Officers like these can and do screw up more cases trying to "help" the case. Maybe crap like this is what Tyler has been facing.
The group that supports the LAW BREAKING THE LAW really p--- me off. Don't you fools understand that bullying and breaking the law to enforce the law is criminal?
Wonder how criminals get off on cases of "tainted evidence", "improper searchs", and other techincalities? BS law enforcement is how!

Trial? What trial? We don't need no stinkin trial. DIG has already dertermined them guilty without a trial. Why waste any time for a trial!

Dig, I agree that Ure has admitted that he talked to the Advocate and then told the GJ that he hadn't. Ure's response of "no harm no foul" (paraphrasing is mine) because it wasn't released until after indictment will not hold water and that is Ure's problem.
That said, I feel it is perfectly understandable for his officers to support him until he is found guilty or not guilty of a crime. I also feel it is unfair to state that if you support him at this stage you are, by association, no better than he is and condone illegal behavior.
You have maintained that Ratcliff is innocent until judged in a court of law. If Ratcliff is found guilty will that mean that you condone sexual assault?
I have read the posts which state things such as "call Tyler next time your home is being robbed" and I attribute this to anger and frustration. I do not believe, nor do I think you believe, that any officer will refuse to answer a call because of someone's position on this issue.
People say things in the heat of argument that they do not mean. This has been true on both sides of this issue and it needs to stop.People have been called spies, stupid, ignorant, corrupt, deceptive, and evil just because they do not agree with the poster. We all have an opinion on this issue and we are all entitled to voice our opinion and cite any evidence we feel supports that opinion. However, to personally attack someone for their opinion or paint an entire group with a broad brush for not throwing someone under the bus based on an alleged impropriety is improper.
Just my opinion.

Onslow: Thank you for an honest post. I believe others on this forum are capable of doing the same, but they refuse to. Thank you for respecting our officers.

After yardwork, house cleaning, and laundry, I found that I dozed off into a lazy Sunday afternoon nap. I expected to wake to more babble on this blog. Instead, I was refreshed after reading Onslow's statements.

I couldnt have said it better myself.

Regarding the fact that fellow officers turned out to support Ure and Buentello: I would expect nothing less from any officer. Being a police officer or a firefighter is not much different than a soldier. They are a band of brothers. You support your brother right or wrong. You certainly don't abandon them just because they are accused of something.

I am equally certain that if any of the allegation against Ure or Buentello are proven true then these same officers will do their duty and uphold the law against their fallen brother, albeit reluctantly. Reluctant not because they disagree with the outcome but because they are saddened to see a brother stray from the law.

Just my opinion.

Ernie said something interesting in one of his posts (not that they aren't all interesting Ern); "It does take gonads to put real names on a real court document and stand up and be counted." This was a reference to the Victoria Ten.

I wholeheartedly agree with Ernie's comment. However, I have never seen the 10 actually list their real names anywhere, nor have I seen any court document sgned and filed by them. They say they intend to stand up and be counted and I fully support their right to do so, but, I'll reserve credit for gonads until I actually see them state publicly who they are and file their petition. Until that time, it's just talk.

I have nothing against the 10 (I don't know any of them), nor do I condemn their efforts. To the contrary, we live in a country (Thank God)where any citizen is free to challenge those in authority. If they truly believe Tyler is abusing his office they have an absolute right to challenge him. However, a challenge, or a perceived wrong, is not a fact just because it is written on paper. This is true of Tyler, Ratcliff, Ure, Smith, Armstrong and Buentello.

If any of these individuals has abused his office then he should be removed.

The three most thankless, underpaid jobs in our community are that of policeman, firefighter and teacher. I do not for one minute believe that the entire police force is corrupt. I have been ticketed, stopped and warned, and even arrested (in a long ago misspent youth) and yet I have nothing but respect for the line officer on the street. That is not what these indictments are about. "Don't go shooting all the dogs just cause on of them has fleas."

