Unfortunately, the PNJ built a story around some of the classified information contained in that confidential memo only, disregarded and DID NOT publish information from a filed complaint in the circuit court that disputes much of the information in the leaked document, and then published that story in Friday's edition of the PNJ. Again, this information is only part of the story and paints several circumstances in a false light and appears to be extremely reckless and recklessly disregards the truth and facts of the issue in my opinion.
I spoke to Jim Little personally Thursday afternoon about the story, which by then was advance posted on PNJ's electronic edition. I asked him point blank--where did you get this document Jim? "I can't tell you." He continued: "The person who I got this from has asked to remain anonymous---and for what it's worth--it wasn't the Medical Director"
Not surprisingly, Matt Selover--an Escambia County employee who was unflatteringly portrayed in PNJ's Friday story--is now filing a union grievance and requesting a formal investigation by the county about who it was that leaked that document. I don't blame him at all, I would do the very same thing if I were him. Now everyone, myself included, wants to know one thing: Who Leaked the Document?
28 comments:
Commissioner Bergosh, here are two concerns I have about the question of who leaked the document.
There are actually TWO questions here.
(1) It's not just a matter of what person actually passed that doc off. That needs to be solved.
(2) It's also a matter of how that doc got into that person's hands in the first place.
Just because only three people had the doc--Janice, JD, and Edler--that doesn't mean that one of those three had to be the person who gave it to the press. It could have been handed off to another agent of the County to deal with. So there are really two layers that need to be answered.
The County has budgeted a quarter of a million dollars--is that right? please correct me if I'm wrong--to the new Ethics office who is supposed to be getting to the bottom of these things. Surely with Mr. Morris's experience, this one shouldn't be all that difficult.
Here's another thought. The person who handed it off *might* have thought he or she actually had it redacted. I'm constantly astonished how little grasp of technology higher-ups at the County have, even in roles that really demand it. As I understand it, the document that was sent by Jim Little to Mr. Selover came in looking like it had been put through a text editor.
Guess what? If you don't really know what you're doing with some PDF tech, you could think that you have redacted something. (That's apart from the question of why on earth somebody else other than Charlie Peppler would have been redacting a medical document for public consumption.) Send it off, and if the person receiving it understands the technology you are using better than you do, BOINK! All you have to do is go to an editor function and ALL that redacted text will appear in a side scroll next to the redacted doc. SMH.
In addition: who tipped Jim Little off as to what, exactly, he should be PRRing? How did he know that there was a file of paper documents that was being handled in some mystical classified aspect?
(This County really needs to get a grip on standard best HR practices for that sort of thing--"It's still sitting in the envelope it came in" is problematic in so many ways I don't even know where to start.)
How on earth did Jim Little know to put the PRR in to begin with?
This was a pretty well orchestrated effort, in other words, until somebody got impatient that legal wasn't moving fast enough to get that doc officially into Jim's hands in time to hamfist that hit piece before the meeting, a time-honored County-PNJ m.o. Jim probably already had a copy of the doc, but whoever was in on this needed the official copy to get to him and legal wasn't moving fast enough to suit the game.
Have you talked to IT about this yet?
--Dumb as Pino
I forgot to mention something else important to this context, Commissioner Bergosh--things are blowing up in our Public Safety at such a fast rate these days it's hard to keep up.
In the midst of this other "leak" (or not) on EMS, there was the MIND BLOWING "mistake" email of Sorta-Chief Williams sent to WEAR per the Fire budget, and the coverage last night:
https://weartv.com/news/local/mistake-email-from-escambia-county-fire-chief-draws-concern-over-department-budget?fbclid=IwAR2uJtalq7HEnLerE80p5WqXKX2fDBPxydWKL8hjjPv9nzM3yRVOIY6PJVw
Question: will there be disciplinary action stemming from all of this improper communication? There should be.
The whole surround makes me wonder if EMS will be allowed to continue to disintegrate so that at some point the argument can be made to bring a private EMS service in to run things for Escambia County.
Which wouldn't seem like a great idea, since EMS, in addition to being one of the most vital services the County provides--and one everybody used to take great pride in--it's also a revenue source for the County.
If there is some private company waiting in the wings, I certainly hope that the training LLC set up by Dr. Edler and Kerem Suhi wasn't created for the purpose. The last I checked, there hasn't been any paperwork filed with Escambia HR yet on that one, although they might have scrambled some into place once we put in a PRR on it.
