1/4/12 Ogden Shootings Update: A Couple of New Editorial Pieces

Editorial utterings on the "citizens right to know," and "a strong pitch for dialing down demands upon law enforcement officers"

Here are a couple more items in our WCF 1/4/12 Ogden Shootings series:

First, this morning's Standard-Examiner main editorial, wherein the editorial board urges, among other things, that law enforcement authorities ratchet up the flow of public information, arguing that "[i]t is extremely important, as well as the public's right, to know exactly what occurred at the raid, what the injuries are, and what is gathered at a reported "massive" crime scene":

• OUR VIEW: Mourning our loss

Of course we already opined on this issue on 1/9/12:

Our view here at Weber County Forum? If the Weber County Attorney is intent to release information regarding this case, they should release ALL of it, or alternatively, nothing at all. Additionally we hope that local law enforcement investigators and County Attorney Smith will now expand their investigations to identify and punish those "sources close to the investigation" who seem hell-bent to "try this case in the public press."

The prospect of fully disseminating the evidence in re this investigation is of course is a double-edged sword. The more evidence that's released of course, the greater the risk of contaminating the local jury pool. Considering the volume of speculative (and mostly incriminating) information that's already been floating around, we're already having our doubts whether the suspect, Mr. Stewart, will ever be able to get a fair trial anywhere in or around Ogden, given the truly circus-like atmosphere which has developed in the 11 days since this tragic incident occurred. On the other hand, a full release of information would inevitably produce exculpatory evidence, as it already has actually has, now that the we're learning that the suspect was not armed with an AK-47, and that in truth, no "bomb" was discovered on Stewart's premises, contrary to earlier rumors and "reports."

Whatever the Weber County District Attorney does, however he should 1) clamp down on the "leaks" which suspiciously appear to be coming from investigation insiders, and 2) fully consult with Mr. Stewart's defense counsel, Mr. Richards, to reduce the possibility that any further public release of information won't result in a change of venue motion, which would surely operate to the detriment and considerable increased expense of prosecutors and defense counsel alike.

Yes, the public does have "a right to know." That collective right however does not... and should not override the defendant's right to a fair trial in this matter.

Second, we'll direct our readers' attention to a thoughtful op-ed piece appearing this morning on the Salt Lake Tribune website:

• Pyle: America is hooked on a deadly anti-drug drug

Here's the concluding paragraph of Mr. Pyle's column, wherein he make a strong pitch for dialing down the demands upon "[law enforcement] officers who carry out the battlefield tactics of the drug war":

When we demand that our government cease its futile efforts to put an end to drug abuse in this violent manner, it must not be because we don’t honor men like Jared Francom. It must be because we do.

Regardless of how the facts ultimately shake out, we do believe that law enforcement authorities and legislators need to re-examine tactics and laws which amount to "sledge-hammer solutions to fly-swatter problems."

Nobody's life should ever be put at risk for a "pot bust," in our view.

That's our take; and we're stickin' with it.

And what about you?

Saturday Morning Ogden City News Roundup

Everything our Gentle Readers ever needed to know about "Crime Blimps," "Back Door Godfrey Deals" and "Unruly Concert Audiences"

Several non Ogden Shooting Story items for our readers' attention, as we meander back to our main blog mission this morning, i.e., discussing "regular," nonviolent Ogden City news:

1) With reference to a couple of earlier Standard-Examiner-published pieces, i.e., "OUR VIEW: Deflated blimp," and "Crime center, blimp will provide safer community"; and acting on the tip from yet another sharp-eyed and alert Weber County Forum reader, we'll shine the WCF spotlight on yet another letter to the editor which just popped up on the Standard's online site, wherein Ogden resident David Willis puts on the full court press for the restoration of the now abandoned "'Quiet Earp' Blimp Project", and hammers the Standard-Examiner (and Ogden City Hall) rather unmercifully. Here are a few short snippets, for your reading pleasure:

What I find "curious" is that the cabal that makes up the editorial board and Caldwell are not well read enough to understand what is happening in this area of police work, they seem to have no knowledge on these matters yet comment and make policy, making Ogden less safe. The secret editorial board writes position pieces having zero research, zero knowledge of the repercussions, zero accountability and zero intellectual curiosity.

I refer you to my letter published Aug. 7, 2011, "Crime center, blimp will provide safer community." As I wrote then and as I write now, the newspaper is destructive and dangerous to the future of Ogden. Furthermore, the paper is a disgrace for again advocating and trying to justify reducing the tools available to the police, especially in light of recent events.

The Standard-Examiner has been and perhaps city hall will become, a place where logic is an enemy and truth is a menace.

Check out the full David Willis rant:

• Paper's view 'disgraceful' regarding blimp idea

We don't know what to make of all this. So what about it WCF readers? Are folks like Mr. Willis unappreciated visionaries, or merely leftover Boss Godfrey era crackpots?

2) In the wake of our 1/2/12 WCF article, and Dan Schroeder's most excellent 1/3/12 S-E guest op-ed piece, we'll direct our readers' attention to this wisdom-laden Jim Bishop Letter to the Editor, which which makes a couple of strong recommendations to our new mayor, Mike Caldwell:

I recommend that the new mayor do two things: Return the $3,000 from Mr. Lesham and keep the back door to his office closed to the former mayor. Make him come in the front door like any other citizen.

Read Mr. Bishop's full letter here, which is a pretty good read in our view:

• Ogden should make no back-door deals with Godfrey

Jim Bishop's a man who knows what he's talkin' about, don'tcha think?

3) Last but not least, here's another set of interesting WCF reader-submitted links, received via email a couple of days ago, prefaced by this brief introductory text:

I thought you should be aware of this story, because of the recent discussion at WCF about the disturbance at WSU's performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Alan Gilbert of the New York Philharmonic halted a performance last night after a cell phone went off. I think Dr. Palumbo is in good company.

Here are the links, for which we thank our un-named reader benefactor:

• Mahler, Interrupted
• The Philharmonic and the Phone

We'll also add that we fully concur with our unnamed gentle reader/tipster. The unfairly maligned Dr. Palumbo is indeed in the very best of company; and for the record, we'll go further and opine that the considerable heat that this no-nonsense "volunteer" conductor, Dr. Palumbo, took over this unfortunate incident were both mean-spirited and entirely undeserved.

