Amid growing outrage over Trayvon Martin's death, the Sanford city council passed a vote of "no confidence" in Police Chief Bill Lee on Wednesday for his handling of the investigation.
MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell asked Sandford city manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. point blank if he plans to fire him.
Bonaparte said suspending chief Lee is one of the "options" for him "to consider." Bonaparte confirmed he has the ability to fire the police chief at any time. And pressure is mounting from the public to get rid of Lee and arrest shooter George Zimmerman, who claimed self defense in the shooting under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.
"I’ve stated that I want to know, as the city manager, did the Sanford police do things they shouldn't have done? Or did they not do things that they should have done?" he said on The Last Word. "That's the basis on the information that I would make a determination on moving forward with the Sanford Police Department."
Bonaparte said he's not currently satisfied with some of the responses from Chief Lee.
"I have some questions. I know members of the commission have questions — that's why we've asked for an outside review."
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There is something really weird about the Sanford, Florida city manager, Norton Bonaparte. As someone who was born and raised in the South, if you want to find out the truth about city officials ask the local Afro Americans, I think you will find the Black community see Mr. Bonaparte & the Police Dept. swim in the same Muddy Waters.
Muddy Waters: a great Blues artist. The Mississippi River has muddy waters...
This City Manager remings me of a black Barney Fife. He only has one bullet and is afraid to use it.
Mr. Westbrook, i would go deeper than that. He looks afraid, almost like he's hiding something. Maybe he was taking kick-backs from the Detective Lee. Like maybe Detective Lee has him in his back pocket. Um? There is something wrong with people who don't blink their eyes. My X-husband never blinked his eyes and he was the most dishonest person I ever met.
Glad I came back to the Blog after watching Bonaparte over and over and over. I was thoughtful that the non-blinking was either evidence he was on diazepam or that he was afraid (or both, the man has not slept, check out the puffy eyes). His non-blinking may be a desperate signal indicating there is a hotbed flaring that the public is not privy to yet and he could not discuss. Could be a plethora of reasons he would not or could not disclose, hence a rehearsed, closed dialogue about his insane-seeming choices. Also noted was the relief reaction to Rev. Sharpton.... He swallowed (some might think "choked") and seemed genuinely grateful for the chance to speak with Rev. Sharpton in person. His tone changed ever so slightly. I thought he would cry at that point of the interview. I look forward to watching the show tomorrow am on my computer... Sometimes I wish I had a television - I'd watch live tonight!
REMINDS ME.
Why bother to give an interview if you are not prepared to answer the hard questions? What bothered me is Mr. Bonaparte was getting testy when questions were asked of him. It appears he believes the Chief of Police and approved of the actions the Chief took. The City Council had lost confidence in the Police Department so what stopped Bonaparte from taking action and fire or put the Chief on suspension? You even have citizens complaining about the racism in the Police department and I am very positive this is not the first time Bonaparte and the City Council had heard complaints regarding the Police Department. As long as they could keep their dirty little secret, it was OK. BONAPARTE IS A FIGUREHEAD. He has no powers to fire anyone and if he does he is afraid to use them. If the Chief of Police was Black and the Martin boy was white, Bonaparte would have fired the Chief long ago. Then he tells Al Sharpton he will look forward to seeing him when Sharpton comes to Sanford. What for??????????? If he is not prepared to take some type of action on the Chief of Police and arrest Zimmerman, there is nothing to talk about.
What is the name of that guy who does "the Last Word"? Oh yeah O'Donnell... Lawrence O'Donnell. Unfortunately brilliance is not always measurable by the distance between a man's eyebrows and his hairline and the distance between his is as wide as Canadian football field. With no doubt, the man is the most boring sad-sack I've ever seen on TV. Kind of like spinning the wheel of fortune with your remote and landing on Bankrupt. They ought to rename his show to "Sign Off" then follow with the National Anthem and then the farm report. Larry! you must have the low-down on someone big at the network.
