Disappointed with office response

To the Editor:

In February 2013, our family fell victim to a phone scam, which resulted in a loss of $419.

I filed a police report with Brazil City. After filing the report, I called Western Union. They stated that if law enforcement called and filed a report, they would start the process to retrieve our funds.

I went back to Brazil City, gave them the information and contact number. They sent their report to the prosecutor's office.

To date, no one has informed me they have made a simple phone call.

In May, $1,597.43 of goods and services was stolen from my shop. The individual that committed theft by deception is an employee of the Sullivan County Emergency Management Agency.

This individual has a very long history of this type of criminal behavior.

I filed a report with Brazil City, gave them the information and they sent it to the prosecutor's office.

The following Monday, I spoke to the Chief of Brazil City and I informed him that I knew the prosecutor's office would not do anything.

This was due to other prior conflicts which had occurred.

He instructed me to call the prosecutor's office.

A few days later, I contacted the prosecutor's office. I was absolutely right.

I called the prosecutor's office and was informed that they were trying to locate him.

I stated that was a lie. They had motorcycle information, driver's license number and the plate of the vehicle they used to perpetrate the criminal act.

Then I was informed they were going to do some sort of check deferral program.

I told them they were not. I told the prosecutor's office that I knew my rights, and the prosecutor's office had no authority to exercise control over my property and to act as a credit agent.

All I wanted was my parts back.

I was going to take a hit on the labor.

The reason for that: This criminal's motorcycle would have been in parts and he would be in jail. That's all I wanted.

I contacted another prosecutor in another county and informed him of the situation. He then returned contacted and stated that he was appointed a special prosecutor in the case. Over a check?

I then demanded an honest answer as to why the Clay County Prosecutor would not do anything.

The response: "Because I bad mouth the Clay County Prosecutor's Office."

I may speak out against that prosecutor's office and their pattern of practice, but I'm only speaking what I believe to be the truth.

We have a constitutional right to speak out against government and their practices.

The last communication with that prosecutor, I was informed that more investigation had to be done to see if a crime had been committed.

Wait a minute. I have researched case law on the subject matter. I know what proper procedures for law enforcement should have been at this time. Due to the fact that the proper procedures were not followed, this criminal government employee was given enough time to dispose of the evidence.

I have already realized that theft of $2,000 in Clay County is not a crime.

If you are connected or a public servant, you have no right to speak out against the government, without retaliation.

If you expose corruption, you will be falsely arrested and maliciously prosecuted over an administrative error.

Isn't it wonderful to know that our rights are being protected and the laws are being enforced?

And we have quality public servants there to handle emergency situations.

Remember: Public safety is government's top priority.

Right!

Mark Bedwell,

Brazil