Those are our takes... and we're stickin' with 'em.

We'd be curious to know, however, what our ever-savvy WCF readers think about all this.

1/4/12 Ogden Shootings Update: Affidavit: Shooter Said He'd 'Go Out in a Blaze of Glory'

We'll continue to play the role of a news story aggregator and keep rounding up these stories and planting them on WCF's front page, however, so our readers won't have to hunt them down themselves

As a followup to yesterday's news, the Standard carries in its hard-copy edition front page an expanded story this morning, together with two interesting companion pieces which add background to the facts which continue to develop in the 1/4/12 Ogden Shootings case:

• Affidavit: Shooter said he'd 'go out in a blaze of glory'
• Dispatcher kept her cool in the heat of a shootout
• Jail inmates say Francom made a positive difference in their lives

Although the latter story refers to a letter to the editor to the editor submitted to the Standard by "a small group of female Weber County Jail inmates" who offer "special praise for Jared Francom," weirdly enough the letter doesn't seem to be yet available for viewing on the S-E site.

And here's another interesting and timely background piece from the Salt Lake Tribune, wherein regular Trib contributor Joseph Campbell reveals that "board members of the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists sent a letter to Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham asking court administrators to review rules governing access to search warrants."

• Campbell: Search-warrant secrecy limits public oversight

"Journalists say warrant rules are too vague, leading judges to seal records for trivial reasons. The rules also make warrants nearly impossible to unseal," according to Nate Carlisle, Tribune crime reporter and SPJ board member.

We'll continue to play the role of a news story aggregator and keep rounding up these stories and planting them on WCF's front page, however, so our readers won't have to hunt them down themselves.

Update 1/14/12 8:15 a.m.: One sharp-eyed and alert regular WCF Reader who goes by the handle Howee took the trouble to send us a short email this morning, which includes a link to a KSL story and video on this topic:

• Matthew Stewart being charged with capital murder

Howee remarks that he "Can’t wait to hear both sides of the story," to which we'll offer our retort, "We couldn't be in more agreement."

Breaking: Matthew Stewart Charged With Aggravated Murder

So much for the rumors however that Stewart had been armed with a dreaded AK-47

Breaking news in the 1/4/12 Ogden Shooting story.

Here's the lede from the Standard-Examiner's 5:30 p.m. story:

OGDEN -- The Weber County Attorney's Office has charged Matthew David Stewart with aggravated murder and eight other felonies in connection with the shooting last week that killed Ogden Police Officer Jared Francom and wounded five other officers.

Read the full S-E story here:

• Stewart charged with aggravated murder

There's more from the Salt Lake Tribune's Nate Carlisle:

• Charges filed in Ogden police shootings

The gist of it? Weber County Attorney Dee Smith reportedly alleges, among other things, that the suspect, Matthew David Stewart, " fired on police "from a concealed position at close range with a Beretta 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and that, according to the affidavit supporting the arrest warrant that Stewart's actions were premeditated, as set forth in this hearsay paragraph:

17. Since the shooting of January 4, 2012 officers investigating this case have learned that the defendant had previously made statements to an acquaintance during the summer of 2011 that if police attempted to stop the maijuana [sic] cultivation he would "go out in a blaze of glory and shoot to kill."

We'll continue to update this story as the situation develops.

So much for the rumors however that Stewart had been armed with a dreaded AK-47, with a thirty-round magazine, however.

Ogden Shootings Story Update: Three New Items From The Standard-Examiner

Congrats to the Standard, as it continues to keep on top of this fast-developing story

Three more new 1/4/12 Ogden Shootings related items appear this morning's Standard-Examiner online edition, the first two of which are also carried on the front page of this morning's hard-copy edition:

1) Encouraging news from Weber County Sheriff Terry Thompson:

• Strike force analyzes shootings for lessons in tactics, training

Many lumpencitizens have been wondering on public message boards, and various other places all over the nation, how a simple pot bust could have resulted in anyone's death; so it's reassuring to learn that Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force policies and tactics will soon be subject to an intelligent re-examination. Rather than to adopt new procedures which might escalate the level of violence in future police/suspect encounters. we'll be keeping our fingers crossed that the Strike Force Board of Directors will "learn from" this tragic experience, and formulate new practices which are in greater conformity with an ethos placing a high value on the protection of human life.

2) Disheartening news for all concerned in re this tragic incident:

• Rounkles condition downgraded to serious

Out thoughts and prayers go out to OPD Officer Rounkles this morning. We're already hearing about the prospective filing of one aggravated murder charge in connection with this incident, which is one death penalty case too many, in our view.

3) As the story develops, the Standard offers this letter to the editor from one disgruntled reader, who hyperbolically complains that "[t]he state's propaganda machine that bestows police the 'hero' title is no different that the North Korean propaganda machine that called Kim Jong-il the supreme leader, and the funerals were similar":

• Cop's funeral like that of Kim Jong-il

We're sure that S-E Editor Doug Gibson was well aware that the publication of this letter would stir up a hornet's nest, which is exactly what's happening in the S-E lower comments section, of course.

Congrats to the Standard, as it continues to keep on top of this fast-developing story, particularly with regard to our beloved home town newspaper's obvious commitment toward publishing material expressing even politically unpopular points of view.

That's it for now.

The floor's open for your comments, folks.

Thursday Morning Ogden City News Roundup

A few recent news items, thrown out in the hope of getting a new discussion going this morning

Although we've been somewhat sidelined here at Weber County Forum by this week's tragic 1/4/11 Ogden Shootings story, we suppose it's time to get back into the regular "red meat news" swing of things, and resume our role as community watchdog for all things political, in and around Weber County. So here are a few recent news items, which we'll throw out in the hope of getting a new discussion going this morning:

1) Interesting article on the Standard-Examiner's business page this morning, reporting, that as a followup to Tuesday's RDA session, wherein the the Ogden City Council approved a parking lease agreement between the city and the successor developer of the Earnshaw Building Condo Project, we now learn that the subject parking lot will be turned over to the new developer, Steve Hopkins... get this... rent free.

