Parker Live The Parker area, online.
A recall effort organized by Parker resident Joyce Hiatt-Curren targeting La Paz County Sheriff Don Lowery became more vocal within the past week as the organizers emailed Parker Live with a list of reasons to recall Lowery, and Lowery responded to the recall in the Parker Pioneer.
Click through to read both sides.
An email, signed “Disappointed in LPCSO”, states:
Sheriff Don Lowery does not have the experience and/or knowledge to carry out the position he has been elected for. Lowery has no managerial skills or knowledge of management or budget preparation.
Sheriff Lowery has shown his unwillingness to work with the La Paz County Board of Supervisors, the County Manager and the Finance Department on key issues pertaining to the agency.
Lowery has consistently shown a failure in maintaining direction within the department and an inability to resolve key issues.
Sheriff Lowery appointed an undersheriff, Rick Paterson, who does not have the managerial skills, fiscal understanding or ability to communicate with key figures within the county government. The undersheriff has micro-managed the department personnel to the point that the moral of the agency is at its lowest levels.
Sheriff Lowery has shown an inability to make command decisions because of his lack of knowledge of the position and what it stands for. Lowery has consistently been “unavailable” or “out of the office” when key decisions need to be made or when there are issues that need to be resolved. Lowery has moved or kept personnel in key positions that do not deserve or otherwise belong.
Sheriff Lowery has filed a frivolous law suit against the La Paz County Board of Supervisors over an unpaid bill for attorney fees that was his responsibility because he and his undersheriff did not follow the proper procedures in obtaining the legal counsel. This is a flagrant misappropriation of funds and use of the taxpayers money. The decision to obtain the legal counsel was pushed through by his undersheriff, Rick Paterson, but was ultimately the decision of Sheriff Lowery. Another example of not knowing the position he holds.
Failing to follow county policy and procedures. Sheriff Lowery continues to allow members of his agency to drive their county assigned vehicles to Lake Havasu City on a daily basis which is a flagrant violation of county policy and a waste of taxpayers money.
In addition to date, Major Rick Patterson has been placed on PAID Administrative Leave pending his Termination in 30 days. Do you know anyone else that has been given a PAID 30 days notice prior to Termination? Let’s be real, it is a paid vacation, at the taxpayers expense! Wake Up La Paz County!!
As quoted in last week’s Parker Pioneer, Sheriff Don Lowery responds.
The statement I do not have the necessary skills to carry out the duties of this office. As all are aware, I took over this office just as we entered the deepest economic downturn in memory. The economic crisis faced by us all, coupled with a long history of work force related problems inherited by me as I took office, would test the skills of any manager, however, I have risen to this challenge and found outside funding resources-as money is not available at the board level.
The statement I do not work well with the Board of Supervisors is true in some ways. Remember, I am not a politician and personally maintain high moral standards. I refuse to get drawn into pointless infighting.
The statement I promoted Undersheriff Paterson who allegedly lacked management skills and micromanaged cannot be farther from the truth. Mr. Paterson served La Paz County Sheriff’s Office with distinction for years prior to my taking office.
[Lowery told the Pioneer that Maj. Rick Paterson stepped down because he didn't want to cause harm to the Sheriff's Office.]
The statement that my ability to make command decisions is in question; anyone in life who steps up to the plate and makes decisions is subject to question. I make myself available to the public 24/7, I care about your concerns and I ensure that our efforts are focused on those issues that make the most difference in the realm of public safety. Monday morning quarterbacking is much easier when writing a misguided recall from a perspective that includes limited (if any) law enforcement background. My record stands for itself and I am proud of my accomplishments.
The statement I have made personnel changes or have not made them to show favoritism toward those loyal to me. I don’t want anyone to by loyal to me, but to the office to which I have been provided the honor of holding. Personnel changes made by me have been based purely upon job performance.
The falsehood-I filed a “frivolous” lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors. The lawsuit is true; the frivolous part is false. I believe in this cause and have made repeated attempts to work with the board to address the issues underlying this unfortunate state of events to no avail.
And the final falsehood I continuously allow agency staff to travel to and from Lake Havasu City in county vehicles, against county policy and at taxpayer expense. I have two deputies who are joint Narcotic Task Force members who use task force-not county-vehicles to drive at no expense to the county. I have one on-call investigator who takes his vehicle to Havasu-he works 24/7.
I will refuse to bow down to political pressure to meet pointless agendas.
