Thursday, September 22, 2011

Robert Graham still likes to play Lieutenant.











He may have left JPD at the end of 2006 but Hinds County Supervisor still likes to play Lieutenant. Mr. Graham spoke at an August 2010 conference of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO). Mr. Graham introduced himself as "Lieutenant Robert Graham of the Jackson Police Department" in the first three minutes of the audio recording posted below.



Here is a transcript of his opening remarks:

"Good morning. I am your instructor for the morning. I'm Lieutenant Robert Graham of the Jackson Police Department and I'd like to talk for an hour. I'm going to move pretty quickly about a subject that is very near and dear to my heart. The subject is called "Officer Down". For over 35 years I spent in the dispatch center as a dispatcher I'm a little but unusual type of police officer. The reason why I'm kind of unusual is every time the chief would put me on the street, I would mess up bad enough for them to put me back in dispatch. So I love dispatchers. I have a passion for dispatchers, I'm a dispatcher yesterday, I'm a dispatcher tomorrow, I'm a dispatcher forever."

Mr. Graham left the employment of JPD at the end of 2006 and was never a certified law enforcement officer but was a civilian employee of JPD. He served as a JPD reservist until earlier this year.



Mr. Graham also presented himself as a JPD Lieutenant earlier this year at an APCO conference and at APCO conferences in April 2010, November 2009, and 2008. N. A bulletin for a 2012 conference mentions him only as President of Professional Dispatch Management.




35 comments:

Frugal Gal said...

Well, if you can just declare yourself an officer of any sort, then I would henceforth like to be known as Commodore Frugal Gal.

What is the status of the demand letter Pickering made to Graham? Did he ever pay it? Is it being appealed in some form?

Anonymous said...

... every time the chief would put me on the street ...

Absolutely incredible the lengths of fraud to which Graham will stoop. No doubt Kingfish these are only the examples you've found as one can imagine that he tells those falsehoods at all the stops on his dispatcher tour.

Would any of the legals frequenting JJ comment on why Miss. Code Ann. § 97-7-43 and Miss. Code Ann. § 97-7-44 is not enforceable upon Hinds County Supervisor Robert Graham's impersonation of a Lieutenant on the force of the Jackson Police Department?

NEJammer said...

Democrat Dorsey Carson supports Democrat Robert Graham for Hinds County Supervisor from District 1.

Anonymous said...

Be sure to check out "Lieutenant" Robert Graham's (of the Jackson Police Department) tour schedule in case you want to catch his police officer impersonations live. He'll be appearing in Portland, Oregon next Monday and Tuesday.

Anonymous said...

@9:48, hadn't even thought about legal side. Good catch

Anonymous said...

Doesn't he have some extra radios laying around? Teaching folks to dispatch sounds like a good way to recoup some money. He could set up a folding table out in the lobby. Maybe with a full size cut out of him in a police uniform.

Anonymous said...

The dude is out of his element as a Hinds Sup. He's bigger than that. Go to 58:30 on the recording. Unbelievable.

Anonymous said...

Wish that was surprising. During his stent as president of the BOS, he wanted county staff to refer to him as "Board President Graham". This guy is a joke.

Anonymous said...

Maybe somebody can clue us in re: Graham's qualifications to conduct a course "on the effects of domestic violence on the victim and the hazards that it creates for the responding officers". Don't think he even graduated from college. How has all of this flown under the radar for so long.

Anonymous said...

"I'm glad to say I'm one of you"

Narcissist.

Curt Crowley said...

948, I'm not defending Graham's actions, but I will attempt to answer your question.

The arguments that he is not violating those statutes are:

(1) The statutes apply to persons who are representing themselves as police officers in the present tense: "I am an officer with the Jackson Police Dept." Graham is doing it in the past tense: "I *used* to be an officer with the Jackson Police Dept."

(2) As far as the "LT" part goes, Graham always wore lieutenant insignia when he was employed by JPD. If I'm not mistaken, that was the rank he held in the JPD reserve unit. Reserve officers are sworn officers, although they are not certified, full-time officers. Therefore, technically, he is not lying about being a former "LT" with the Jackson Police Dept.

None of this makes it right, nor does it dilute KF's point. Graham is clearly misrepresenting the facts in this context. I just don't think it violates those 2 statutes. Of course, I could be wrong, but that's how I would defend a client charged with impersonating a police officer under these facts.

Curt Crowley said...

Follow-up: My analysis is giving Graham the benefit of the doubt that he is not representing himself as a current member of JPD to the seminar organizers, and that he is using the "LT" title in an honorary fashion (like former judges do).

Anonymous said...

Sounds like he's using the present tense in the audio Curt. He rattles off a series of current facts about JPD (01:37 to 02:57) as if he remains right there in the thick of it. He never uses the word 'former' or phrase 'used to be'. He never uses the word reservist nor identifies that his former paid position was in the civilian ranks. His APCO speaker profile makes no mention of any of the above either. His Hinds County web page (scroll down) still prominently features him in a police uniform as does the photo KF posted in the upper left of this story. Nothing on his Hinds page says reservist or civilian vis-a-vis JPD. On the audio he says that some unnamed chief at some time in the past put him on the streets.