We are not making this up, folks. Here's the key paragraph from this morning's S-E story:

While the city won’t be getting rent from the deal, Richard McConkie, the city’s community and economic development director, said the city figures that the property tax revenue generated by a completed building would increase the tax increment available to the city by as much as $200,000 annually through 2026.

Read the full S-E story here:

• Ogden leases garage space to condo

Well, at least the beleaguered Ogden City taxpayers will be getting something out of this "sweetheart" developer deal, right? It's a lot better for the taxpayers than Ogden's last couple of parking lot giveaway deals, no?

Seems that around Ogden City, the more things change, the more they remain the same, dunnit?

2) Here's something we received by email yesterday from another alert WCF reader:

MAYORAL FAVORS: Yesterday I heard a bunch of pissed off people talking about Kym and Pete taking over the welcome wagon. A gal that was running it was wondering why rent is half of what she'd been paying, and why do they get the equipment etc., for "free"?

The reference to the "welcome wagon" refers to last week's Wasatch Rambler column of course, wherein Charlie Trentelman reported that "Pete Buttschardt, owner of Rooster’s and Union Grill, is making extremely positive noises about taking [the Tourist Welcome Center's Choo-Choo's Cafe] over."

While Mr. and Mrs. Buttschard did make a small ($150) donation to Mike Caldwell's 2011 mayoral campaign, we're not ready yet to suggest that Mayor Caldwell would on that basis alone give them preferential treatment; although we'll nevertheless be keeping a close eye on this situation, of course, and would welcome any further detailed "insider" information that any of our Gentle Readers may be able to provide, regarding The Caldwell Administration's efforts to to enter into contract with a new cafe operator.

3) Here's the latest S-E Op-ed contribution from Alan Hall, wherein Ogden's own "Captain of Industry" discusses "how to grow our local economy" and "add more people to the area workforce":

• Careful and thoughtful cost cutting needed in down economy

After several earlier columns which were outright "snoozers," it's nice to see Mr. Hall finally launching into a topic where he has actual real-world expertise, we suppose.

4) And here's a thoughtful commentary from Weber County Democrat Steve Olson, who comments on the politically ridiculous Jon Greiner situation and also makes a strong and well-reasoned pitch to his "Republican friends" regarding the "need to respect the nation's conflict of interest laws, even if they disagree with them":

• Greiner forged ahead because he disagreed with law

As a lifelong registered Republican (full disclosure here) we'll give Mr. Olson a definite thumbs up on this one. And what say my fellow liberty loving fellow Republicans about this?

That's it for now, O Gentle Ones. We do have a couple of additional items remaining on the WCF back burner, but we'll save them for later this week.

Have at it, WCF readers. The world-wide webosphere is sitting on the edge of its seat, waiting to hear what you think.

Standard-Examiner: "Celebrating a Life Lived Big"

Don't neglect to view the new embedded videos

In its continuing reporting on the 1/4/12 Ogden Shootings story series, bearing the major headline, "Celebrating a life lived 'big'", this morning's Standard-Examiner front page is plastered with post-funeral service stories, which we'll reel off below:

• Francom remembered for his humor, love of life (Includes video)
• Community honors policeman's ultimate sacrifice
• Thousands of people, flags line officer's funeral procession route

The Salt Lake Tribune gets in on the reporting too:

• Thousands attend funeral of slain Ogden police officer (video)

Don't neglect to view the videos which are embedded in the above-linked writeups.

Standard-Examiner: Officer's Funeral Today - UPDATED

Rest in Peace, Officer Jared Francom

Here are today's Standard-Examiner stories covering the 1/4/12 Ogden Shootings topic this morning, for the benefit of those readers who are closely following this still-developing story, or attending this morning's funeral:

• Thousands to pay tribute to slain Ogden officer today
• Volunteers tie ribbons to show support for slain officer's family
• SE Funeral Photo Gallery - Update 6:42 p.m.

Gotta confess the capable crew in the S-E "content center" (news room) is keepin' your blogmeister on his toes.

In accordance with the order of Governor Gary Herbert, we'll be flying the flag half-mast in our right sidebar today.

Rest in Peace, Officer Jared Francom.

Update 1/11/12 11:38 a.m.: This is pretty cool. Various folks, including some from the Northern Utah news media, are in attendance at the funeral/memorial service, twittering their live tweets:

• Results for #Francomfuneral

Update 1/11/12 4:25 p.m.: Absolutely no introductory description is necessary for this, now that OPD Officer Francom has been laid to rest:

Remembering Ogden City Police Officer/Agent Jared Francom

Here's one last, final epitaph from Weber County Forum, however:
“Good-night sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Ogden Shootings Story Update: The Latest From the Northern Utah Print Media

We'll be sure to provide updates throughout the day, in the event that there's more breaking news

Here's the latest from the Standard-Examiner, which continues to do a "bang-up" job reporting on the still-developing 1/4/12 Ogden Shootings story:

• Weber County attorney: Crime scene 'massive'
• Signs of shooting remain at Ogden home
• Foundation plans to financially aid fallen officers
• Crime Scene Photo Gallery

The Standard also provides a video of yesterday's Dee Smith press conference, which we embed below for your viewing convenience:


And here's a new story from the Salt Lake Tribune:

• Prosecutors plan to seek death penalty in Ogden shootout

With reference to yesterday's Standard-Examiner story, the above-linked Christopher Smart story includes this interesting paragraph and quote:

Earlier Monday, Brad Beyersdorf, public information officer for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, confirmed that bomb technicians detonated "explosive materials" or components found inside Stewart’s house Saturday. Beyersdorf did not specify what was found but said that "to characterize it as a bomb or device is not accurate at this time."

It would thus appear that the Standard's Mr. Gurrister needs to be a mite more careful with his "anonymous" sources, don'tcha think?

In connection with tomorrow's funeral/memorial service, we received an email from one of our sharp-eyed and alert readers, who refers to two internal WSU memos helpfully suggesting that WSU students and Harrison Boulevard commuters would be wise to plan in advance tomorrow, and consider alternate routes and campus parking arrangements:

• WSU Jared Francom Memorial Event Memos

That's it for now O Gentle Ones. We'll be sure to provide updates throughout the day, in the event that there's more breaking news in re this story.

