hope you were not using one of those voice-to-text apps! I hate those things! I have yet to see one of them that works worth a damn.
Richard at 12:37, I asked to have copies of the videos and pictures released of the vandals and the Chief replied back with:
"No I cannot. Those are evidentiary/investigative materials and are not subject to public disclosure."
With that said we all know that the Chief could very easily release them if he wanted to because they do it all the time on the news circuit. Why he is holding back is another issue I guess.
Nick, law enforcement agencies release photos and videos all the time to aid in capturing criminals. The longer they delay, the worse they look.
Btw, the guy picked to lead the PSP may lose the job over some minor stuff, like removing signs placed by troopers unhappy with his actions, along with questions of actions in prior positions. Food for thought for those considering another job after retirement.
Things don't go away like they used to. These tapes and accusations of lawbreaking are not going to be quietly ignored. This WILL be an issue at election time.
63 comments:
Elaine -
I plan to watch your favorite video. However, for the first time, I could not watch youtube without interruption because so many people in the area are using Verizon Fios right now. I got a notice of this issue via a link on youtube demonstrating the high current usage of Verizon Fios locally). The internet users are probably trying to figure out what is going on in Mt Lebanon.
If only we all knew the truth and didn't have to search for it incessantly.
"The truth is the kindest thing we can give folks in the end". - Harriet Beecher Stowe
Love the commercial!! What a scream! ❤️
Let's hope for sunny skies on Monday! What shall the theme of our signs be? Oh this could be fun!
I too love that commercial! I also LOVE this one...
http://youtu.be/QfK2oU2ox9Y
Mt Lebanon needs to stop relying on paid "experts".
First, those with true skill, problem-solving, knowledge, experience, and ethics do not market themselves as much needed "experts". Often times, these professionals will even offer their help for FREE. Imagine that!
Second, the use of so-called experts and reliance on these over marketed businessmen in and of itself is condescending and dismissive of community wisdom and input.
Third, true expertise will lead the commission into a multi- or trans-disciplinary approach to deer management that will most importantly, heal the division within the community and foster cooperative, ethical and sensitive solutions that minimize expense, potential harm, and respect both wildlife and the diversity of the community.
More radio time for Mt Lebanon NOW. If you want to be on, keep calling. They will asking briefly what you position is... then you get to elaborate when you are live:
Robert Mangino @ManginoOnKDKA 19m19 minutes ago
The Deer Cull in Mt Lebanon has ended. But, what should be done about the deer now? @kdkaradio Call me 866-391-1020
Robert Mangino just said that when he was looking at a house in Greentree, the deer droppings were a selling point.
Also, he says that if you want power, you need to join the garden party. That's the third political party now and they took over Mt Lebanon.
However, he does not know about the SAB.
From an update posted on municipal website:
"Using the capture and euthanize method, Mt. Lebanon had hoped to cull 150 of the community’s estimate of 400-500 deer, in an effort to approach the goal of reducing deer/vehicular crashes by 50 percent within five years. Only six deer were killed utilizing the corrals."
The community's estimate of 400-500 deer, Ms. Morgans is based on what...by whom?
The hired expert that didn't know what kind of bullets to use?
Linfante's seat of her pants?
Why not use the estimate from the 2014 aerial survey that found only 196?
Please tell us Ms. Morgans where your community "estimate" came from?
As I was getting ready to see who sponsors the time slot Marty Griffith occupies on KDKA, I heard him BLASTING Mt Lebo for the cruel and inhumane manner in which they are killing deer. He stilled called us who have compassion "Deer Nuts" but ranted about Brenner's Dimwits taking 11 shots to execute 3 deer> He called it "Horrid and inhumane" He also had hunters calling in to tell how many shots it takes to kill a deer. "1" was the overwhelming answer. Marty's conclusion: That man (Brenner) should be fired Now! If Marty an show some compassion, what is wrong with the Bindel and the gang???