We don't know the facts yet on any of these cases and speculation is beginning to to turn ugly. We all need to wait and see.

>"Does anyone not see the cult identification going on here?"<

You mean like the mindless adoration of the DA, a man for all seasons, bravely protecting SOME of the citizenry, against all the corrupt doers of evil in the police department. It’s almost more than a heart can bear...

If southtexas is certain sure that these men and women were stealing from the taxpaying public by marching of City time then it must be so – in spite of what those who marched had to say – right? Maybe Tyler shared some inside information with him. Yep! It’s gotta be a vast conspiracy, but by Jiminie, count on southtexas to make sure that the public knows the terrible truth ( as he sees it –LOL)

I'm sure that with southtexas' encouragement that Tyler will issue more indictments against all those cheaters who had the gall to publically support their own – based on hourly wages, it must at least be a misdemeanor. Maybe Tyler will take him on board as a volunteer junior investigator.

Southtexas: You just dont stop do you? Hilarious!

"And might I ask just how you know all those people were not being paid. I personally would like an investigation. The video shows them all leaving the police department and marching in mass to the sheriff's office.....it certainly looked like they were leaving work....and if they were not, they were at the very least disrupting the others who were trying to work at the police department. Sorry, I'm not buying that all those people were on their own time."

Are you kidding me. Investigation huh? Dont you think that the officers that participated that day would have seen this one coming. You think they wanted to give Tyler anything else to come at them with? Believe me when I say that anyone that participated that day was not on city time.

As far as the disruption thing goes, let me say that this entire thing has been a disruption to the entire department.

And let me also add...you can bet your rear that the employees at the department support their fellow officers!!!! So you can stop wondering which ones do....they all do!

BACK THE BLUE

Diga: I'm not going to begin an arguing match with you. Quite frankly, there is no point. You make no sense. Those people that walked to SO, did it on their own time. They did not do it in support of one person, but in support of the department as a whole. Each officers feels as though they could be next. You have already convicted these men, and already label them as criminals.

You say that no one has said anything bad about the good officers.... how could you be more wrong? You've already stated that these "good officers" that showed their support for the department, support CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. You said that people should be warned about these officers... your contradictory, uneducated, comments prove my point.

I'm sure you'll reply back with another comment that makes no sense and is completely unfounded... but anyone with half a brain see right through your antics. You are nothing but a poison to this forum, offering no true insight into anything thats going on. Like I said before, everyone has an opinion...but some people are just stupid, and with that, comes stupid opinions. Your comments will make the decision on whether you fit into this category or not.

Southtexas, Diga, and anyone else that wants to talk about our officers: Once again you show your ignorance. There was not a single person at the SO showing support, that was on the clock. Every single person there did that on their own time. Most people came on their day off to stand as one for the department. And yes, there were some that were on duty that day...but they used their UNPAID lunch break for that time. You are obviously one of the fine citizens that likes to tell officers things like "I pay your salary". Well I can guarantee you that each one of them would gladly give you the $00.25 of the taxes that goes toward their salary. And like I said before, you can always open up the phone book and call on the security companies to come help you when you need it. I've read these comments for months now. I WILL NOT remain quite any longer. If you have comments... thats fine, but be advised, if they are false and unwarranted... and especially an attack on the officers of this city... you can expect to hear from me. I do not know if the accusations against the officials or true or false. What I do know however, is that our officers deserve better than your uninformed, inaccurate, and unfounded remarks.

I agree digital....Justin DOES make way too much sense for the others on this forum.....my god, he actually reasoned and questioned with what appeared to be some "common sense".

And Justin, yes, Ure was fired from his job as fire chief in another Texas city due to using city materials in his own personal side business. He filed a lawsuit for inappropriate dismissal, however the firing was upheld. Then, the illustrious powers that be hired him to be our Police Chief. Don't ask me why....doesn't make sense to me. A fire chief who has been fired for basically stealing is hired as our police chief????