In the meantime, don't be shy about throwing in your own 2¢.

Update 1/10/12 10:02 a.m.: As an added bonus this morning, here's a "chewy" blog article from Libertarian Salt Lake lawyer Andrew McCullough, who's "gearing up to run for Utah Attorney General":

• War on Drugs hits home

Mr. McCullough pretty much "nails it," wethinks.

Standard-Examiner: Ogden Council to Hear Streetcar Input Tonight

Here's a quick heads up concerning tonight's Ogden City Council work session, where a discussion of the Streetcar Project is on the agenda. In this connection, the Standard-Examiner carries a Mitch Shaw story this morning, from which we'll incorporate the lede:

OGDEN -- The great Ogden streetcar debate is set to heat up again. The Ogden City Council will hold a special fact-finding work session tonight to discuss the viability of a streetcar project in the city.
The meeting will be held in the council chambers at the Ogden Municipal Building, 2549 Washington Blvd., immediately following the city's regular council meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.

Here's the full SE story:

• Ogden council to hear streetcar input tonight

For the highly detail-oriented among us, we provide a separate announcement from the Ogden City Council staff, and tonight's work session packet:

• Fact Finding Work Session Scheduled To Discuss Ogden Streetcar Project
• 01/10 City Council Work Session Packet

We'll leave the lights on of course in the lower comments section, for anyone who'd like to lodge their remarks or reports before, during or after tonight's meeting.

Update 1/10/12 6:25 p.m.: Dan S. is now live blogging from the City Council Chambers (wethinks).

Update 1/11/12 7:30 a.m.: The Standard carries the post council work session story:

OGDEN -- The likelihood of securing federal funding remains one of the biggest issues in bringing a streetcar system to Ogden.At a special work session held after Tuesday night's Ogden City Council meeting, an independent consultant hired by the city said while the federal funding landscape is unpredictable, the Ogden project would stack up well against other projects around the nation competing for the same funding.

Read the full story here:

• Adviser: Plan local funding, but federal money likely for Ogden streetcar

Salt Lake Tribune: Ex-police Chief Gets Severance, While Insurer Pays Ogden’s Legal Fees

Legal fees to defend Greiner: $293,000

Submitted by: Dan Schroeder

Blockbuster update to yesterday's Weber County Forum story from Chris Smart over at the Trib. The legal fees to defend against the Hatch Act accusation cost the city's insurer $293,000:

• Ex-police chief gets severance, while insurer pays Ogden’s legal fees

And according to a Standard-Examiner article from April 2010, the city will eventually have to reimburse all of that money:

The Utah Risk Management Mutual Association, the city's insurance carrier, is paying Jim Bradshaw, a lawyer defending Greiner, and Stan Preston, an attorney representing the city administration. However, as part of URMMA's recapture loss program, the city will be required to fully reimburse the organization for defense costs, Patterson said. For each year that Bradshaw and Preston provide legal representation, he said, the city will be given five years to repay URMMA.

So it would have been cheaper to just pay the $215,000 fine than to fight this. Of course, Mayor "John Paul Jones" Godfrey always prefers to fight.

Standard-Examiner: Shooting Suspect Had Bomb

We're hoping that local law enforcement investigators and County Attorney Smith will now expand their investigations to identify and punish those "sources close to the investigation" who seem hell-bent to "try this case in the public press"

Disturbing Tim Gurrister story in this morning's Standard-Examiner, quoting a "source close to the [1/4/12 Ogden Shootings] investigation speaking on condition of anonymity" that Weber Crime Scene Investigation unit technicians came across the bomb in a closet of [suspect Matthew David Stewart's] home, and that the same investigators "...also found a picture of the suspect dressed as a terrorist... posing in a suicide bomber's vest.":

• Shooting suspect had bomb

And why do we consider this story to be disturbing? Because in the early stages of the investigation, wherein all investigators are operating under strict policy to keep their mouths shut, some anonymous source close to the investigation has now gone straight to the public press and released highly inflammatory information which is plainly designed to pollute the local jury pool.

Even more disturbing is Mr. Gurrister's report that "[a] news release on the incident is expected today from the Weber County Attorney's Office."

As to the latter, we'll welcome whatever information we can get from Dee Smith's office, so long as information-wise, law enforcement authorities don't "cherry pick." In the Standard's main article, and down in the lower comments section, in the midst of a story where law enforcement officials have been unusually tight-lipped, we're only only getting discussion of the incriminating information which as been leaked; and thus the lumpencitizens are already uttering words such as "demonize" and "cover-up" and "independent FBI investigation."

Don't forget we live in the United States of America folks, where the suspect, Mr. Stewart, is entitled to the presumption of innocence, and more than a "showcase" trial. Given the manner that the incriminating evidence is being "leaked" however, that's something which Mr. Stewart foreseeably might not get.

Our view here at Weber County Forum? If the Weber County Attorney is intent to release information regarding this case, they should release ALL of it, or alternatively, nothing at all. Additionally we hope that local law enforcement investigators and County Attorney Smith will now expand their investigations to identify and punish those "sources close to the investigation" who seem hell-bent to "try this case in the public press."

That's our take and we're stickin' with it.

So what say our gentle readers about all this?

Standard-Examiner: Greiner Severance Package Totals $77,300

Sodden Reader Query: Did the concerted acts of both Greiner and Boss Godfrey paint incoming Mayor Mike Caldwell so deeply into a corner that Caldwell has no alternative but to "go along" with what some might characterise as Greiner's Golden parachute?

This morning's Standard-Examiner is running a story this morning which is bound to give fiscally frugal Ogden City taxpayers heartburn, as Scott Schwebke reports that one of the final acts of the Boss Godfrey administration was the awarding of a $77,300 severance package to Chief Greiner, who was "fired from his job last month because of a federal Hatch Act violation." Here's the lede:

OGDEN -- Former Police Chief Jon Greiner, who was fired from his job last month because of a federal Hatch Act violation, will receive a severance package from the city with a gross value of $77,300.
The package stems from a settlement agreement Greiner and former Mayor Matthew Godfrey signed Dec. 30, according to records obtained by the Standard-Examiner.
The payout equals six months of Greiner's salary and accrued health, dental, vacation, vehicle and retirement benefits.
In exchange for the severance package, Greiner has released the city from any future legal claims.
The severance package given to Greiner is standard for all city department directors, Mayor Mike Caldwell said.

