IN SURPRISE MOVE
"DO-MORE-WITH-LESS" MOORE RESIGNS!
Florida's Secretary of "Corrections" Michael Moore's resignation went public in newspaper articles on December 5th, 2002, soon after the election (like that's not transparent!) His last day was announced as Jan 7th, but I've been told by insiders that December 31st is to be his last day on the job. If that's true, today is his last day.
On December 5th, 2002, I also received the following, but haven't yet been able to verify the truth of it:
"I have inside information that appears to be good - the Police Benevolent Association pressured for Moore's resignation but this is confidential."
In a public letter from Secretary Moore to staff, he thanked Jeb Bush for his time with the Florida DOC, noted their 'accomplishments' (well, not the real ones) and stated that his resignation is effective January 7, 2003. (Point of fact, three top Florida political men resigned at the same time.) But, as we all know, private reasons and public explanations are seldom the same.
My theory is this, either Moore did something and he's getting outta dodge before it's discovered, or he knows Bush is up to something horrendous and Bush is giving him an out before it comes down. They don't just up and resign "to pursue other interests." I highly suspect something is about to happen, and I don't expect it to be honorable.
We'll soon know who the next appointee is. You know how they always try to keep these things secret for some reason. At this time the public suspects that it will be the lesser of two evils: Current assistant secretary of the DOC, Richard Dugger, aka "The Hollowman", is one choice. He's had the job before.
God forbid (but more likely) it should be ex-FSP warden-current Region II director, James Crosby, who was promoted after his crew murdered Frank Valdes. This man would look more at home in a KKK sheet than he does in a suit and tie! Frighteningly, I just got word from an insider today that "James Crosby is more than likely going to be named the new Secretary of the Department in a few days. Jimmy Clark is rumored to be moving into the Region II directors spot." Things are going to get a lot worse if this is true, or hopefully things will just all fall apart - After all, you can only bully staff and prisoners so far before riots begin, corruptions is exposed, and changes are made).
On the link about DOC sports at https://www.angelfire.com/fl4/fci/FSPDOCsports.html and the connecting Officer's information called, "PLAY BALL",. there is a lot of information about both reportedly very crooked men given to me by current employees of the DOC. If even half of this information is true, both of their appointments, James Crosby and James Clark, are frightening when you think of the power of their positions. Florida appears to be 'going to hell in a handbasket'!
When I sent my 2000 prisoner Christmas cards, I checked each and every person on the DOC site to verify their current address. Seems before Christmas there was a massive move of Florida prisoners to different prisons. I'd say maybe 3/4 of them had new addresses from last year. My gosh, the taxpayer money the Florida DOC must be spending on shifting thousands of prisoners from here to there.
A copy of Michael Moore's Letter of Resignation is being sent to me and will be put up onsite as soon as I receive it at https://www.angelfire.com/fl4/fci/mooresletter.html
Jacksonville.com
Thursday, December 5, 2002
CORRECTIONS CHIEF MOORE RESIGNS
Tenure marked by controversies
By Thomas B. Pfankuch
Times-Union staff writer TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Michael Moore announced his resignation yesterday, ending a four-year tenure marked by numerous controversies and nearly constant criticism.
Since Moore took over in January 1999, the corrections department endured the homicide of an inmate at Florida State Prison and acquittal of officers tried in the inmate's killing as well as a major downsizing that caused angst among the state's 15,000 corrections officers.Moore, 54, sent a letter to Gov. Jeb Bush yesterday saying he will leave his post on Jan. 7 to "pursue other areas of interest." The Department of Corrections has an annual budget of $1.7 billion and 26,000 full-time employees who oversee 73,500 inmates.
Moore is the third agency head to announce their resignation this week as part of a transition to Bush's next term. The others are Transportation Secretary Tom Barry and Lottery Secretary David Griffin.
Bush released a statement praising Moore's leadership and wishing him well.
A union official who represents corrections officers said there was no surprise -- and no disappointment -- attached to Moore's resignation. David Murrell, president of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, said Moore was never respected by rank and file officers.
Murrell said officers resented that Moore suspended and then fired the officers long before they went to trial in the death of inmate Frank Valdes. Murrell also said the massive centralization of the department -- which cut more than 3,000 jobs and saved $37.6 million a year -- also lowered morale because basic functions all had to be approved by officials in regional administrative centers rather than at individual prisons.
Staff writer Thomas B. Pfankuch can be reached at (850) 224-7515, extension 13, or via e-mail at tpfankuch
jacksonville.com.
A Times Editorial
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 7, 2002
That Florida State Prison inmate Frank Valdes was beaten to death in his cell was a symptom of the disease, but state Corrections Secretary Michael Moore never seemed to understand that. Yes, he fired the guards responsible and put video cameras in that prison wing to record other "cell extractions." But the stain remains and so does the poisonous culture of violence.Peter Siegel, a Miami lawyer who represents inmates, put it this way earlier this year: "The only change that I see is that there's been a change from physical force to gas. Before Valdes, we were getting all kinds of complaints about cell extractions -- people being forcibly yanked from their cells and beat up in the process. We don't get those complaints anymore. Instead, we get complaint after complaint about gas."