So if he's not trying to pass himself off as a sworn JPD officer with the rank of Lieutenant then do you think he's trying to pass himself off as a brain surgeon, an accountant or maybe an attorney?

Just sayin'.

Kingfish said...

He IS a hero.

Curt Crowley said...

Good points 423. And I agree with you as to what Graham is actually doing. My post was geared toward whether Graham violated those 2 statutes in 948's post. He's still wrong, but I don't think he violated those 2 statutes.

I'm also not sure the whether fulltime vs. Reserve is relevant. Both are sworn LEOs, have arrest powers, etc.

I also neglected to mention the most basic reason his representations do not violate the statutes: his representations were not made in Mississippi.

Anonymous said...

September 22, 2011 11:50 AM wrote: "Maybe somebody can clue us in re: Graham's qualifications to conduct a course "on the effects of domestic violence on the victim and the hazards that it creates for the responding officers."

I can top that. Graham has taught in the past a course about terrorism.

Anonymous said...

Time to call APCO.

Anonymous said...

DAMN. THINK about it. GRAHAM is MORE qualified to be a HINDS SUP than the OBLABATRON is to be POTUS.

STOCK UP on AMMO and ADD FIREARMS to your HOME ARSENALS. Even in GOD DAMNED EASTOVER.

MISSISSIPPI TROOPS WILL NEVER FIRE ON MISSISSIPPIANS. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.

Anonymous said...

Graham is a joke . He never attended an academy he should never been allowed to obtain any rank .

Shadowfax said...

I'm certainly no lawyer, but I doubt it makes a tinker's damn WHERE he made the fraudulent representation that he's a JPD officer. Am I to understand that Crowley thinks the law limits fraud to the confines of state borders? Think that one over awhile longer Curt.

What if he were on a charter vessel sixteen miles out from Biloxi flashing a badge and claiming to be an officer? What if he were in York, Alabama in a hoochie coochie bar peeling back his lapel to show a JPD badge, representing himself as an officer on a manhunt?

(this is not intended to be legal advice)

Anonymous said...

Gee, are you saying Curt Crowley that from any other state in the Union we can impersonate which ever position of authority we want from here at home with impunity?

Curt Crowley said...

For Mississippi to have jurisdiction over ANY crime, the crime must be committed (in whole or in part) in Mississippi.

If a person goes to LA and impersonates a JPD officer, he cannot be prosecuted under Mississippi law or in a Mississippi court. Unless CA has a statute that makes it illegal, then no the person could not be prosecuted.

By the same token, you can impersonate an LAPD officer here in Jackson all you want and not violate those 2 code sections. Mississippi law only prohibits impersonation of Mississippi officers.

Anonymous said...

We military veterans have a term for people who "embellish" their credentials in the military/veteran world.

WE CALL THEM POSERS.

Nuff said.

Anonymous said...

No big surprise he's doing that since they all seem to just make things up as they go along. The current Chief threatens the traffic units with transfer if they don't work JSU games on their days off. Those who agree to work the games off-duty are making less than they used to before Coleman took over, and those who don't sign on for the off-duty assignment just have their regular days off changed so they are on-duty on Saturday and can be assigned to work them on City time.

Anonymous said...

Considering the rate at which JSU football attendance has been declining YOY sounds like only a temporary problem that will soon fix itself.

Not passing any judgment on how to pay for it but JSU should have their own on-campus stadium.

Shadowfax said...

When JSU builds an on-campus stadium, I want to bid on the razor-wire contract.

Anonymous said...

"We military veterans have a term for people who "embellish" their credentials in the military/veteran world.

WE CALL THEM POSERS.

Nuff said. "

Really? Whatever happened to "REMFs"? ;-)

Anonymous said...

5:00 is right on point JPD is being ruled by threats of being suspended without pay and threats of being transfered. what the officers are going through now is a tight dictatorship . This administration has killed the morale of that department .

Anonymous said...

Not only is Graham POSING on the Hinds BOS site in a police uniform, he also lists his academic credentials, which indicates that he graduated from Lanier and ATTENDED Mississippi College (minor in public relations). He also states that he is "Currently attending Tulane University and Hinds Community College."

Anonymous said...

Maybe he is trying to "better" himself, he and Stokes could take some courses together.

Anonymous said...

Want to bet that's Tulane in Madison?

Anonymous said...

Have the citizens of Hinds Co paid for all of these trips for LT Graham?? But KF if you asked to see those records the BOS would hide those just like they hide the rest of the bogus spending!!

Charles D. Carter said...

Robert Graham has posted a list of former clients that he would have you believe hosted his 9-1-1 training company courses. Just as in other aspects of his life, this is untruthful. Eight of them were courses we contracted him to conduct for NECI as a contract instructor before we discoverd he was copying our course manuals and selling them as his. Some of these include the FBI Academy, FBI Field Office, Waco, TX Pasqui Yaqui Tribal Police, AZ Uncasville, CT and others.