Check out the full story here:

• Greiner severance package totals $77,300

At least one of our WCF readers was earlier wondering why Greiner's involuntary termination might entitle him to a severance pay package, inasmuch as he was "fired for cause," i.e., "because of a federal Hatch Act violation."

Being the curious type, and intrigued by our gentle reader's query, we "googled" the underlying rules, of course.

Turning to the Ogden City Code, we find that the provisions governing Ogden City employee "Classification and Pay Plans" are governed by Ogden City Code Section 2-6-9.

The rules for the denial of of severance pay benefits to "involuntarily terminated" Ogden City employee are spelled out in Subsection F.

It does seem to us that there is one provision within that subsection which might operate to prohibit the payment of a severance package to Chief Greiner, although it's a mite thin, in our view:

3. Prohibition: Severance pay shall not be paid to an otherwise eligible employee who:
a. Has been terminated or requested to resign under bona fide charges of nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance in office

The terms nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance are technical "words of art"of course. Click the links below for some commonly-used general definitions:

• Nonfeasance
• Misfeasance
• Malfeasance

So what about it Gentle readers? When you apply the above general definitions and principles of law to the facts of the Greiner Hatch Act problem, can an valid argument be made that Greiner's severence package is prohibited by the Ogden City Code, due to acts of nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance on Greiner's part? In ignoring the demands of the federal Office of Special Council in 2006 to either drop out of his State Senate race, or alternatively to resign his office as Ogden's Chief of Police, did Greiner wilfully or negligently breach a duty owed to his employer, Ogden City, to refrain from a course of action which would jeopardise Ogden City's federal grant funding? Did Greiner's good-faith exercise of what we've called on WCF the Richard Perkins defense (Ogden's Hatch Act Compliance Program) operate as an excuse for his failure to heed the OSC's warnings? Did Ogden City's failure to fire Greiner early on, and instead to cooperatively join with Greiner in his Hatch Act litigation obviate any argument that Greiner acted in a manner which could deny him a severance package? Is Boss Godfrey's eleventh hour agreement to a severance "payout [which] equals six months of Greiner's salary and accrued health, dental, vacation, vehicle and retirement benefits" anything more than the last minute looting of the Ogden City treasury, or did the concerted acts of both Greiner and Boss Godfrey paint incoming Mayor Mike Caldwell so deeply into a corner that Caldwell has no alternative but to "go along" with what some might characterize as Greiner's Golden Parachute? Is Greiner's severance pay award just another example of Godfrey's fast-collapsing "House of Cards," which we wrote about yesterday?

So many questions... so few answers...

Who'll be the first to toss in their own 2¢?

Nothing better than a little mental exercise to clear out the Monday morning mental cobwebs, right?

Standard-Examiner: Recent Windstorm Blows Ogden Cafe Owner Into a New Life

Sodden query: Will Mayor Caldwell be hog-tied "fighting fires" such as the looming Choo-Choo's Kafe "bailout," as Boss Godfrey's precariously assembled financial "house of cards" finally starts tumbling down?

Disappointing news this morning concerning Choo-Choo’s Kafe, at Ogden's Dining Car/Tourist Welcome Center. As long-term WCF readers will recall, the Tourist Welcome Center project landed the previous mayoral administration in embarrassing political hot water back in 2009, when the Ogden City Council caught the Godfrey Administration red-handed, "[secretly] dipping into an internal services fund account within the city's Fleet and Facilities Department" to the tune of an extra $80 thousand, and spending these funds on Dining Car/Tourist Info Center overages," which jacked up the cost of the project from the originally Council-allocated $34,501 to a whopping $115,000.

Sadly, the cafe's current proprietor, Jeanie Ortiz, is shutting the restaurant down, according to this morning's Wasatch Rambler column:

• Recent windstorm blows Ogden cafe owner into a new life

"Not to worry," columnist Trentelman "hasten[s] to add." "The restaurant will not go away. Pete Buttschardt, owner of Rooster’s and Union Grill, is making extremely positive noises about taking it over," Trentelman reports.

Further down the column, Mr. Trentelman provides this:

Richard Brookins, the city facilities manager, said he’s in active talks with Buttschardt to take over the cafe, “and the city does intend to keep it open in the interim.”

In this connection, WCF reader and frequent contributor Dan S. raises several pertinent questions in the comments section beneath this morning's Trentelman column, relating to this now-floundering Godfrey-legacy city project:

How exactly will the city "keep it open in the interim"? How much will it cost the city, and which department's budget will it come out of?

The "devil's always in the details" of course, isn't it? And frankly, we're more than a mite surprised that the normally perspicacious Mr. Trentelman didn't ask these obvious questions himself.

So what about it, O Gentle Ones? Is the looming Choo-Choo's Kafe "bailout" the first of a long line of financially shaky Godfrey Administration legacy projects which will unduly preoccupy the attention of the City Council and the new Caldwell Mayoral Administration in the days and months to come? Will Mayor Caldwell be in a position to effectively initiate his own agenda, now that he's been sworn in and assumes the reins of city government administration? Or will Mayor Caldwell be hog-tied "fighting fires" such as this, as Boss Godfrey's precariously assembled "house of cards" finally starts tumbling down?

Who'll be the first to throw in their 2¢?

Standard-Examiner: Funeral Set for Officer

“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Mark your calenders, folks. As a followup to this week's blockbuster January 4 Shootings story, the Standard-Examiner this morning announces the scheduling of the funeral for slain OPD Officer Jared Francom:

OGDEN -- The funeral for slain Ogden Officer Jared Francom, whose death rattled the state and captured much public attention, has been set for Wednesday at Weber State University.

The service for Francom, 30, will begin at 11 a.m. at the Dee Events Center, 4400 Harrison Blvd.

