The Press and Standard  May 22,2009
Promises for Edisto Beach meeting aren’t delivered
By Tom Mason

                A lie can travel halfway around the world
while the truth is putting on its shoes.

Mark Twain

                Edisto News Publisher Jimmy King has been accused so often of printing falsehoods in his free monthly shopper it comes as no surprise the meeting Monday night to “relate your concerns and ask questions of the Law Enforcement Officials responsible for policing this area” would fall apart. It’s fatal flaw was the headline on a poster promoting the event which read: “The Colleton County Sheriffs Office and the Edisto Beach Police Department Invite the Public To a Meeting.”

Edisto Beach Police Chief Trent Canady immediately responded: “I talked to the sheriff and we didn’t invite anyone to a meeting and we’re not going.” But King’s lie had traveled far enough around Edisto to involve a number of unfortunate innocents, as the truth slowly put on its shoes.

As reported elsewhere, embarrassment attended Monday night’s meeting, especially for King. As one remarkably unqualified to cast first stones, I actually find King to be an engaging fellow on a personal basis. We have a polite and cordial relationship outside our relative working positions. Given his professional position relative to mine, I understand my advantage in experience as well as the degree of professionalism required by a legitimate newspaper of record, as opposed to a shopper with apparently no need to distinguish between “news” and editorial comment, or even the responsibility of putting one’s name on what one writes.

It is the damage done by such irresponsibility which offends me. I have no need to “relate my concerns” to the law enforcement officials I deal with on a day-to-day basis in my job, because I know what they face. In this current case, it is King’s relationships with a small group of partisans identifiable by those attending his failed forum, a minority even in that small gathering, most of whom came just to watch and blush. Please do not call or email me to identify which is which. We do not need, as a community, any more  embarrassment. What we need is to put on some shoes with traction for the truth.

Attending King’s meeting were two people: one who identified himself as being recently arrested for disorderly conduct, just as one in the audience had been, who was recently found guilty and fined. What is important here is not who they are, but who in each case was one of the arresting officers, Edisto Beach Patrolman Jody Neuroth. He is often backed up by Corporal Terry Nance, who owns “Gunny” the beach’s drug-sniffing dog. More about that team later. For now, read an illuminative letter dated April 20, 2009 from a “concerned citizen” named Howard Davis, a Realtor in Greenwood, S.C.:    

“To Whom it May Concern:

“Enclosed is my money order for my traffic ticket #65309 DJ in the amount of $107.00 as noted. I hope this letter gets to the appropriate hands because I would like to compliment the officer that cited me with this ticket. According to the ticket, his name is JP Neuroth.

“Please let his superior know that Officer Neuroth was very professional, kind, respectful, and courteous to me when he pulled me over on 4/16/09. I truly appreciate such total professionalism and felt compelled to comment on it as I send in this fine. He was so courteous and respectful that it really stood out in my mind for several days afterward.

“I don’t get down to Edisto Beach very often but Officer Neuroth made it feel like an even more pleasant place. Officer Neuroth represented your department extremely well during my breif encounter with him and I just wanted you to know.”

Or how about Leonard Gay, or Franklin, N.C., who said while paying his $81 dollar speeding ticket: “I commend the officer that cited me…he represents your organization very professionally.”

To read police reports bearing the names of complaining offenders accusing those like Neuroth for abuse or worse is laughable. So is the idea that policemen who personally purchased three 40 caliber tactical weapons for the department came under fire by the Edisto News headline “Militarized police, assault weapons and civil liberties.” Another in the same edition said “Assault weapons on Edisto Really necessary?”

Yes. They are because drugs and the people who sell and use them are showing up in increasing numbers on Edisto Beach. So I don’t blame the officers who paid for automatic weapons and donated them to the police department, only to see them fixed to only fire their 30-round clips three shots at a time. I would have left them full automatic and bought more clips loaded with alternating armor-piercing and explosive bullets..

There is more to this story to be revealed in coming weeks. The new town administrator, experienced and as qualified as any, suffered fallout from King’s prevarications, as did Sheriff George Malone, who apparently remains reluctant to talk, except to King. Theirs are not my problems. My problems are why Edisto Beach’s first responders are being attacked by such a small minority, given voice by a publication worth exactly what one pays for it? How do well meaning people – Hill and Malone for instance – get drawn in and embarrassed? Are stories yet to be told about how law abiding citizens are increasingly concerned, and how the beach’s first responders are being targeted for criticism as they were Monday night? Why are certain individuals complaining about Patrolman Neuroth , Corporal Nance and Gunny, the drug sniffing dog? How, or why, are local politicians and bureaucrats involved? And what is the truth behind why the automatic weapons were bought?
Stay tuned. This story – as cable commentators say – has legs. The truth will get its traction shoes. In the meantime, when you see a cop, a fireman or an EMT, wave or thank them for doing a low-paying, often thankless and dangerous job, to protect and possibly save you butt.

                                                                                                -30-

The following letter was written by David Cannon to Mayor Burley Lyons:

David C. Cannon
P.O. Box 370
Edisto Island, SC 29438

May 18, 2009

Mayor Burley Lyons
Town of Edisto Beach, SC

Dear Burley,
I am writing in support of the Edisto Beach Police Department.  I have been a resident of Edisto Beach since 1987.  In the several interactions I have had with the Police Department personnel I have found them to be prompt, efficient, courteous and professional at all times.  I don’t see how they could be better.

            Edisto Beach is a family beach and we need to keep a lid on the activity here for the safety of the resident and visitor population.  The recent incident with the drug arrests at Wyndham emphasizes how much we depend on our police force and how courageous and reliable they are when faced with a very threatening situation.  They deserve all the support we can give them.

            I cannot understand why Jimmy King and his cohorts are objecting to our police in the performance of their job.  I think the objections are more political than substantive.
I urge you, your staff and the Police Department not to dignify the gathering tonight with your presence.

                                                                        Yours truly,

                                                                        David Cannon
Cc:  Chief Canady

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