This recall is the latest in a series of attempts to recall elected officials for various reasons.
Having known Don for many years as well as all of his predecessors I have to say he is and was the best candidate that we had running for the sheriffs office. Having been married to Marvin Hare and knowing Lowery, Collette, Evans, for all of these years I have to say on a personal level that he is as honest as they come. And very sincere. His enemies do not know him very well. He has a lot of strengths. If we are honest we all have weaknesses. We just don”‘t have everyone digging to find them even if they are not there. Personally I would vote for Lowrey or Hare again and again. Please really get to know your Sheriff. Sometimes honesty can be a little hard to take. But I want honesty which you will get from Lowery.
I have known Don Lowery as long as anyone in this town. I will tell you, one thing Don has never been is honest. Don can spin a tale with the best of them. My brother and I used to talk with Don and he would tell us three different stories on three different occasions. When Don would leave we would chuckle and compare stories. I like Don, but I would never count on him. And yes there are alot of us that know him.
Helllo it’sashame I must comment on what you wrote. You described Mr. Lowrey perfectly. I find him to be a nice guy but being honest wouldn’t ever be my description of him. He tells many tales and many do not match. Not a knock I hope to all his family and friends but if you know him you know that being a straight shooter is not his best attribute.
With all that is said what happened to him being a christian? What would God have to say about all the sinfull things [...] that he has know another to have done and didnt make it right? I just think if he is going to through around his lies God should be aware.
I am sure God knows. We have all been bamboozled.
If you want the facts these 2 sites have it you need to go to joyce currens facebook recall Sheriff Don Lowery or go to NoMoreSheriffLowery’s facebook site. Look for the video and post this is real fokes. When will this man stop. Can you say Sheriff Don Lowery Broke the law. How can anyone from the Sheriff’s office feel safe in voicing there opinion? How many of you are worried of signing and retaliation happening? TAKE A STAND…..
Its strange how, if there were so many reasons for this Recall before it was started, why the Recall committee is focusing so much of their attention on things that happened AFTER the petition was taken out. Based on the comments on the two facebook pages, they also have little understanding on what they are talking about.
The Sheriff did not break the law by firing the VIP. VIPs are “AT WILL” positions. They can be terminated for any reason the Sheriff (or Mayor, or any other leader in the government) wants. Its the same reason that Towns can Hire and Fire Police Chiefs so easily, they are all At Will. Whether you agree with the firing or not, he had the legal power to do it.
Wasn’t Paterson being Undersheriff one of the reasons for the Recall? Now that Paterson is gone, the Recall committee is complaining THAT he is gone? Shouldn’t they be happy if he was fired, or resigned, or whichever it was? Administrators spending time on Admin Leave prior to termination is common and happens everywhere in the country. Its just more proof this is a personal vendetta against the Sheriff. Nothing he can say or do will make the Recall committee happy. Will make it so much more satisfying when the Recall fails, either by lack of signatures or when Lowery wins the Recall election itself.
With so much “proof” and “documentation” why not just scan them as a PDF and put them up on the web? Rather than saying “Come into my store!” or “Go to the Board of Supervisors” Only the people who already dislike Lowery are going to take time out of their days (during business hours no less, when most people work) to do that. You must not want him out THAT badly if you are telling people to do their own research and legwork, when it would only take a couple hours for you get get the docs and put them on the web.
If you really want to change minds and win people over, make these documents easily accessible on the net. Its not difficult to do in the year 2010.
Should you get the signatures, I hope you have ONE good candidate lined up to run against him. Because if 3 or 4 people run, like in every past Recall this county ever had, the Anti-Lowery vote will be split and the Sheriff will win easily.
I shouldn’t be giving you guys advice on how to succeed, but I’m fairly confident that egos and “I wanna be Sheriff” attitudes will get in the way of any winning Recall Strategy.
[...] has only done this recall to please her daughter in law. Lets be honest
To rivergal maybe people would respect YOU if you used your real name [....]. Lets see when you were talking about [...] and the recall to other Town of Parker employees did you break policy like they said [...] did. Just so you have your facts straight this recall was started by Joyce Curren it wasnt until after it got going that Tammy jumped in and she shows her support she isnt hidding anything at all. Maybe you should get your facts straight before you start trash talking and I think that maybe we should file a complaint that you on tax payers dime are trash talking a Town of Parker employees wife.