Get the full details here:

• Funeral to be Wednesday for Francom

Excellent choice of a venue, wethinks, for the many grieving friends, family collegues and ordinary citizens who'd like to attend Officer Francom's last rites, and pay their final respects.

The Standard also carries Agent Framcom's obituary this morning, (which also announces a public reception for friends at 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012 at Ogden Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd.), both in its S-ELive online version, and in the hard-copy print edition :

• Jared Daniel Francom

“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Saturday Morning Emerald City News Roundup

"Science Saturday," "National Politics" AND "Local News" Combo

Now that the reader traffic's starting to ebb from Thursday's blockbuster topic, here are a couple of new items to 'whet' your discussion appetites:

We learn from Dave Greining's "Behind the Headlines" morning column that the Standard's "Ogden City government beat" reporter, Ace Reporter Schwebke, who's had Boss Godfrey and the rest of Godfrey's "A" Team on speed dial for the past 5 or so years, will be transferred over the the S-E "police/breaking news beat":

• New year brings new assignments for reporters

Can we see, by a show of hands, how many of our savvy WCF readers will miss Mr. Schwebke's City Hall reporting?

In conjunction with our ongoing commitment to regularly cover interesting developments in science, and in accordance with our post-Godfrey Administration new year's resolution to expand our WCF discussion to political stories of national significance, here's a little something from Scientific American Magazine, which neatly straddles both of the above general topic areas:

• Gingrich Tops Scientific American's Geek Guide to the 2012 GOP Candidates

No doubt about it... Gingrich, aka "Newt Skywalker," is definitely a full-tilt geek... wethinks.

Be sure to read the full article btw, WCF Science Geeks, as it's actually a lot more substantive than the headline (and "cute" photoshopped portrait image) might otherwise suggest.

And whatever you do... don't let the cat get yer tongues, O Gentle Ones...

Standard-Examiner: Officer Dies of Gunshot Wound; Five More Injured - UPDATED 4X

The world-wide webosphere awaits the ever-earnest outpourings of those of us living here in and around the nation's most recent "War Against Drugs" urban battleground

In the interest of setting up a community-based platform for the discussion of last night's shocking Ogden City firefight, here's last night's initial Standard-Examiner story, reporting on the shootout which occurred in the vicinity of Ogden City's 33rd Street and Jackson Avenue:

• Six officers shot while serving warrant; two critical

In a followup story, the Standard reports that one police officer has died as a result of gunshot wounds:

• Officer dies of gunshot wound; five more injured

This story's also "gone viral" across the national news media, with writeups appearing everywhere from the Washington Post to the Austin Statesman. While Ogden City boosters have been knocking themselves out trying to put Ogden City "on the map" for many years, this is most certainly not what they had in mind.

While details still remain sketchy, we'll open up the discussion of this disturbing incident, so our gentle Weber County Forum readers can chime in with their own takes. Although we agree with WCF readers Bob Becker and Ray that now is NOT the time to "play politics" with this story, we'll also add that even at this early date, keeping last week's strong Standard-Examiner editorial in mind, we don't believe a general discussion of police tactics in serving search warrants in residential neighborhood settings is entirely inappropriate or premature.

The world-wide webosphere eagerly awaits the ever-earnest outpourings of those of us living here in and around Ogden City, the nation's most recent "War On Drugs" urban battleground.

We'll also express our sincere best wishes to all Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force and Ogden Police Department officers who were wounded in this unfortunate event, along with our heartfelt condolences which we offer to the grieving friends, family and law enforcement colleagues of Agent Jared Francom, the first Ogden Police Department officer to lose his life in the line of duty in Ogden City since the legendary OPD hero Marshall White.

Have at it, WCF Readers.

Update 1/5/12 10:38 a.m.: In this newly uploaded story, the SE reveals the names of the injured officers and the suspected "perp":

• Suspect identified in Ogden shooting of 6 officers

The Standard is also now carrying the video from this morning's press conference on its website home page. Here's the embedded video via the Standard's sexy new "Live Show Podcaster Site":

Watch live streaming video from standardnet at livestream.com

We'll of course provide further updates here on WCF as this story continues to develop.

Update 1/5/12 5:33 p.m.: Here's the latest S-E story, for what it's worth:

• Suspect in deadly shootout was Army vet treated for PTSD, father says

Update 1/6/12 7:14 a.m.: For the sake of our WCF readers who do not subscribe to our home-town newspaper, here are another seven (Count 'em 7) Standard-Examiner stories which have popped up on the S-E site (and in the print edition) since our last update:

• Ogden police shooting likely death penalty case
• Donation accounts set up for police officers shot
• Ogden shooting reverberates in Davis County
• 3 shot officers remain in critical condition
• Hundreds pay tribute to officers at vigil
• Sharing the pain
• Stewart's family heartbroken over shooting

And here's a strong S-E editorial, which is also running in this morning's hard-copy edition:

• OUR VIEW: In the line of duty

Whew!

Update 1/7/12 6:00 a.m.: The latest from the Standard-Examiner (and now the Salt Lake Tribune):

• Accused shooter's attorney has worked with injured Ogden officers
• Wounded Ogden officer now in fair condition, hospital says
• Cops need to revise 'knock and search' method
• Ogden police getting weekend help on patrol
• Retired Ogden officer relives memories of brushes with criminals
• Injured officer says he’s ‘devastated’ by Ogden shooting
• ‘Knock-and-announce’ warrants are the standard

A WCF Tip O' The Hat to the Standard-Examiner for continuing to keep ahead of most of the other media, local and national, in re this story.

Wednesday Morning Emerald City News Roundup

Who's ready to toss in their own 2¢?

Three items which caught our attention this morning whilst we somewhat unsuccessfully Googled the net for interesting red-meat political news:

1) Bad news this morning for Weber County lumpencitizens who appreciate elected officials with a strong work ethic, community dedication, ethical integrity and common sense. Weber County Commissioner Craig Dearden, one Commissioner who definitely hasn't been a real estate development industry "shill," announces this morning via the Standard-Examiner that he'll be retiring from the County Commission upon the end of his current term of office:

• Weber County Commissioner won't run again

Commissioner Zogmeister is right. Dearden's "stability and wisdom" will be greatly missed.