You hit the nail on the head UncleFesterWart. O'Donnell is a moran, has no idea how to conduct an interview. Wants the city manager to fire the chief of police on his show. Then he has racist Al Sharpton on hammering the city manager...(2) morans O'Donnell and Sharpton. How they have their own shows is probably like you say, they must have the low down on someone big at the network.
You and Adam 1 must be out of your minds. Mr. ODonnell and Rev. Sharpton are extremely intelligent well versed individuals. What does a man's looks have to do with the execution of Trayvon Martin. Adam1 just in case you didn't make it out of kindergarten, it's Moron, not morans. Leave the trailer and get to the library sometimes.
Max...let me correct my spelling O'Donnell and racist Al Sharpton are MORONS. All you left wing liberals think the same...O'Donnell is a socialist. I think what Zimmerman did is wrong, but lets the courts decide if he is guily, not the liberal media, MSNBC. All O'Donnell and Sharpton try to do is race bait this event. Max are you saying that people that live in a trailer are not up to your level. As Steve Martin said a few years age, "well excuse me". Bite me Max
I forgot to ask who wins the prize for giving the 10th comment? I'll check back in a week.
The City Manager sure is tentative! He is part of the problem..and he should know that Sharpton will take no prisoners!
Mr. Pittman, I think that Detective Lee has him in his pocket. That's why nothing has been done about this Detective misconduct on the force. Trayvon is not the first one.
I sat and watched the 'Last Word' program last night as well as tonight and the more I watched, the more disappointed and disgusted I got. I watched Lawrence O'Donnell make a huge fuss and proceed to express his feelings of how wrong this shooting and killing of this 17yr old Black boy was in Fla.. He talked about what a huge tragedy it is and how the security guard who shot him should be prosecuted for it. I sent MSNBC a story of an incident that took place in Baxley, Ga. on Feb. 19th 2012. I sent the local news article to every major network and every media outlet that I could think of the same week the incident took place and not one ever responded to me or bothered to report one word about the incident. It was like it never happened. The incident involved the murder of a highly decorated Iraq war veteran who served 3 tours before finally coming home and suffering from PTSD and being murdered in his own front yard in front of his family and friends by the Ga. State SWAT Team. This young veteran was 31yrs old and White. He put his life on the line 3 times in the war in Iraq for the people of this country only to come home and be Killed by them unjustly and no one seems to even care. I want to know why there is such a huge fuss being made about this 17yr old being gunned down by a security guard and not one word mentioned about a War Hero who was Murdered by a SWAT Team. Is it because James Dixon III was White and not Black like Trayvon Martin. Is that what your reporting is all about? Is it okay when a White War Hero and Decorated Veteran is gunned down but if a Black 17yr old kid gets shot and killed it's a National Tragedy. I think you really need to take a long look at your reporting practices and your priorities. James Dixon III never fired a shot at anyone on that Sunday morning, never even aimed at anyone in an attempt to shoot them, and never threatened to shoot anyone. He came out of his house like requested and had a shotgun by his side. He was told to drop the shotgun and when he didn't immediately drop it, SWAT Team sharpshooters made a deliberate Neck Shot with the sole purpose of an instant Kill. Not a disabling shot, a Deliberate Kill Shot. Please go to the links that I have provided below and read them. Then I would appreciate a response as to why you think the killing of Trayvon Martin is so obviously more important and more newsworthy than the deliberate Murder of James Dixon III. Please see the only news articles published on this awful Murder below;
GBI probes Iraq vet killed in Ga. SWAT shootout
By Terry Dickson
Morris News Service
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 7:31 AM
Last updated 7:07 PM
Comments (36)
BAXLEY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is probing the weekend shooting death of an Iraq war veteran in an armed standoff in south Georgia’s Appling County.
•Photos
FAMILY PHOTO/MORRIS NEWS SERVICE
James M. Dixon III, a former Marine and veteran of Iraq who was shot to death by a Georgia State Patrol SWAT team Sunday morning.
Neighbors of James M. Dixon III, 31, called the Sheriff’s Office about 3:50 a.m. Sunday to say someone had fired a shot through their house, Sheriff Bennie DeLoach said in a news statement.