I wonder how many times Brenner used the "F" word on way out of town?
Love that commercial too Elaine Now if we could have humans be the same. The world would be a beautiful place. Tonight I will sleep well knowing that the deer are safe
I guess since only six were killed in the last two weeks, traffic accidents related to deer have skyrocketed, right? I mean, this whole thing was about a "safety" issue, right? Ane with the hundreds of deer still terrorizing the children and causing mass chaos on the streets, there must be calls floooding 911, right?
Right.............
Exactly 8:13.
For this grand- never been done in Pennsylvania- EXPERIMENT, we shelled out $12,000 for Benner's expert advice which led the commissioners to issue an RFP to which Benner was the only bidder.
Which after 40+ days, countless hours of police corn and urine patrols, and long commission public meetings and bad community PR we achieved the remarkable goal of 6 deer killed.
Then we have the municipal manager telling a commissioner that the traps are being moved less than 24 hours before Benner throws in the towel.
On top of that the Public Information Officer declines to speak to a TV reporter "because she's a journalist" and the lead commissioner that pushed to kill deer back pedals and claims she was skeptical of the failed cull all along.
Is this a well run community or what?
Why don't we in the interest of efficiency and cost-savings can the 5 commissioners ($3,500/year each), the municipal manager (salary ?) and the journalist (salary?) and use a Magic 8 ball to run Mt. Lebanon.
It couldn't do any worse.
9:57 yep!
How much money did they underestimate the municipal pool renovation by?
The "crown jewel" turf installation?
http://triblive.com/mobile/8014998-96/lebanon-thursday-deer#PhotoSwipe1426947214644
Did anyone see this photo from Benner's camera that accompanied the one of Fraasch and friends cleaning up one of the cull sites in yesterday's Trib.
The quality is pretty damn good. Let's see the photos taken of the saboteurs. Especially the one of someone putting a stick in the gate of a trap or of the one showing someone moving the corn feeder.
The police were on anyone getting near corrals so who could get near the corrals with out interference... hmmmmm.
I though that all of the people in Lebo were the brightest and most educated. I went to a small country school and even I know the definition of Euthanize. We should buy Mt Lebanon's PIO a dictionary! Maybe she would let the commissioners use it also. They could look up the definition of expert before they hire another jerk to give them advice.
Cori Viperman needs under eye concealer or Botox. Saw clip of her on kdka.She is not giving up. Maybe the under eye circles are from lack of sleep over the cull failure.
Ah the "euthanize" question.
I wrote to the PIO and copied the Commissioners. Ms. Morgens said she relied upon the Game Commission. So I called the Game Commission and after bumbling around said it was the definition from the American Veterinary Medical Association. They also said it was humane because it was a bullet to the head. So I called that association and they were appalled. They reiterated that euthanize refers to taking a life of an animal that is in distress: too sick or too injured.
Ms. Morgans knew exactly what she was doing.
Thank you again to everyone for keeping up the pressure and making the cruelty stop.
I personally know these garden women..most are 65 and over bundles of money, why do you think they can afford these gardens?? the dont give a darm about accidents.. its all about their yard and the deer eating their expensive plants that they just put in from JimJenkins, Buck Drake or SugarRun down in Venetia. They feel that the Township protects its citizens/homes against crime thus they their gardens should be protected..end of story.. they actually are the minority but since the have the most $$ the have the most power..
Kelly will be at the golf course parking lot at 3:00 PM today to begin corral cleanup at the two killing sites.
Yesterday, volunteers cleaned up Bird Park, Robb Hollow, and Connor Road.
Please come and help. Thanks!
Elaine
12:42. Shoot a letter to the veterinary association acknowledging their observation, cc the PGC, Commissioners, Feller and the media.
Doing this prevents the commissioners from weaseling out, and puts the spotlight back on them and Feller. You must start building a documented case to get Morgans out.