Better days are ahead indeed when we pull our heads ouf of the hole in the sand! Who’s Tammy and Daniel Hiatt?
CommonnonSense, it’s obvious your completely out of touch. First, Paterson was told he was fired and given thirty days to find a job. I have worked for three Law Enforcement Agencies and I can tell you from experience, that’s not the way it’s done. This termination was obviously something Lowery didn’t want to do. So what does he do to save face? He puts the burden on the taxpayers. I could almost see how he did it. “I’m sorry Rick, but I can’t get you out of this one, but what I can do is give you thirty days to find a job”. Patersons monthly pay was approximately 6,700 per month, so once again we are paying for Lowery to retain his friendships with these [..] cops. Oh and by the way, lets not forget Lowery hand picked Paterson. Hmmmmmm birds of a feather, flock together. [...] Maybe we can all go back to work. For those of you that are feeling the way I am, we only have two more years. Lowery won’t get reelected! Juat hand in there and don’t give them any reason to fire you. Lowery has made it quite clear it’s about him and not the Department. If you don’t like him, don’t let anyone know. Keep your thoughts to yourself, do your work, don’t say anything to any cop who works in Admin. If they are in Admin they were put there for a reason. Whatever you do don’t say anything to the Detectives, I have learned to stay quiet even when I see they are doing things wrong. Remember, the three Detectives [..] they have nothing to lose. Don’t think for one minute they won’t come after you!
These detectives must have so much power to scare everybody at the Sheriiff’s Office. Man they must be out of control. Why cant the Sheriff do anything about them?
The sheriff can’t and won’t do anything because he is a [...]. A [..] of the worst kind. Anyone who would throw their number one under the bus because a few people threaten him with a recall is really thin skinned
And in case you guys haven’t figured it out, Dan Field, John Drum and Holly Irwin are the ones orchestrating this recall. It’s not the christian lady at the book store. She is being used.
I’d have to say that “just the facts” is Joe E[..]! You know way too much about Lowery. Putting words into his mouth because he sure doesn’t know what to answer. Why don’t you concentrate of the fact that you were investigated about your [..] with [....]. [.........] What about those facts? Stop being so righteous and let people really know all your dirty secrets. Why you hiding out now? Lowery needs you to help him with this recall!
I have been an employee of this county for approximately 5 yrs. I have been a dispatcher for 3 1/2 of those years. I am DEEPLY offended that you are now talking badly on every employee of the Sheriff’s Dept saying no one who works here thinks of the citizens. The ONLY thank you’s me & my fellow co-workers get are from each other and believe it or not the same Sheriff you feel so strongly against! We come in here and do our job as scheduled and we think of the citizens FIRST and foremost. I dont come in here to make sure the Sheriff or his Admin like me or invite me to family BBQ’s. No, I come to work and do my job and it to the best of my capabilities. I pride myself on making sure our citizens & officers get the care, protection, and safety they deserve and have rights to. These officers put there lives at risk every day they put on a uniform that intemdiate those who break the law. They take a risk (no matter how small or high the precentage maybe) of not coming home to their families every night they check on for duty. So while you guys are bashing on our boss make sure you leave this staff that helps protect your county and has done nothing to you out of your slanders. WE do THINK and CARE about the citizens of this county no matter how they feel about us, why? Because its our job and we have pride in it.
And yes I put my name because I feel if you feel strongly enough about something then why hide it? All these nicknames are ridiculous. Im not saying Im against the recall or for it and if I did I know all the Pro Recallers will just scream “it doesnt matter your a Mohave resident now” So, what I am saying…dont say us Sheriff Department employees dont think about the citizens, because we do and if someone here doesnt then that one person doesnt mean we all don’t.
Your a little late John, deleting the names concerning “Really” just the facts!. (post) I believe you and this site are bordering on Slander and Defamation.
•Attacks on a person’s professional character or standing;
•Allegations that an unmarried person is unchaste;
•Allegations that a person is infected with a sexually transmitted disease;
•Allegations that the person has committed a crime of moral turpitude;
You seem like a bright person, and if you haven’t realized that these people are posting not because they have valid points to recall Sheriff Lowery but their dislike for certain persons within the Sheriff’s office.
Your site concerning the recall in general is a good thing but attacks on peoples character is unjust. What I find funny is that these people that are making comments about peoples character, which they blame Sheriff Lowery for, are employees that have worked for all the Sheriff’s since the inception of the this county. I guess they were good enough to work for the past sheriff’s but not Sheriff Lowery.