Yet another thing that should warrant serious consideration per County policies being ignored. I won't hold my breath.
--Melissa Pino
If this release involved HIPPA protected information, it appears this could become a Federal issue, if I'm correct in my knowledge of HIPPA regulations. I hope this is taken extremely seriously and when the person is found, they are prosecuted fully. For Jim Little, through the PNJ, to release HIPPA protected information, is also very wrong and I would love to see them prosecuted. They should know better, but it appears they don't care!
on ECTV public forum video-- about minute 17 or so in comes Underhill with his deviant laugh as a lead in, Chairman Barry gives him the floor. He spins his misinformation and story he's sticking to for political reasons but at minute 18:55 He says he doesn't read the PNJ and has no idea what they are talking about. Well he sure seems to have a script ready for the drama.
So he said on record he doesn't read the PNJ.
Do you think that is true or a lie?
"The greatest act of respect is the truth, I will always tell you the truth" Underhill
"Excellence invites scrutiny"
So does deceit Underhill..
Did you leak that memo to Jim Little? then have Hunsucker post the hit piece on ECW?
Then be cued up with your BS.
The laugh and face tells it all and same old act is telling, some can see beyond your mask.
WHO LEAKED THE MEMO AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
With Project Fisher, (redux) it's obvious who spilled the beans.
Wonder who they used to get that to Little.
"What's in a name, A ROSE by any other name would smell...
The drama accusation by Underhill in the public forum is a classic example of his hypocrisy. He is the bully who would cut loose the most god awful SBD fart in a room and blame the stench on someone else.
Video posted to facebook Escambia Public Forum
https://www.facebook.com/michael.p.mccormack/videos/10216068318880547/
We don't need Johnny Owenhill in the same room on the dais.
This lightens it up but really this is very very serious business in Escambia County.
I am so sorry the Emergency Medical Services have been abused, run through the ringer of politics and poor management.
May they unite and get relief.
Thank you for your leadership in this matter Commissioner Bergosh.
Older blog for context. http://jeffbergoshblog.blogspot.com/2018/01/who-spilled-beans.html
Multimillion dollar deal compromised
https://weartv.com/news/local/million-dollar-manufacturing-deal-jeopardized-by-contract-breach
Underhill leaked it to Escambia Citizen Watch facebook in 2018 and they published it for their own agenda in complete civil disrespect for the board and economic development in Escambia County.
This seems similar but much much worse.
This is abuse of power and total disregard for rights and emotional health of our medic and employees on so many levels.
This is one of the most disgusting sickening things I've seen in Escambia Politics in conjunction with the reporter, and publisher at PNJ.
Was this to be accomplished ahead of the Civic Con meeting on the Jan 27 dog and pony show?
So she handed it to her boyfriend/paramedic or her ex right hand hatchet guy to leak. But commissioner, other than bringing to attention here what is being done about it? There seems to be zero pressure on your new county admin to do anything serious about this. She can ignore you, fire people without hearing their side, ignore problems at EMS. You fired your last EMS Chief who gave 25 years to the county, why can’t you just release her as well for a truly fresh start. For that matter why does somewhere as small as Escambia have a full time medical director and not a contract medical director like almost everywhere else?
It doesn't take a genius to find the Baptist hospital "slash" Pensacola News Journal and all the big players connection in all this. Jeff to win the D1 seat again. Goggle the developmental process of Orange County Florida and check out the flow charts where the planning process goes through concurrency and they charge impact fee to developers. Otherwise your genius may be overlooked. Learning is a life long process.
Anon 732. Yes the firing of Salter is troubling. Is the problem with the new Administrator? Is she playing favorites and think she is back in the old days? Maybe the outsider from the midwest would have been a better choice but it was a 4 1 vote. She hired a couple of youngsters Coale and Still. She may not be doing as well as expected. Is there an agenda? Sometimes you have to do the best with what you have Commissioner Watching. Do what you need to do.
Are you kidding. You think spinless Steve and he didndonothin May will replace the admin and medical director? Be real.
Please keep up
I would just take a reset at EMS. They fired some of EMS admin, now let her go as well. A new medical director (an actual medical director) would be a breath of fresh air. It’s funny because none of these problems existed under Drs Neal, Henning or Stavros who were all much more exp and credentialed. Suddenly though after a slew of HR complaints against her there is suddenly issues. Imagine that.
Commissioner it would be in everyone’s best interest if you pay attention to ANON 5:58am. Your full attention. Spot on that one!!
