Patch Expose': Elections Kill

The Times report on the Sheriff’s Office in the death of Allen Daniel Hicks Sr. is getting a lot of exposure since it was reported by the Times Legal Reporter Peter Jamison on July 6 with a follow up report on July 10. What many may not realize is that this incident occurred on May 11, 2012- more than a year ago. Reporter Jamison didn’t explain why he was just now reporting this event almost a year later. The Juxtaposed News room contacted Jamison and asked about this failure to report but Jamison has not responded.

Something else many may not realize is that this Hicks’ stroke arrest tragedy on May 11, 2012 is only about 4 months after the Isabella Herrera tragedy on January 25, 2012. Isabella Herrera died from respiratory distress on January 26, 2012 that began on a School Bus. The aide and bus driver failed to call 911 or seek assistance at the pediatric clinic that they were parked in front of.

Juxtaposed News previously reported how anyone can check the Sheriff’s news releases at their website (see Juxtaposed News “What Constitutes Negligence”) and specifically noted the Sheriff Office’s previous failure to report/provide a news release in the Isabella Herrera tragedy that they responded to.  Then, here again in the Hicks tragedy, the Sheriff’s office again conveniently failed to report/ provide a news release on this incident also.

The failure of the Sheriff’s Office to report the Isabella Herrera tragedy contributed to its conveniently remaining virtually unknown to the general public for 9 months, during a campaign year when 4 incumbent school board members were running for re-election, the Republican National Convention was coming to town, and the School Superintendent was in the midst of her own performance review.

This failure to report arguably led to a failure to take action in the form of training and procedures until the death of a second special needs student Jenny Caballero on October 22, 2012.

But do you recall who else was running for re-election in 2012? That’s right- Sheriff Gee. Imagine what might have been if either or both of these tragedies had been reported by the Sheriff’s department in their News Releases.  Conceivably, Jenny Caballero would still be with us. Conceivably, the public outrage over the lack of training and procedures at the School District over the Herrera tragedy would have even made the Sheriff review his own training and procedures and thus saved the life of Allen Daniel Hicks Sr.

But, instead the general public was left virtually uninformed and most of these incumbents had a safe ride for themselves to re-election. Elections kill.

Not only did the Sheriff’s department not report the incident in their News Releases but they did not take any formal disciplinary action against their staff. Was this a quid pro quo? Had they taken action against the staff, the staff might have gone public or to the press much sooner. Is that why no disciplinary action was taken?

Recall that the School District also originally never disciplined the bus driver or aide in the Isabella Herrera tragedy. Was this another quid pro quo to keep them from talking? Meanwhile there are numerous examples that those staff who do talk are let go. And you almost never see any teachers or staff speaking independently on a School Board meeting agenda item (see Juxtaposed News “We the people of Hillsborough County”).

But the Sheriff’s Office issued a news release in December 15, 2011 for a special needs student that was left on a bus at Valrico Elementary but that child was not injured. None the less the Sheriff’s news release says “Deputies investigated the incident and after consulting with the State Attorney's Office a warrant was issued for the School Aide.”  

Is consulting with the state attorney optional? Did the Sheriff consult with the state attorney about his own staff in death of Allen Daniel Hicks Sr or in the case of Isabella Herrera or does the Sheriff selectively consult with the State Attorney’s Office when he feels like it and depending on whether it is an election year?

Does the State Attorney consider an uninjured child left on a bus to be negligence, but does not consider the death of Isabella Herrera or Allen Daniel Hicks Sr, both resulting from a failure to seek prompt medical attention to be negligence?

Is this the sequence of events: Sheriff’s department selectively does not issue news release, Newspapers subsequently do not report the tragedy, State Attorney does not bring charges, Public remains uninformed about their public servants, and Incumbent public servants get re-elected without ever really doing their job to serve the public.  

You might want to write the State Attorney (ober_m@sao13th.com) and ask why the Herrera tragedy and Allen Daniel Hicks Sr tragedy are not negligence.

The next school Board meeting is July 30, 2013 at 5 p.m. and anyone can speak at a school board meeting, just sign up at http://www2.sdhc.k12.fl.us/boardagenda2010/Shared/Agenda_Print.asp?BD_MTG_ID=591

I hope you have something to say about this. Please govern yourselves accordingly.