Deputies went to Dixon’s house but decided for safety reasons to wait until daylight before confronting whoever fired the shot, DeLoach said.
As they waited, Dixon left the house and drove to his parents’ house about a half mile away on Holland Road Extension, Chief Deputy Lee J. Sweat Jr. said.
Deputies were not in position to stop Dixon but tried to stop him as he came back home, Sweat said.
“When he returned, he ran through a (partial) roadblock and we pursued him,’’ but Dixon made it back into his house, Sweat said.
The Georgia State Patrol SWAT team came to the scene and took over, and Dixon came outside the house just before 9 a.m. armed with a shotgun, DeLoach said.
When Dixon refused orders to put down the weapon, the SWAT team fired on him hitting him twice, Sweat said.
Dixon was taken to Appling HealthCare where he was pronounced dead on arrival, DeLoach said.
Dixon had served several tours in Iraq and had friends among the Appling County deputies, Sweat said.
“It’s a regrettable situation,’’ Sweat said.
Dixon’s older sister, Serran Aaron, said her brother suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was 100 percent disabled.
“He had a heart of gold. He would do anything for anybody,’’ she said.
After high school, her brother had enrolled at Georgia Southern University, earned a business administration degree, Aaron said.
“He graduated summa cum laude. He came home and told us he was signing up with the Marines. I was devastated, but he had talked about it since he was a child. He felt it was his duty to serve his country,’’ she said.
That duty took a toll changing him dramatically after three tours in Iraq and being wounded, she said.
Someone in the neighborhood had fired hundreds of shots Saturday “and I believe that unnerved him,’’ Aaron said.
Aaron said she got a call from her mother at 5:30 a.m. Sunday asking her to come quickly and she drove there to find her brother was having a flashback as he had once before since his discharge.
“He would really think he was in Iraq. He would say, ‘They’re coming. Don’t you hear them outside? Get down,’ ’’ Aaron said.
She also said that being confronted by the huge number of officers made her brother more apprehensive if anything.
While the officers were outside his house, Aaron said she was in near constant cellphone contact with her brother, but that the 38 calls she made in a two-hour period often got dropped because they live in a rural area.
He told her once that he was putting his medals on, she said.
She had tried to talk him into coming outside without his shotgun, the only weapon he owned, but he responded as if he were in combat saying, “I can’t go out there unarmed,’’ she said.
An Appling County deputy was taking her to the scene, but she wasn’t allowed to get close enough to talk to him, Aaron said.
She saw her brother outside the house with his gun down and was yelling hoping he could hear her, Aaron said.
Then an officer ordered her onto the ground, and then she heard the shots, Aaron said.
Aaron said she is talking to anyone who will listen because it is clear that law enforcement is trained to deal with criminals, not people like her brother.
Asked what kinds of medals her brother had, Aaron said she only recognized his Purple Heart among the many blooded ribbons and medals she was given Monday.
Meanwhile, the Marines are mourning with the Dixon family and supporting them, she said.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Memorial Freewill Baptist Church in Surrency, she said.
The GBI’s Douglas office, which is investigating the shooting, would not comment.
Reach terry.dickson@jacksonville.com, (912) 264-0405
Dying for peace
Posted by Staff Writerin Columns
Wednesday, February 29. 2012
Comments (17)
On Sunday morning, February 19, 2012, James Dixon III, was shot down in his own front yard by a Georgia State Patrol SWAT team called in to assist our sheriff’s department. He died here at home at the hands of his own countrymen. He should have been safe here as he worked with the VA doctors to overcome the terrors of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. But something went intolerably wrong on that black Sunday.
James arrived in a solid family when he was born to Sue and Jimmy Dixon on May 17, 1981. The Dixons raised their children to believe in God, country and family. James’ parents gave him the best they had to offer, including a strong work ethic and the will to succeed at whatever he attempted.