I was there for Dr. Henning and Dr Stavros and now Dr Edler. It’s funny how the other two who are pretty respected had no issues with things or if they did they were trying to fix them. Edler comes in and suddenly everyone sucks. She’s the only person, the queen, as her sycophants call her that knows what’s going on. I left. No way was I working so where for a person like that. A lot of other good people left as well and will continue to leave. At some point you just have to say thank you but this isn’t the place for you, go back to the ED where maybe you are okay? Honestly I have not had good interactions there either but get her the heck away from EMS.
You are so RIGHT.
Check Escambia Public Forum facebook page at see who put in the Public record request for Pino and Wade. He is also the one who posted the PNJ article on ECW with the headline of the leaked document prior to last Thursday's meeting. Which of course they approved to post.
Why is it tolerated for this union county employee to be involved with social media and entangled with Underhill/Owens politics during business hours?
Note the Firefighter Union is in arbitration with the county soon. It's on the meetings page at Myescambia website.
next point
Please go to DOH site and look at the investigative process -- from what I can tell if they find the complaint unfounded and do not investigate it it is not made public.
Perhaps your new person hired recently Eric Gilmore can report whether the complaints were unfounded or not. That is an important piece of information. I do hope a complete airing as far as you can go is held at the committee of the whole in March.
http://www.floridahealth.gov/licensing-and-regulation/enforcement/_documents/enforcement-process-chart.pdf
We hope EMS will be made whole but the politics and misinformation and cover up will not make it so.
If one cries and pouts and say they asked for training and have not done what it takes to get it on the agenda-- It's not the fault of the BOCC.
You are up against some bad actors this campaign season including the PNJ. It may be a rough ride.
Johnny Owenhill and Capt Underpants want to rule.. Not good.
People still can't demarcate between Underhill saying "I support Public safety" and what he is really doing.
Overall the union IAFF is strong but there are many needs across the county.
Everything surrounding Underhill is deception and chaos and conflict. He is in it for himself and not for the county as a whole.
Well they skimmed over that quite well at civic com..as expected
Who sent the document to Pensacola News Journal and Why? Please update.
stop showing your ignorance anonymous 2:58. EMS was a train wreck way prior to edler and nail. edler and nail were hired to try and clean the mess. the more they cleaned, the dirtier the water. the berg is doing no one any favors by meddling. this is micro-managing at it's finest. he's trying to show himself championing for EMS and PS. I say, put your money where your mouth is. "keep em running, keep em rolling". one of the most ignorant statements ever uttered. PS has been understaffed for so long it's pathetic. double the manpower and give them a pay increase. great, not just good employees are leaving. stay out of the operations berg. y'all hired these people to fix it, let em fix it. stay in your lane or chair in your ivory tower.
when people need PS services, it should get to where they need them faster than uber eats.
Check Facebook page Escambia Public forum with the public record of Edler's eval by Dosh and the date. Check the clerk site for the Edler vs Pino case. Hope you talk about this at the March COW 2020.
This will morph into the election cycle between Owens and you. You will see even more Underhill gibberish and more lawyers. The drama started when UNderhill took Edler's side. She's on social media liking his public posts. The political activists for Doug wanting to shut down Pino had a collection of screen shots. They were pawns in his game.
Search ECW for the post the PNJ article of Edler vs Pino. Look who was on the fund raiser for Edler. all those names are coveniently cleared off now.
The BOCC passed the baton to Gilley to solve this now she said at civic con she's passing it to the new hire not hired yet to direct public safety. Interesting job description.
The EMS is caught up in the political games.
GOB Doug is coming for you... You can smell him a mile away.
It is not reform.
Why did Janice just eliminate Rebecca Brownsfield position today. Are you ready for the March COW. Is the BOCC on board with this?
So is the mission accomplished http://www.northescambia.com/2019/04/dysfunctional-environment-paramilitary-structure-in-escambia-ems-described-in-2018-memo
Bring on the Rescue one company jet ski friends.. " I like their energy." Giggle giggle
Did you listen to the interview and what Steve White said about Edler.
@ anon 11:14 in reference to brownfield, she failed to achieve the proper and required certifications to fulfill her job duties. she had nearly two years to do so and did not accomplish the task.
Why has no one addressed the relationship between Rayme Edler and her subordinate, Kerem Suhi, and whether or not they are using their position and resources of that position for self gain with their joint business, Tactical Clinicians LLC?
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