Moore, brought here from South Carolina by Gov. Jeb Bush, will not be following the governor into a second term. His departure may signal that Bush is ready to restore professionalism to a department that suffered a retreat in the past four years. Under Moore's watch, there were claims of racism, inmate abuse, poor medical care, investigation cover-ups, corrections officers with arrest records of their own. Allegations of staff misconduct increased nearly 35 percent in his first three years on the job.
Professionalism does not equate to coddling. A well-run prison system promotes respect from and for inmates in ways that help them learn from incarceration and make them more likely to respect the law when they eventually are released. Nothing is easy about working in prison environments, where some inmates are unruly and dangerous. But as most officers know, the greatest danger in a prison where fear is pervasive is not to inmates like Frank Valdes. The greatest threat is to the people who work there.
Florida now houses more than 73,000 inmates in 131 prisons, and crowded prisons can ignite without trust and professionalism. With his replacement for Moore, the governor has a chance to establish a new culture.
St Pete Times
Thursday, December 5, 2002
Last modified at 9:53 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2002
Corrections chief Moore resigns
Tenure marked by controversies
By Thomas B. Pfankuch
Times-Union staff writer TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Michael Moore announced his resignation yesterday, ending a four-year tenure marked by numerous controversies and nearly constant criticism.
Since Moore took over in January 1999, the corrections department endured the homicide of an inmate at Florida State Prison and acquittal of officers tried in the inmate's killing as well as a major downsizing that caused angst among the state's 15,000 corrections officers.
Posted on Thu, Dec. 05, 2002
Moore is fourth agency leader to step down
DEMOCRAT CAPITOL BUREAUThe controversial leader of Florida's prison system said Wednesday he will not return for Gov. Jeb Bush's second term.
Department of Corrections Secretary Michael W. Moore submitted his letter of resignation to the governor, effective Jan. 7, marking the third agency chief to step down this week and the fourth overall.
"During this transition process, I have had the opportunity to reflect on my life, my career and the successes of this agency," wrote Moore, who has worked in corrections for 34 years. "After deep thought and much consideration, I feel it is now time to pursue other areas of interest."
Moore thanked the governor for his support and said he had helped turn the agency into "a responsive, efficient and accountable instrument of state government," crediting the department's work force.
"Many of our successes are directly attributable to the contributions of so many dedicated professionals who serve their state with honor and without hesitation," he wrote. "I thank them for their valuable public service and for the privilege of their company."
Bush is in the midst of rebuilding his leadership team for his second term and has said not everyone would be back. There had been rumors that Moore, unpopular with many of his employees and the union representing corrections officers, was on the way out. Last month, however, he said through a spokesman that he intended to stay.
On Wednesday, department spokesman Sterling Ivey denied that Moore was being ousted and said the resignation was Moore's idea.
"I think he was going to take some time off and see what opportunities he has out there," Ivey said.
Bush, visiting New York City, thanked Moore for his service.
"For the past four years, Secretary Moore has provided leadership to the state's key agency responsible for keeping the people of Florida safe from convicted felons," he said. "After a long career in the field of corrections, I wish Mike the best of luck in his future endeavors."
David Murrell, president of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, which represents many of the state's 20,000 corrections and probation officers, also wished Moore well but said he had alienated too many staff members with his early attempts to reorganize the department.
"There have been some difficulties, and we agree with the governor that it's time to go in a new direction," Murrell said.
The no-nonsense Texan came to Florida in 1999 after serving as head of South Carolina's prison system. There he cemented his reputation as a disciplinarian, requiring inmates to get haircuts and espousing a strict work ethic.
As head of Florida's prisons, Moore immediately put his business philosophy to work on a system that includes 74,000 men and women sentenced to custody in 121 prisons and work camps and another 150,000 serving probation. He fired several long-time bureau chiefs, centralized parts of the department's day-to-day activities and closed prisons.
Almost immediately, he had to deal with lawmakers and inmate advocates incensed with the beating death of Death Row inmate Frank Valdes at the hands of guards. He eventually fired many of the guards charged with Valdes' murder, although they were later acquitted of the crime.
He also has had to deal with shrinking budgets, at one point recommending last fall to lay off 400 probation officers. Bush eventually vetoed that proposal.
Moore made an unsuccessful bid to return to Texas last year as head of that state's prison system.
Contact reporter David Twiddy at (850) 222-6729 or drtwiddy@taldem.com
Here's a site where the public is supposed to be able to tell Jeb Bush what's really important to the people of Florida and Jeb is actually supposed to listen: I guess we'll soon see. Kay Lee