James Dixon III
An old African proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child. James was very much a product of this southern county, too. He blazed his way through the Appling County School System, and I’m proud to have taught him. I knew him before he sat in my classroom though. He and my son Josh were friends long before high school. When he did arrive in my class, he came laughing. However, he knew when to be serious, too. He graduated number three in his class, but his excellence didn’t stop with academics. He played in the Pirate Brigade Marching Band. When he donned the pads of the Pirate football team, he joined the band at halftime. He held a part-time job. He was a paragon of adolescence, the teen every parent dreams of rearing.
Then the Class of 1999 marched across Jimmy Swain Stadium and scattered like seeds in the wind. I heard from James occasionally. James was thriving at Georgia Southern and earned a Masters Degree in Business Education. Josh brought me the news that James had joined the marines, but even as my heart dropped, pride arose.
James served 3 tours of duty in Iraq before he came back home with an array of awards: a Purple Heart in addition to the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Meritorious Mast, Navy Unit Commendation, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Certificate of Commendation, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. James Dixon III exemplifies the word hero.
When he came home for the final time after being injured, he brought Iraq with him. His mind was unable to leave it behind. He suffered flashbacks.
“Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome,” the VA doctors said, as they attempted to fix it. But things set James off, things like the sound of gunfire, for example, which may have triggered that Saturday night/Sunday morning fiasco.
Someone in the neighborhood had fired hundreds of shots on Saturday. The huge number of officers outside his house probably didn’t help either.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, the SWAT team provides a highly trained and skilled tactical team as a resource for all law enforcement agencies in Georgia. This expertise is used in the resolution of critical incidents in an effort to reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to citizens, police officers, and suspects. The plan failed James miserably. Yes, he had a gun, but surely those experts could have shot to disable, not to kill. With the current technology, they must have had many non-lethal means at their disposal. Since he refused to put down his gun, the SWAT team had the legal power to kill, not the moral right. There’s a monumental difference.
James was no criminal; he was a hero.
I’m going to miss James’ smile around town, the hug he gave me whenever I ran into him. I’ll always remember him fondly, but my heart will break when I think of his death. James came home for peace and recuperation, but he had to die to find them. How many more wounded warriors will have to die before we demand change? James is at peace now, but I hope that peace eludes the rest of us until we force change to occur in law enforcement. Training exists for such crises. It is essential that every single officer in this county be trained immediately. We have an enormous duty to our walking wounded. After all, they were wounded in service to us. May there never be another situation like James’ here.
Your comments are leaning toward racial bias which is really pathetic. One incident does not make the other irrelevant. Neither should have occurred, yet you had to mention black and white. They were human beings first who lost their lives through what we feel was injustice. Who cares what color they were? It seems to me that neither of these incidents were handled properly, but the comparison is way off base. I pray for both families, because I know that they miss them immensely. It's remarks like the ones that you have made that keep races divided. The young man you mentioned was armed, Trayvon Martin was not. Though the police should try to prevent loss of life in any situation, the first line of defense is to protect the innocent. You said he had PTSD, so him coming out of the house with a gun in any position had to be seen as a threat. Trayvon was up against a madman who had no legal rights as an officer to be using a gun. He played hero, and I can assure you he is not receiving a hero's welcome. He killed an unarmed person. Not only does that make him a coward, but a murderer as well. The fact that they were wrongfully taken from society in our eyesight should be the main focal point. And please don't say you're not racist, because what you've written proves otherwise.
"Adam1"
"I think what Zimmerman did is wrong, but lets the courts decide if he is guily, not the liberal media,"
1. The courts don't get to decide if (1) Zimmerman isn't arrested, (2), and charged. So it's safe for you to say that the courts should decide, knowing that it cannot do so because Zimmerman hasn't been arrested or charged.
Which is obviously why you are proud NOT to be a "liberal": because stupid is easy.
Which also goes to show that you don't know even the most rudimentary of basics of how our justice system works. Which is why you are proud NOT to be a "liberal": you're free NOT to know anything factual.
2. This story was buried until the "liberal" media -- the non-extreme media that represents the moderate majority view --began reporting on the story and outrage at the offical inaction.