Robert Graham has committed fraud on the City of Jackson, the citizens of Jackson, Hinds County and the State of Mississippi.

How could anyone with such a record of fraudulent activity not be ashamed to run for public office? How could anyone in their right mind elect him to public office?

If you re-elect him, you deserve him.

Charles D. Carter
President, CEO
National Emergency Communications Institute (NECI)
3535 Peachtree Rd, NE
Suite 520-417
Atlanta, GA 30326
3535

Send "Lieutenant" Graham PACKING said...

Thank you Mr. Carter for contributing your comments. We also thank you for helping to expose Robert Graham as the fraud many here have already determined him to be. Beyond the story under which you are commenting may I suggest that you visit this link which will take you to a comprehensive list of published Jackson Jambalaya coverage including many articles involving Graham.

In addition to your experience Graham is at the nexus of illegal no-bid 'professional services' contracts let by our Hinds County Board of Supervisors in violation of Mississippi law. It has also been documented here at JJ -- as the audio clip above reconfirms -- that Graham continues to impersonate a Lieutenant of the Jackson Police Department and misleads attendees to his courses and seminars to believe that he is, or was, a sworn police officer which he was not. In the link above you'll find many articles documenting Graham's attempts to strong arm the police department of a local municipality (Byram, MS) into using inferior radios supplied by a Graham crony. Graham and the Hinds County BOS have also strenuously worked to avoid public transparency by fighting efforts of the owner/editor of JJ to secure public documents using FOI requests -- most notably in the litigation against Motorola which involved other Graham cronies. As you are aware Mississippi's State Auditor has issued a demand to Graham to repay over $45,000 he received while a civilian in the employ of the Jackson Police Department for hours that he did not work.

As to your questions I don't believe that the word shame can be found in the Graham vocabulary. In his mind he's only doing what he thinks all the other elected officials are doing. He won office and he wants his piece of the action.

Sadly many voters here in Jackson, primarily (but not solely) Democrats, will vote for Graham and other candidates regardless of their actions, qualifications or suitability. Four years ago Graham was elected by the barest of margins but an outstanding well-known quality candidate with a lengthy resume of integrity and honor has stepped up to oppose Graham this November.

Unfortunately beyond JJ and our local NBC affiliate WLBT we are not blessed here in Jackson with a robust Fourth Estate of media outlets eager and courageous enough to report on corruption, graft, malfeasance, crony capitalism, sweetheart deals, public debt abuse for private sector gain and law-breaking within Jackson and Hinds County government. This is a small area ( < 600,000 population) and with the power to butter so few pieces of bread consolidated in so few hands our local media has long ago abandoned their watchdog roles for the public good so as not to jeopardize their revenue streams and own personal livelihoods.

Nor do we have a District Attorney or Attorney General interested in investigating and prosecuting elected officials who violate the law. Because you see here in Jackson and Hinds almost all the players are partisan Democrats. Graham, the newspaper editor, the District Attorney, the Attorney General, and others are all Democrats. Our Attorney General Jim Hood probably sums it up best. During the whole sordid Dickie Scruggs bribery scandal and Federal trial when asked why no state prosecutions were also underway AG Hood simply said that he doesn't prosecute family and friends. So Mr. Carter you understand our dilemma.

Thanks again for commenting and thanks to Kingfish for going where no one else dares tread.

Charles D. Carter said...

Thank you for the positive support.

Graham fooled me for several years thinking he was a Lieutenant with the Jackson PD and 9-1-1 Director in addition to bein an instructor at the JPD Police Academy.

I have since discovered that was a lie in addition to him making copies of our 9-1-1 training manuals, charging 9-1-1 agencies $495.00 for everyone he taught whicle the agencies were reimbursed by the state 9-1-1 board for the $495.00. He easily made $10,000 on some classes at the taxpayers expenses. He conducted many classes form 1996 until 2007 when we discovered the fraud and decertified him. In some classes, he used non-certified instructors contrary to MS statutory requirements for 9-1-1 certification.

When I notified Mr. Brantly, Finance Director at Jackson PD of the fraud, he said, "Let sleeping dogs lie." When I notified the state 9-1-1 board, they ask us to help them cover it up (Graham's fraud) by issuing certificates to all those 9-1-1 personnel he taught." We didn't. They (state 9-1-1 board) waived the certification for those taught fraudulently by Graham in violation of the MS Statute requiring 9-1-1 persons to be "duly certified" by one of the 9-1-1 certification programs "officially" recognized by the state board. Those individuals taught by Graham with bogus training materials aren't duly certified and are currently working unlawfully.

When we notified the Attorney General, we were told he is involved with an election and we don't have time.

When we told the State Auditor, we were told they would look into it. They did and fined him the $46k he received for "double-dipping" but did nothing about the crimes and the cover-ups by Jackson PD and the state 9-1-1 board.

When you are asked, "What's in your wallet?" you can say, "The hand of Robert Graham."

Good luck in November and for the next four years with Graham.



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