Sodden prediction (based upon a little insider info): Expect a locally prominent Realtor candidate, one strongly supported by the the "Biggest and Baddest PAC in the Land" to file for Dearden's soon-to-be-vacated commission seat before month's end.

2) In a tangentially-related story, the Standard also reports that "Former Republican Utah legislator Dan Liljenquist announced Wednesday that he's going to run for the U.S. Senate in Utah and will challenge six-term Sen. Orrin Hatch":

• Liljenquist officially enters US Senate race

Unlike the soon to be departing Commissioner Dearden, Senate candidate Liljenquist IS a real estate development industry shill. As our long-term WCF readers will recall, Senator Liljenquist was one of the real estate industry-backed legislative bagmen who worked feverishly to kill Rep. Gage Froerer's 2010 HB 218 (Disincorporation of Powder Mt. Town), an effort which ultimately forced the above-mentioned Commissioner Dearden and the rest of the Weber County Commission to abandon Weber County's carefully crafted zoning rules and to adopt the Powder Mountain Developer's self-serving "Development Agreement," a process which at least one Weber County Forum commentator labeled as "extortionate".

No, we're not big fans of Orrin Hatch; but replacing Hatch with an unabashed corporate shill like Liljenquist would be a big mistake for Utah voters... something akin to jumping outta the frying pan into the fire, wethinks.

3) If only for the sake of archival consistency, we'll direct our readers attention to this morning's Alan Hall guest commentary, which appears on the S-E editorial page this morning. Filled as it is with vague "political platitudes" we're not sure exactly what Mr. Hall is getting at. We've read the article over a coupla times, and despite (or perhaps due to) its rambling "wordiness," we're unconvinced that Mr. Hall (whom we do deeply respect) provides much useful guidance for "elect[ing] the right political leaders" or spending more (already "tight") money on "consumption," for that matter. Nevertheless, we previously vowed to follow Mr. Hall's series of S-E commentaries, so here's the latest, (for what its worth):

• Our problems are fixable if we choose right leaders

There is one of Mr. Hall's points which we do consider encouraging, wherein he urges Utah voters to elect "leaders" who'll "...avoid the pressures of lobbyists." It's refreshing to hear something like this from a "Captain of Industry" like Mr. Hall, don'tcha think?

That's it for now O Gentle WCF Readers.

Now, who's ready to toss in their own 2¢?

Standard-Examiner Guest Op-ed: Old and New Mayors Have Both Accepted Tainted Contributions

If you were Mike Caldwell in this circumstance, what would you do with Gadi Leshem's grubby $3,000 campaign "donation?"

When we questioned Caldwell about accepting the $3,000, he said he did so because he didn't want to send the message that he was unwilling to work with Leshem. As a result, he is sending the message to everyone else in Ogden that you can't "work with" someone in this town unless money changes hands.

Dan Schroeder - Std-Ex Guest Editorial
Old and new mayors have both accepted tainted contributions
January 3, 2012

“There are two things that are important in politics,” Mark Hanna, the great Republican kingmaker of the late 19th century, once said. “The first thing is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.”

David D. Kirkpatrick - New York Times
Does Corporate Money Lead to Political Corruption?
January 23, 2010

Chewy Standard-Examiner guest editorial up on the S-E website this afternoon, by Ogden Ethics Project Director Dan Schroeder, referring to the $10,000 campaign donation which Friend of Matt Godfrey (FOM) Gadi Leshem coughed up to the Matthew Godfrey mayoral campaign in 2007. Professor Schroeder then follows it up by reeling off the litany of inexplicable Godfrey "favors" subsequently heaped by the Godfrey Administyration upon Leshem in the election aftermath.

Professor Schroeder then, indirectly at least, hints at what we consider to be the pregnant question: "Should our newly-inagurated Mike Caldwell return the Gadi Leshem $3,000 donation which was contributed to Mike Caldwell's "campaign" on the day BEFORE (not after) the November 8, 2011 Ogden Municipal election?"

Check Out Dan's full Guest Commentary here:

• Old and new mayors have both accepted tainted contributions

So what about it, Gentle readers? Will the Caldwell Administration be permanently "tainted" by its ill-considered acceptance of this campaign donation bribe "gift?" Is Professor Schroeder the only one who finds it "remarkable that any politician would openly accept money from such a person (as Leshem)?" Does it remain "clear," as Dan Schroeder suggests, that even upon today's inauguration of Mike Caldwell as Ogden City's new Mayor, "... a mere change in administration won't lessen the need for ethical scrutiny?" Cutting to the chase... if you were Mike Caldwell in this circumstance, what would you do with Gadi's grubby $3,000 campaign "donation?"

So many questions... so few answers...

A Quick Heads Up on Today's Ogden City Council Meetings and Ceremonies - Updated

We'll dedicate this thread of course, to any WCF political wonks who'd like to lodge their comments before, during or after today's various council sessions

Just a quick heads up today's Ogden City Council meetings and ceremonies, wherein newly-elected Ogden City government officials will be inducted and sworn in.

1) The Council has scheduled a Special Council Session today at noon, where, among other things Mayor Mike Caldwell will take the oath of office, and officially commence his 2012-15 mayoral term:

• 01/03 City Council Special Session

2) The Council will hold a Special Study Session at 5:30 p.m., which will include, among other agenda items, the pre-selection of Council Leadership wia the Council's recently enacted and open government-unfriendly "straw poll" procedure:

• 01/03 City Council Study Session

3) As a followup to the above Special Session, the Council will conduct its regular Tuesday City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m., wherein our newly elected City Council members, Gochnour, Hyer and Wicks will be sworn in, and the the results of the above-mentioned council leadership "straw poll" will be formally "ratified" (rubber stamped):

• 01/03 City Council Regular Session

We'll dedicate this thread of course, to any WCF political wonks who'd like to lodge their comments before, during or after today's various council sessions.

Update 1/4/11 7:30 a.m.: The Standard carries the post mayoral inauguration story this morning, which expands upon Dan Schroeder's downthread comment, and reports about Boss Godfrey's ungracious rant, in which he petulantly plays the "victim," blaming his critics for the self-perceived bad consequences of his own unethical and boorish mayoral behavior:

• Ogden mayor bids farewell, hammers critics

Curiously, Godfrey also complains that the mayor's council chamber seat is situated at the floor level "on the kiddie table over here," rather than up on the elevated council dais.