:)
1:38 if things were right with the world, those women would be facing some serious charges and mandatory mental competency assessments.
Has anyone traced the money in this "bucks for bucks" money making scheme. Seems like there could be illegal campaign contributions, kickbacks, bribes, etc. involved here. This whole thing reeks and should be investigated.
How can it take 11 bullets to put down three deer, if Benner was supposed to put bags over their heads for "euthanization"?
The service provided was not the proposal presented to the community.
It's now clear why the Connor Road Deer were so elusive... (don't tell Benner). They were visiting Andy Warhol's grave.
https://twitter.com/TheWarholMuseum/status/578932765699108865
7:28 Ha! Now the deer can out-name drop the garden club floozies!
"I was over at Andy's for lunch yesterday..."
Any strategies for removing Feller and Morgans from their cushy life time jobs on the Mt. Lebanon taxpayers doll? These two have poisoned Mt. Lebanon gov., and it can't recover and get well until they're removed. Based on their arrogance, I'm sure they feel untouchable. However, if this bipartisan coalition can organize and work together we can get it done.
Mt. Lebo deer celebrates hearing the news that Benner and his boys packed up their AR-15s and went home.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTH-zzzRG9w
I would recommend starting with Feller.
Morgan can be a casualty of the reorganization.
Who has access to the library of his corrupt acts?
Can someone please use meerkat (a new app) to live stream the next commission meeting? Meerkat allows live streaming of video content to Twitter followers. Sadly, there was a time when commission meetings were live streamed but once this was discovered by staff, the transparency and convenience of live streaming was "fixed". Now residents have to wait until videos are uploaded for viewing.
Public Works' Tom Kelley retired. Police Chief Coleman McDonough is retiring in May. Maybe Susan Morgans and Steve Feller will get the hint.
Elaine
I received word from a credible source that another dead deer was found today in somebody's
yard. It had been shot. So much for shooting deer inside the corrals! There were so many violations of the contract that I seriously doubt that Benner left town of his own volition.
I hope the current momentum of anger and outrage does not diminish. We have to keep it going to prevent a catastrophe like this from ever happening again anywhere else, especially Mt. Lebanon.
I agree with the author of the 4:35 comment. Why else would the commissioners forge ahead with a plan so reprehensible when the majority of the community was overwhelmingly against it if there were not money to be had? I smell a kickback somewhere, and I hope somebody will dig and dig until he/she smokes out the guilty party(ies). If that is so, it's even more reprehensible if innocent animals suffered and died so that somebody could be paid off. Pathetic.
Merlin had better things to do tonight, like speaking at at the 10th Annual Game Dinner which benefits the Penn State Wildlife Society.
#icannot
#pennstateCOMEONplease
#itshardtobeanalumsometimeslikeallthetime
#elmerwasthestartonight
http://agsci.psu.edu/students/news/2015/10th-annual-wild-game-dinner-march-21st
11:21 PM, you forgot to mention the street where the deer was found.
Elaine
11:31 I've wondered about kickbacks too...but have no idea how to trace them since the endowment and high school fundraisers surely won't be transparent
i want to see the correspondence between the game commission, berlin and the muni during this ordeal. betcha benner knew those corrals were coming down a lot earlier than he wrote that letter... and so did feller and the bad boy commissioners.
This is the second rumor of a shot dead deer found in someone's yard, but no data or report to substantiate the rumor. How do we find out if these rumors are true or not?
So happy to hear that Police Chief Coleman McDonough is retiring in May. He's been an absolute nightmare for this community. He allowed himself to be manipulated by Commissioner Linfante, and did her bidding. He tried to turn Mt. Lebanon into a private hunting club, and a shooting gallery, both of which threaten the safety of all Mt. Lebanon families, children, and pets. He also destroyed 30 years of excellent police/community relations established by Chief Thomas Ogden, who was a class act. McDonough was a bad match and hire for Mt. Lebanon. Too bad he didn't pack his bags and leave town with Benner.