3. You wouldn't be commenting on this were it not for the "liberal" media. And your comment is? That the "liberal" media should shut up about it.
4. It is notworthy that you repeat the unfounded non-argument name-calling you get from the FOX cesspool. And that it wasn't non-"liberal" racist FOX that reported the story despite the classic Jim Crow inaction of the Sanford, FL authorities, including that of protecting the killer.
In sum: your "position" and assertions are incoherent, and based upon bigotry against those you are told to hate because -- you are told -- they are "liberal". You, a bigot, have the irrational gall to condemn "race-baiting, which is precisely what YOU are doing.
Facts:
1. The Founders were LIBERALS.
2. Before Hitler went after the Jews, he went after the "liberals".
And you are unashamed at admitting you hate "liberals".
You my friend (and I use that phrase very lightly) have completely missed my point because you're so eaten up with all this racism being generated by O'Donnell and MSNBC that you can't even think for yourself anymore. For your information I am in fact a Liberal, have been my entire life and will continue to be. That is exactly why I don't understand why an over abundance of racist attention is being given to this Martin incident, and absolutely none to the incident I posted about the MURDER of a highly decorated war hero by a Ga. State SWAT Team. Wake up to reality. Whether you're Liberal or Conservative, it's dead wrong to continue on a daily basis to do your best to incite racial hatred and discontent all across the country just so you have a news item to talk about on your program
I have a rant. Did anyone see the CBS Morning show today? Jeff Glor was the reporter in Florida doing the report on the Martin killing. I thought I was watching Fox when Jeff Glor said Trayvon Martin had been suspended from school. A statement of that sort is so typical Fox and it angered me because I felt CBS is putting the blame on the victim instead of where the blame really lay and at this moment I feel the blame is on the Zimmerman and the Police Department of Sanford. What does that child being suspended from school have to do with going to the store on a Sunday night to get refreshments and then is killed coming back home. It is not as if he was not suppose to be in that particular gated community.
If there is a race problem in this country media personalities such as Lawrence O'Donnell are doing nothing but adding fuel to the fire, by conducting their own nonstop public trial. Let the courts handle this! Our justice system is neither pretty or necessarily swift but it does work. Sir, get back to what you were best at, report the facts and only the facts instead of trying to outdo Mr. Blitzer.
In my humble opinion, We The People seem still to require education to reflect on honorable values and conduct. The justice system is constructed and maintained by We The People. It is rife with people. In this situation can be found self-serving, ignorant choices at every station. Pulling the trigger on that unarmed boy was not a particularly sound choice at the starting gate... Furthered by dubious laws in the justice system. Mr. O'Donnell educates. I do not see him stirring up any pots. I understand there may exist bored perspectives, everyone gets bored in school at times. Race lessons have not been thoroughly learned yet, which behooves me and, I trust, encourages Mr. O'Donnell to present facts and... a classroom. Over many years I have observed he does his homework tirelessly.
Thank You fwolf and AMEN. You hit the nail on the head and it is refreshing to see that there are still some American Citizens who can actually think for themselves. When the media step over the line or get Out of line, they need to be called on it just like anyone else in this country.
@UncleFesterWart and adam: You both represent what is wrong with this country PERIOD. It is frightening to know people like you still exist. If this were YOUR Son or brother you would have a different attitude and tone about the entire story. THANK YOU LARRY THANK YOU AL SHARPTON!!! As a faithful viewer I appreciate the urgency placed on this story.
SERIOUSLY, does anyone remember the loss of Natalie Holloway???? Were you both as opposed to finding out the details around her story? More than likely not... Which was on every media outlet in the country for months? The attention around her story was needed JUST LIKE Treyvon's. THANK YOU MSNBC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Mehret...people like us still do exist..we have to talk about the lefties, like your self.. who always want a handout. What Zimmerman did might be wrong, but a judge and jury will decide that, not the liberal media, Al Sharpton or people like yourself who represent what is really wrong with our country today. Go back to where you came from....PLEASE
BWeiserNC, you mentioned James Dixon III never fired a shot at anyone on that Sunday morning, never even aimed at anyone in an attempt to shoot them, and never threatened to shoot anyone.