Unresoved Napoleon Complex, anyone?

Update 1/4/11 8:40 a.m.: The Standard also carries a story reporting on the installation of Ogden City's newly-elected officials from what we'll gently label a less "off kilter" perspective than the one linked above:

• Caldwell swears in; Council elects new chair

Update 1/5/11 9:59 a.m.: The "mayoral induction" Special Council Meeting video is now available for viewing via YouTube:

• Ogden City Council JAN 03 2012 SPECIAL MEETING

Standard-Examiner: Godfrey to Head Economic Development Consulting Firm

Boss Godfrey even now positions himself to feed at the public trough

For those Emerald City lumpencitizens who've been wondering what our lame duck Mayor Boss Godfrey will do with himself, after the City Hall screen door slaps him on the backside following tomorrow's induction of Mike Caldwell as Ogden City's new mayor, the Standard-Examiner breaks the suspense with this morning story, reporting that "One Trick Pony Godfrey" will remain in the economic development business, as president of his own "start-up consulting firm after he leaves office Tuesday":

• Godfrey to head economic development consulting firm

Although Godfrey has repeatedly said he'd be entering the "private sector," Godfrey's distinction between "public" and "private" seems "fuzzy" at best, inasmuch as his business plan appears to depend heavily upon economic development, job creation and crime reduction "services," which would be logically marketed mainly toward "other communities," (besides Ogden?).

"Excited" that his new venture "will give him a chance to practice the [Big Government borrowing and spending] skills he developed while serving 12 years as [Ogden City] mayor," Boss Godfrey thus even now positions himself to feed at the public trough, along with his other "Special Friends":


Godfrey gleefully adds that "the company already has several clients, but declined to elaborate."

Yesiree, folks, we have no doubt that local public officials all across Utah will be eagerly queuing up in droves to learn how to build mountains of public debt, just like Ogden City, once the word gets out that Boss Godfrey has opened his new economic development shop.

We'll be keeping our fingers crossed that Godfrey's prospective client list will not include Mike Caldwell, of course, inasmuch as Ogden's credit card is already pretty much maxed out.

Don't let the cat get your tongues, O Gentle Ones...

Sunday Morning Emerald City News Roundup - Updated

A virtual cornucopia of interesting Weber County Forum-topical stuff

To our great delight, we find a virtual cornucopia of interesting Weber County Forum-topical stuff in this morning's Standard-Examiner... just what the doctor ordered to kick off the discussion on the first day of the year 2012, wethinks. Just so's we can squeeze it all onto our morning article page, we'll be brief:

1) Mr. Schwebke provides an excellent Mike Caldwell profile piece, as Caldwell prepares for Tuesday's mayoral induction ceremony:

• New Ogden mayor plans for focus on economic development

We gotta admit that Mayor-elect Caldwell is already scoring major style points with your WCF blogmeister, even though he hasn't even been sworn in yet. First he demonstrates his commitment to pursuing Ogden City's best interests in re: the Jon Greiner Hatch Act Money Pit; and now Standard-Examiner readers learn that our new mayor is even now ready to deep-six yet another crackpot Boss Godfrey scheme:

• Plans for Ogden police blimp canceled

We'll offer at this juncture that we're cautiously optimistic that our new Mayor Mike Caldwell may be able to temper his "economic development focus" with a little old fashioned common sense.

2) Trentelman provides a stunning example of ambivalence this morning with his own weasly-weak-in- the-knees variation on the tried and true "keeps the trains running on time" theme. We've taken liberties with the column headline, we confess.

• Godfrey: Although He's a a complete jerk, I, Charles Trentelman, LOVE Boss Godfrey, nevertheless

Full disclosure here, Mr. Trentelman! No, Weber County Forum doesn't "hate" Boss Godfrey, although we do agree with you, Mr. Trentelman, that Godfrey often behaves like a jerk.

3) Combine an irretrievably Slavish Godfreyite Lemming, a copy of Bartlett's Quotations and a flea-market thesaurus, and here's what you get from one of the most prominent jackasses in Weber County: A lavishly tiresome, tedious and tortuous (and entirely un-ambivalent) Boss Godfrey tilting, SE guest editorial lovefest:

• Mayor Godfrey's 12 years of service

Gotta say we loved this one:

Vicious blogs defame. He who perseveres is called arrogant and is vituperated for failure to listen to obstructionists.

Do you suppose, Gentle Readers, that Steve the Godfrey Lemming may actually be referring to we of Weber County Forum, when he makes reference to "obstructionists" within his above thesaurus-driven and highly indigestible word soup? LOL! And here we'd heretofore thought ourselves to be only mere "naysayers," Dang!

Update 1/1/12 3:50 p.m.: Oops! Here's something we missed earlier, from one of the hands-down funniest folks writing for the internet or print media, or whatever:

• Mark Saul- A little friendly advice for the coming year

Sorry about the inadvertent omission folks. Enjoy!

New Year's Day Special: Dave Barry’s 2011 Year in Review

So the nation is clearly in good hands, and as the troubled year finally comes to an end

Here's another excellent end of year retrospective from that gut-busting print humorist, Dave Berry:

We'll kick it off with Dave's opening 'graphs:

It was the kind of year that made a person look back fondly on the gulf oil spill.

Granted, the oil spill was bad. But it did not result in a high-decibel, weeks-long national conversation about a bulge in a congressman’s underpants. Which is exactly what we had in the Festival of Sleaze that was 2011. Remember? There were days when you could not escape The Bulge. At dinnertime, parents of young children had to be constantly ready to hurl themselves in front of their TV screens, for fear that it would suddenly appear on the news in high definition. For a brief (Har!) period, The Bulge was more famous than Justin Bieber.

Here's the rest, via the Washington Post:

• Dave Barry’s Year in Review: The 2011 Festival of Sleaze

Whatever you do, don't suffer a hernia from all yer gut-busting laughter [wink].

Happy New Year, Everyone.