11:39. Time to give Penn state a heads up on the ethics and honesty of their speaker:
http://agsci.psu.edu/students/news/2015/10th-annual-wild-game-dinner-march-21st
If you have any questions, contact Kate Williams (kew5304@psu.edu).
hey Merlin, not dropping this until you show videos or photos supporting your accusations or issue a public retraction and apology.
Please, if you've heard rumors about shot deer dying in yards, the truth needs to come out, so trace it back, find the facts, post them here, please...
Chief McDonough does need me to fight his battles, but lest anyone who reads this blog wants to listen to people like 1:40 I will gladly offer the other side. Chief has spent 30 years in law enforcement and before coming to Mt. Lebanon he was a Lt. Col with the Pennsylvania State Police. Many people don't know that when the Chief was a child, his father City of Pittsburgh police officer and (a former member of the Pittsburgh Steelers) was shot and killed in the line of duty. He was just 49. I'm sure that Chief McDonough's father would be extremely proud of his son's career in law enforcement and the service and protection tha he has provided in Mt. Lebanon. Thanks Chief. Good luck in your retirement. Many of us are hoping to find a new chief with your skill, leadership, professionalism and class.
Dave Franklin
8:23, Penn State... ethics? Where have your been the last four or five years.?
Also, didn't see any of the deer kill proponents cleaning up the corral sites. I guess parental guidance like "always clean up after yourself" went out with "never lie."
There are too many syntactical and grammatical errors in the post of 8:53am for it to have been written by Dave Franklin.
I wrote it on my phone while walking the dog, so yes, the comment and the mistakes are mine.
Zach, you're just embarrassing yourself. There's no ass kissing necessary. I consider the Chief and the rest of his extended family that lives in Mt. Lebanon my friends. They are good people who contribute to our community in ways well beyond his service as police chief. Now put down the Hot Pocket, get out of mommy's basement and enjoy the day.
Dave Franklin
Mr. Franklin, for the most part Mt. Lebanon has been a very safe community. There are some deep underlying problems, but every community should we say— has skeletons in their closet.
It is unfortunate though the Chief allowed himself to be drawn in so deeply on this deer control fiasco. No one believes the severity of the deer problems that have recently been suggested by the deer incident reports. Most I suspect are things like "there' a deer in my yard" and not the "oh my god I'm in the hospital because a deer crashed through my windshield" variety. Most of the reports are trifling and the chief could have very well spoken up and detailed the incidents rather than sitting by and letting certain leaders spin that we have impending death and destruction on our roadways.
Sure people do get injured in deer-related accidents, but I'll bet the statistics are far worse for DUI, texting and speeding-related crashes.
Then we have the intimidation tactics employed by the PD. Really, 3 officers stopping people and asking for ID because they're near a park that contains a corral!
What is this Orwell's "1984?" Communist Russia?
This resident thanks the Chief for his service, it's too bad he allowed himself to be drawn in on this hotly debated issue.
As for the rumors that dead deer with bullet holes are showing up on people's lawns. How hard is it to get a picture?
I believe those rumors as much as I will the ones that vandals were tampering with Benner's equipment.
Photos for the most part don't lie.
Obsequious Dave strikes again.
What a simpering beta-male.
I hope to read retirement tributes on this blog by Mr. Franklin for Steve Feller and Susan Fleming Morgans in the very near future.
Had this cull gone on, I fully expected to see the MTLPD urban assault vehicle parked outside the Commission chamber wIndows with a masked SWAT team standing at the ready for the rioting and vandalism that would be pouring onto the streets of Mt. Lebanon.
Most of the country is debating whether it is fair for police to profile people because of the color of their skin, whether they're illegals, whether they're transporting contraband.
In MTL we profile people to seeif they should be near a park or not.
We've become a joke. Not the Chief's fault but he did play along, Mr. Franklin.
