Responding to allegations that their coverage has been “biased” and that they have been simply “used” by the campaign of Sheriff candidate Chuck Wagner, KALB reported today that in the days following their initial report on politicking and intimidation in the Sheriff’s Department, they were “flooded” with phone calls from sheriff’s deputies opining on the story. (This link includes nearly 18 minutes of videotaped interviews with deputies speaking about intimidation tactics and the politicization of the department).
According to the report, KALB spent over two weeks investigating, during which time they received phone calls from over 30 employees corroborating the allegations that the department has become overrun with politics and that some individuals felt pressured to sign a list and donate $10 in support of candidate Mike Slocum in order to ensure their job security.
Of those 30 or so callers, KALB scheduled on-camera interviews with twelve of them; eventually, only five of them were willing to appear on-camera (and with the exception of Chief Detective Herman Walters, they all concealed their identities). KALB reports:
Once Walters agreed to meet in secret and go on camera, the flow of information began to open up and sheriff’s deputies called into our newsroom to give their opinions. Walters says the reason he went public with his opinions about RPSO employees being pressured was to signal to other deputies with less service time they could trust News Channel 5 and speak freely.
Almost immediately after the Walters interview was conducted the appointments began with deputies reaching out to discuss the matter. In some instances during this three day period the level of fear over filming these interviews was so great the location had to be changed several times.
Over thirty calls were fielded, and twelve interviews were set up. Only five were actually conducted on camera as the majority of the other interviews backed out at the last minute fearing retribution.
Major Slocum has called these allegations “absolutely ridiculous,” while Sheriff William Earl Hilton, who endorsed Slocum early on, was a little more direct and specific. He accused Detective Walters, who is apparently a childhood friend, of being a “nervous” and “paranoid” man and placed the blame for these reports squarely on the shoulders of the Wagner campaign. He also stated that he has no problem with on-duty deputies passing around a petition in support of Slocum, yet, when asked if he had any evidence of Wagner supporters politicking on duty, Hilton said that he did not, but if he did, ironically, he claimed he would investigate and “deal with that.”
When Michele Godard interviewed with Sheriff Hilton, she revealed that before airing the initial report, candidate Mike Slocum told her, “If you air this report and I win, which I will win, this news department will only receive information through a lawyer.”
Isn’t this the same type of intimidation with which he is being accused? What is going on here?
CenLamar 
Lamar,
I would also like to add that there has been some question as to why the Town Talk has not reported on this issue. I spoke with Abby Brown and she tells me she has not received a single call about alleged intimidation in the sheriff’s office. I explained to her that after the first call to our newsroom I worked hard build trust with the sources of information and assured them their identities would not be revealed unless they gave me approval. I explained to her that it is unusual to hide the identity of those we interview but in this case, it was necessary. Abby tells me the Town Talk has a policy against anonymous sources. I doubt she will get interviews if they cannot assure the RPSO employees they will not reveal their identities, as it is possible they would be fired or reassigned for speaking out.
The emails continue to come in with people saying either they are employees of the department or family members or that pressuring deputies to support a particular candidate or cause the sheriffs picks is standard operating procedure.
Michele,
I suppose if The Town Talk had been approached by W. Mark Felt (a.k.a. “Deep Throat”), we may never have known about Watergate. Good investigative journalism sometimes relies on the use of protected sources. These people are not “anonymous;” they are protected. I think there is an important difference.
(By the way, I just want to say this after reading the TT forums last tonight).
To “RobBobb” on the TT forums: I do not implant links to my blog on the TT. I have no idea who is posting links, though I am appreciative of their readership.
I have read the threads in which you accuse someone who linked to this site as being me and then, for some reason, you accost your fictionalized personification of me for being self-serving. Well, “RobBobb,” I had nothing to do with those links, and I do not write on the TT forums; I just read them. Considering you are one of the two people who I personally believe insulted the physically disabled by publicly “dreaming up” the vast potential of commercialized exploitation, perhaps it is more convenient for you to deflect criticism by accusing anyone who would cite this blog as being “me,” but these accusations are simply untrue and intentionally evasive.
Sorry to disappoint you, “RobBobb.” I am not linking to my own blog on the TT’s unmoderated forum, and I do not know who is linking to this blog. You’re lying.
(This sheriff’s race election is one of the worst. It seems as if bullets are flying on both sides, and those of us who just want answers end up caught in the crossfire).
Michele,
I am sure that the Wagner camp was most appreciative of the generous donation made to his campaign on behalf of your husband.
I am not an original native and know neither of the candidates; however, the fact that the Clown Talk has endorsed Slocum will ensure that I vote for Wagner.