Quarzsite Police Chief allegations. Quarzsite Police Officers Refuse to Follow Unlawful Orders!

Following the outrageous arrest of Jennifer Jones, as in the video below. These brave police officers are refusing to follow unlawful orders and have filed formal complaints against Police Chief Jeff Gilbert.

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Here is a copy of their press release, taken from:
thedesertfreedompress.blogspot.com...

This website gives lots more information on this situation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

5/31/11

Quartzsite, Arizona Police Chief Jeff Gilbert is struggling desperately to maintain his position after three quarters of his own officers filed formal complaints against him with Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS) and Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST). The timing of these complaints appears to be in response to evidence and testimony expected to be revealed in currently pending lawsuits against the town and the ongoing criminal prosecution of citizens who have a documented history of complaining about the police chief's patterns and practices. Now that Governor Brewer has signed a bill which amends A.R.S. 14 - 1822 and allows AZPOST to revoke an officers certification, many citizens and law enforcement officers are hoping that's the least of what happens to Jeff Gilbert.

A former officer with the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), Gilbert is also a current legislative member of the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP)

Allegations have been made against Quartzsite's Police Chief for both criminal conduct and ethical violations of the town's personnel manual. They range from assault, illegal searches and arrests, surveillance and investigation of political opponents, "official police business" being conducted without reports filed, false reporting, and grant fraud, to abuse of National Crime Information Center (NCIC) background checks for personal use and/or without probable cause. La Paz County Republican Precinct Chairman Michael Roth maintains he was falsely arrested for "disorderly conduct" and placed on the FBI "terrorist watch list" for his outspoken criticism of Police Chief Jeff Gilbert.

After being notified that officers of the Quartzsite Police Department intend to publicly announce a vote of "no confidence", read their formal complaints and ask the Town Council to terminate Chief Gilbert's recently renewed contract for "cause" at the next regular meeting of the Common Council on June 14th, Mayor Ed Foster scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, June 1st at 6 pm, to discuss the situation.

The police chief's current contract, which included additional pay raises, was prematurely renewed on February 8th, 2011 by unanimous council approval, after Mayor Foster recused himself from the meeting. Foster wanted no part of what he believed was an orchestrated plot by Town Manager Alexandra Taft to secure ongoing employment for Gilbert, before the majority of the Quartzsite Town Council faced a March recall election. All five political challengers wanted Chief Gilbert terminated, but narrowly missed in their attempt to unseat recalled incumbents.

Rather than have the officer's complaints investigated at no charge by the Major Crimes Division of the state police, Town Manager Alex Taft has instead chosen to hire a private firm, in what appears to be a pattern of damage control and cover up. Last spring, it was rumored that a friend of Chief Gilbert's at the Sheriff's office was specifically requested to investigate complaints made to AZPOST by Mayor Ed Foster, former Councilman Bill Moore, and businesswoman Jennifer Jones (Harris). This assignment was alleged to be the result of a deal struck between Taft, Gilbert, and La Paz County Sheriff Don Lowery. Lowery had also refused to investigate the assault complaint made by Jones against Police Chief Jeff Gilbert and Quartzsite Detective Felipe Rodriguez on April 13th of 2010, despite the video being posted to Youtube.

A recent town council candidate with no prior criminal history, Jennifer Jones has been arrested three times, and charged with a total of 10 misdemeanors since filing her AZPOST complaint. Her husband John was also arrested over the same incidents, and charged with three misdemeanors. Neither has been brought to trial. The police chief compared Mrs. Jones and Michael Roth to Tucson gunman Jarrod Laughner at the January 11th Quartzsite Council Meeting. After a year and a half of contriving criminal complaints that didn't hold water, the Police Chief finally arrested the mayor May 10th, on charges of "disorderly conduct". Apparently, the result of Foster calling Gilbert an "idiot" five days earlier in the parking lot of Town Hall.

The rift between Chief Gilbert's supporters and numerous critics runs deep. La Paz County Prosecutor Sam Vederman has repeatedly refused to insert his office into the political fray. Pending the results of the current AZCOPS/AZPOST investigation, many in the community are now hoping that the FBI and Justice Department will take a serious look into Quartzsite corruption.

For more information, contact:

Will Ponce, President, Quartzsite Police Officers Association
(928) 210-6177

Mayor Ed Foster
(928) 750-8113

Michael Roth, La Paz County Republican Precinct Chairman
(602) 791-5401 or (928)927-8888

AZCOPS
www.azcops.org...
333 W Ft Lowell Rd Ste 211
Tucson AZ 85705
Office 520.622.2215
(24/7) Toll Free 888.622.2215
Fax 520.622.2216

AZPOST
www.azpost.gov...
2643 E. University Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Voice: 602.223.2514
Fax: 602.244.0477

AACOP
azchiefsofpolice.org...
75 East Civic Center Drive
Gilbert, Arizona 85296
Office - 480-635-7757
FAX - 480-635-776

This is a statement from their Legal Cousel, which was posted on Rumor Mill News
www.rumormillnews.com...

Full disclosure -- I am now the official legal counsel for both Jennifer Jones and for Ed Foster, the Mayor of Quartzsite, Arizona, regarding all of the many well documented abuses of their civil rights, and in particular, their First Amendment protected rights of free speech, assembly, as well as their rights to take part in the political process, by the Quartzsite Chief of Police and Town Council. This is in my individual capacity as a lawyer, not as the President of Oath Keepers. I want to make that clear. But I do see this as part of my responsibility to keep my oath, and in particular the oath I swore as a lawyer, to defend the Constitution. Sometimes the law can indeed be used as a sword of justice, so please wish me luck in helping them hold the town council and the Chief of Police accountable!