Mr. Franklin, out walking your dog?
Were you stopped by three officers and asked for ID?
Franklin likes the chief because he did not enforce staking laws when franklin engaged in such behoove to intimidate a public official. Maybe we could have a female chief to mix things up for you franklin.
Mr. Franklin is laying the foundation for the new Politsiya Substation down at Wildcat to guard the "Crown Jewels" 24/7.
Ferguson police chief should hire Mr. Franklin as his PR man.
Dave Franklin,
Put down my Hot Pocket? You sir, clearly have been on the Hot Pocket diet for a long while based on your round, greasy appearance. I was out running with my dogs in our shared neighborhood early this morning, but didn't see you. Maybe it was because you were going to town on McDonough's butt from the comfort of your couch. Maybe you were planning out which bowties you'd be wearing in the coming week. Dave, your influence in this town is tapering away. Time to be a man, not a weasel.
-Zack Morris
Ah yes Mr. Franklin, once again bringing the community back together, healing wounds and creating an atmosphere of camaraderie.
Good work, Dave, you've done it once again.
Dave, one more thing. You are the living embodiment of one of George Orwell's Animal Farm pigs. Two legs good, four legs bad! That's all we hear when you open your filthy cake-hole.
-Zack Morris
Correction to 10:43 instead of "staking" the author meant to write "stalking". Mr. Franklin likes a Chief who doesn't enforce Stalking Laws so that he can attempt to intimidate elected officials into voting for his sports turf. If convicted, I wonder if Mr. Franklin would be permitted to continue practicing as an attorney?
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.027.009.001..HTM
The number one question in my mind, and one that I hope is adduced at tomorrow's meeting, is why the photos or videos purporting to show vandalism of the contractor's corrals have not been released to the media. If I remember correctly, Chief McDonough said that the perpetrators were wearing "hoodies" and/or had their faces covered. Yet we have all seen photos of bank robberies that are simply terrible. Even so, they are released to the media in hopes that someone will recognize some small detail, and consequently help the police make an arrest. I think it's fair to ask the police why that was not done in this case.
As to Mr. Franklin's defense of the Chief, he has stated quite clearly that he considers the Chief and the Chief's family to be his friends, so as far as I'm concerned his post of 8:53 AM is understandable. Mr. Franklin's ideas are fair game for criticism - certainly he and I are on opposite sides of a variety of issues in this town - but personal attacks are something else; and while it may give someone momentary satisfaction to engage in such actions I think doing so is counterproductive.
Note to Dave Franklin: I sincerely hope you were not using one of those voice-to-text apps! I hate those things! I have yet to see one of them that works worth a damn.
Look up "walking the dog" in the urban dictionary.
He who cast thou first Hot Pocket shalt not be without blame.
Richard at 12:37, I asked to have copies of the videos and pictures released of the vandals and the Chief replied back with:
"No I cannot. Those are evidentiary/investigative materials and are not subject to public disclosure."
With that said we all know that the Chief could very easily release them if he wanted to because they do it all the time on the news circuit. Why he is holding back is another issue I guess.
Nick M.
12:45 well played, Sir! :D
Nick, law enforcement agencies release photos and videos all the time to aid in capturing criminals. The longer they delay, the worse they look.
Btw, the guy picked to lead the PSP may lose the job over some minor stuff, like removing signs placed by troopers unhappy with his actions, along with questions of actions in prior positions. Food for thought for those considering another job after retirement.
Things don't go away like they used to. These tapes and accusations of lawbreaking are not going to be quietly ignored. This WILL be an issue at election time.
the chief does not want to deal with "frivolous" RTK requests for video footage. if he provides video images, then what's next?
he is quoted as such in the article below in reference to discussions about video recordings from body cams.
http://watchdog.org/199937/body-cams/
To paraphrase the question used commonly used by LE, "if the Chief has nothing to hide, what is he afraid of?"
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