Let people make valid points about Sheriff Lowery, and why they want him gone. But to use this site to promote their “hatred” is just wrong.
County Employee, I couldn’t agree with you more that to use this site for hatred is wrong. We catch these things as soon as we can. Meantime it’s up to people who are being libeled to tell us so we can remove the posting, and as long as we do when they ask, we meet our legal obligations.
You seem to be suggesting I do more than that. Have you any suggestions on how to run this site better?
I suggest that post are approved before being posted. You cannot take back what was already written and observed this morning. The damage was done to both parties. I know you caught it and deleted it but thats like saying I will “shame” you but just for an 40 minutes then i will stop. That does not fix it. I would recommend if you can to review the post first then post. I believe other papers do that, it only makes sense.
Thanks for your quick response and i hope this site continues to grow.
I believe you have my email address if you would like to talk let me know…
Thanks for the suggestion. Such an action may be necessary, despite the rarity of these issues, even though it tends to have an impact on the quality of the conversation (we may not have time to review comments very quickly). Still under consideration. Thanks again
I think if people are posting then they should have the proof to back it up. We have tons of proof on the way to a town near you. Parker, Bouse, Salome, Wenden, Quartzsite, Cibola, Ehrenberg, Valley, Up River and any other area that I didnt remember, we have people in your area that will host meetings and if you wish to attend we are doing our best to get the true facts out there. Those of you that question the recall I challange you to attend I bet we can show you the real truth. We just want the lies and bad cops gone. We have the right to be protected and told the truth.
Better days ahead,
Name the time and the place and we will be there, But be careful about the truth, most people hate it and will turn on you for telling them the truth!
The facts will speak for themself and I will keep this site updated with the dates and times we will be in your area. Hang in there for those of you that want the truth and for those of you affraid. Be very afraid!!!!!
County Employee,
An absolute defense to your libel or slander rant is the “truth”, there is no libel unless you can find defamation. There is no defamation in these postings. Bloggers can write truth all day. I believe that you are really suggesting that John Wright try to filter the information on the posts to more of your liking to protect only your peeps.
I’ve posted this before and I’ll post it again. Rather than say “come to out meetings at a date, time, and location yet to be determined,” why not just make all this “proof” accessible online.
Scan the documents to a PDF file, post them on a website (there are PLENTY of cheap or free website hosting services out there.) BOOM, with a few hours work they are instantly available to everyone who doesn’t believe you. Its a simple, easy, and fast way to put your money where your mouth is. If the “proof” is so convincing, wouldn’t you want it immediately available to everyone? Yet, this hasn’t been done. Its all “you’ll see” or “we’re going to do this.”
Something tells me this “proof” will say nothing without a recall committeeman there to twist and spin the documents and their meaning. Its a good reason why they won’t make it available unless its at a Recall Station or meeting. Speculation, yes, but IMO a viable one.
Viable points mixed in with slander and some flat out lies. Accusations based on rumors, not proven facts. You can’t supplement viable arguments with rumors,half truths, and misrepresentation of facts. Even if its to serve what you believe to be the greater good.
If you pour dirt into a tasty cake mix, the final cooked cake will still taste like dirt (no matter how delicious the original mix was.)
To be clear, anything that is potentially libelous will be removed (just because we have no way of knowing and we consider it prudent to be proactive). But our only legal obligation is to remove libel on request; we actually do more than that and censor ahead. Basically, a good rule of thumb is be respectful of others’ feelings no matter what you think they’ve done, and keep names/personalities out of it… then we’ll be all good!
Smiles nailed it! And John will go along with County Employee because that goes along with what all media does in this county, FEEL GOOD FLUFF! Don’t want to say anything controversial because someone might get their feelings hurt! OR, controversy might disrupt the powers that be, God forbid that ever happens. We all know the powers that be have our best interest in mind, right? Removing stuff that is potentially libelous is another way of saying we aren’t going to work too hard at finding the truth around here.
Wow, recall them all is one angry person.Sad though, this person doesn’t have a clue! He or she goes off on rants that make no sense. I guess the best we can do for this person is say a prayer and hope he or she forgives the person who wronged them in the past.
Angry, yes! Sad no! I have already forgiven the misguided souls who know not the right things to do in this life, but I WILL NEVER FORGET. Say a prayer for yourself because you are going to need it!