For the Republic,

Stewart Rhodes

It looks as though this police chief is another one abusing his position. Thank goodness there are still people who are willing to stand up for what is right. Bravo to them!!

Awesome. Thanks for posting this, this clarifies the situation in quartzite. And shows that not all of the police there just fell in line with this criminal police chief and council. S&F.

ETA: I'm going to link to your thread in my own thread on this here

Stewart Rhodes is getting into this?

Man O' Man are these council members and the police chief in trouble. Rhodes is like a starving dog with a bone, and he won't let this go until he takes a big honkin' bite.

ETA: For those who are unfamiliar with Rhodes he's the man behind Oath Keepers, an organization I belong to.



S&F4UOP

I have always said there are more good Cops than bad. But with that said, all it takes is one to tarnish the image.

This Chief is a corrupt piece of work. He'd best cut his losses and move on otherwise I see a prison sentance in his future.

By the way, for those of you who are charge of others. This is what happens when you do not earn your fellows trust and loyalty. You cannot strongarm those qualities.

reply to post by OldCorp


Seems to me that heads are gonna roll.

Rhodes is boss

Originally posted by Klassified
Awesome. Thanks for posting this, this clarifies the situation in quartzite. And shows that not all of the police there just fell in line with this criminal police chief and council. S&F.

ETA: I'm going to link to your thread in my own thread on this here

edit on 7/14/2011 by Klassified because: eta/correction

Great. I'm glad you put a link to your thread too.

Originally posted by wcitizen

Originally posted by Klassified
Awesome. Thanks for posting this, this clarifies the situation in quartzite. And shows that not all of the police there just fell in line with this criminal police chief and council. S&F.

ETA: I'm going to link to your thread in my own thread on this here

edit on 7/14/2011 by Klassified because: eta/correction

Great. I'm glad you put a link to your thread too.

My apologies for offending you wcitizen. It was not my intent. My intent was only to form a chain people could follow back to the original threads here on ATS. Which I posted links to in my OP. I will be cautious of this from now on.

Originally posted by Klassified

Originally posted by wcitizen

Originally posted by Klassified
Awesome. Thanks for posting this, this clarifies the situation in quartzite. And shows that not all of the police there just fell in line with this criminal police chief and council. S&F.

ETA: I'm going to link to your thread in my own thread on this here

edit on 7/14/2011 by Klassified because: eta/correction

Great. I'm glad you put a link to your thread too.

My apologies for offending you wcitizen. It was not my intent. My intent was only to form a chain people could follow back to the original threads here on ATS. Which I posted links to in my OP. I will be cautious of this from now on.

Wow, no, I absolutely wasn't offended, I AM glad you put a link to your thread. I think it's great when we expand on something by linking to other relevant threads....and I absolutely agree with you about forming a chain of links. We don't do it often enough imo.


So - please, let me thank you again, and please know it's truly genuine, my friend.

reply to post by wcitizen


How easily one misunderstands intent sometimes. Another lesson learned on my end.

I am very happy to hear about this. It shows that there is still some cops out there that have not turned to the dark side.

People really need to take note of this entire happening in Quartztite, AZ.

This is a perfect microcosm for the almost-worst case scenario involving rampant corruption, circumvention of rights, and martial law. The fact that there are plenty of people in this town willing to fight back gives me a lot of hope.

Thanks for the update. I have been following this story closely.

Originally posted by TDawgRex
I have always said there are more good Cops than bad. But with that said, all it takes is one to tarnish the image

And all it takes is for those good cops to stay quiet. None of this could have ever happened if the cops who witnessed the corruption or had knowledge of the lies but didn't say anything for fear of retribution would have spoken up a long time ago.

Oath Keepers, setting the example for the rest of our nation to follow.



People should see these men and woman of integrity and follow suit. They are the light that will help guide future generations.

This chief has some big skeletons he's trying to keep buried and his world is crashing all around him. Glad to see it! I can't wait to see how hard he's going to fall!

I had never seen the OathKeepers video. It somehow lifts my spirits to know there are honorable people like that.

It scares the bejeebus outta me when I heard the one about seizing people's food. Is this what's coming next?

Interesting thread and info. Thanks

What? WTF??The oatkeepers are comming to steal all the food?
Woe i never realised..............

I know this is probably a stupid question, and I'm sure someone will put me right.....but, If Jennifer Jones was arrested on 28th June.......why is the press release, posted in response, dated 31st May ?

It would be interesting to see this Cheifs tax returns. Thats where they will get him. He's either properly reporting some outrageously ill gotten wealth or he's hidding it. Trust me - with these tin pot Napoleon's it always about the money. Find the paper trail and he'll go down and set this poor town free of his tyranny.

Originally posted by beanandginger
It would be interesting to see this Cheifs tax returns. Thats where they will get him. He's either properly reporting some outrageously ill gotten wealth or he's hidding it. Trust me - with these tin pot Napoleon's it always about the money. Find the paper trail and he'll go down and set this poor town free of his tyranny.

Yes, his tax returns would be very interesting indeed....I agree, find the mondy and you'll have got him.

Originally posted by Klassified
reply to post by wcitizen

 

How easily one misunderstands intent sometimes. Another lesson learned on my end.

And mine - I'll remember to be clearer next time, lol.