Neither did Trayvon Martin, in fact he was completely unarmed. The difference is that one person was innocently walking down the street, the other walked out of their house with a shotgun. The fact that Zimmerman may have targeted Martin because of his race makes it a race issue, not the media's portrayal of it.
I Give Up Nella......It's easy to see that you Truly Are Enchanted, to put it as nicely as I can. I won't waste anymore time or words trying to explain it all to you. You Just Wouldn't Understand Anyway.
accidental 2x post
The enemy is prejudice. I see it all the time in politics, religion, reastaurants, and even among friends who do no ralize that the enemy is within themselves. The enemy is name, labeled, and described by Shakespear. He has Cassius speak the words:
"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings."
Thank God for Lawrence O'Donnell who has the courage, strength and intellect to oppose prejudice, malice, abuse, cruelty, oppression and religious hypocrisy. I hope his star keeps shining and shed light on all sorts of injustice. As a result of "The Last Word" life may be a little better for those who find themselves victims of prejudice and simple mindedness critics of "The Last Word". This is my "Last Word".
Two things seem to be going on with this story. First, it seems many media personalities are determined to try this matter in the court of public opinion BEFORE the issue hits the courts. Justice, in this country, is rarely pretty and seldom swift but justice does come. I am by no means condoning what Mr. Zimmerman did or didn't do, if he did something wrong he needs to account for that - in a court of law. For a couple of days now I've turned from CNN to MSNBC in hopes of getting the facts on this issue but now it seems sensationalism is on every network and on every show.
First, let me address the comment about the killing of the war veteran. That is truly tragic and I, as an african american liberal, agree that it certainly was news worthy and I hope you keep raising awareness about this unjust thing. However, you tend to want to minimize that what happened to Trayvor Martin was unjust as well. This is not and should not be about race it should be about right and wrong. The fact of the matter is, making personal attacks on Mr. O'Donnell and Rev. Sharpton is wrong from anyone who posts their comments. Two wrongs don't make it right. The Sanford police indeed by all accounts mishandled the entire situation and therefore the entire establishment needs to be help accountable even up to the Mayor at this point. The city manager did indeed look like a scrared deer caught in the headlights on Mr. O'Donnell's show. His comments made absolutely no sense and there is more than enough evidence and witnesses for him to at least ask the Chief to step down pending an in depth investigation of the situation. I don't know who is pulling whose strings and I truly don't care. For all the unjust cases in this world, there needs to be just punishments, one at a time. I am appalled that many of you have attacked Mr. O'Donnell who actually does an excellent job reporting the truth and the facts. I think that is just it, many of you are just like the Chief of Police and the City Manager.......you just can't handle the truth. I am totally hurt that you all can not put yourself in the shoes of the parents who lost a child and if you don't have children of your own, think about a loved one or sibling or anyone you adore and imagine the feeling you would feel each night to know that the establishment thought more of sending folks to jail for pet abuse than for cold blooded murder of an honor student. A child......A child......A child......
O'connell is a major suck-up! Al Sharpton is a self-rightous (check the mouth) boob and should be arrested for inciting a riot. HIs mother has nothing to do with it, he wouldn't miss a chance to be on TV. Wonder where any of these would stand if the victim had been white!!
The Dot...Both O'Donnell and Sharpton are race baiters.. I agree with your statement.
Norton Bonaparte and Mitt Romney are the same. Neither one of them have the ability to answer a question. I watched the interviews of Norton Bonaparte, and the debates for the Republican presidential campaigns and those two have to be related.
I don't blame Michael Baisden for not shaking Norton's hand and telling him that he didn't respect him.
I disagree that Lawrence and Reverend Al are race baiters. The people that say that are the dividing forces in this country that can't see the forest because of all the trees that are in the way.
I wonder what he is hiding.