There are some rumors which have been stated on here....unsubstantiated...some involve Ure having personal friends with the City who pulled strings, some even say there was a romantic interest involved. These are all just rumors. However the fact that he was fired from his previous fire chief job for less than ethical behavior is a fact.

I question too why he would jump in the middle of a dog fight as soon as he arrives...that kinda upholds the idea that he might have had friends here who prompted his action. Anyone new to a job.....you would think would be cautious at least in the beginning....not get himself tangled up and indicted for perjury.

Hey Luminary, so did you clean house on those DUGs last week?

Sorry for the off-topic post folks. No link to his email.

Ernie

What's wrong Rusty....I pushed a button by telling everyone that you are the one running around pulling junior high pranks and giving anyone who disagrees with you a one star rating....oh, oh, oh...I'm so scared. Everyone, be careful what you say on here....you will get rated only one star by Rusty....don't want that to happen.

And might I ask just how you know all those people were not being paid. I personally would like an investigation. The video shows them all leaving the police department and marching in mass to the sheriff's office.....it certainly looked like they were leaving work....and if they were not, they were at the very least disrupting the others who were trying to work at the police department.

Sorry, I'm not buying that all those people were on their own time.

I love it when you point to no personal attacks and then personally attack me.

Justin: What you posted makes WAY TOO much sense for most the posters on this board.

Willie, I’m kinda just irritated at the whole situation.

I’m dumbfounded about Ratcliff (why nothing was said earlier while he was still in office, why no one else has come forward), not really sure about Tyler (is this CYA or what exactly is his part in all of this), never have trusted O’Connor (come on, having all that money and during the election the only things he really did cop wise was being a reserve or sitting on some board, no real experience. No one ran against him this time around because he would have just bought the election again, more signs, TV/Newspaper ads, etc.), why was Ure so intent on bringing down Ratcliff as soon as he got into town (if he knew DPS was investigating it, why not pool your efforts and work together on the case instead of trying to undermine someone and take all the glory. If DPS wasn’t going to work the case, then tell them you’re going to start investigating it. I think O’Connor pushed him to look into it), and then you have Armstrong and Smith, the mayor and former city attorney (I don’t ever remember hearing about them getting involved in any other criminal cases).

And Darlin’ I didn’t post anything about what Ure was suppose to have done, but I’m glad you brought it up for everyone to see again, thanks! And I must have missed something somewhere in this tangled web of blogs. You’re telling me Ure was fired from that job?

And Onlooker, sorry, my prescription of Prozac ran out last night and I can’t get it refilled until tomorrow, I’ll try to do better by then, maybe I'll send Darlin’ a pill or two also!

I do back the men and women of the VPD and VCSO, not the main players!

Enough said for now, gotta take the family to the movies to see Indiana Jones, a movie that has less cliff hangers than this Peyton Place does!!!!!!!!

not on this thread. That comment was made a few weeks ago and I retracted it upon reflection and after TomC pointed out that it was animal-like behavior. But what has that got to do with this thread Luminary? And please don't twist that statement to mean that I am a Tyler-hater, as I have not formed an opinion one way or another about him. The statement was made that if I was presented with solid evidence that he (Tyler) had made disparraging remarks about victims of sexual abuse (as has been alleged) that I would spit in his face. I also stated that if I found out that the anti-Tyler faction had manufactured that allegation in an attempt to ruin Tyler, I'd spit in their face instead. TomC pointed out that the comment was animalistic so I retracted that statement.

But what does that have to do with this thread?

Let me say this to those crying about their tax dollars going to pay for those officers showing support for Buentello, Ure, Armstrong, et al.... The officers weren't paid for that. Neither were the secretaries, clerks, members of the CPA, family members or any of the officers that came from other cities.... This was done on their own time!
As far as O'Connor... well, hell yeah he hugged Ure and showed his support of his &quot;brothers&quot; of the VPD. He knows this is all a bunch of B.S.&nbsp; I'll also tell you this: just because O'Connor comes from a family that has more money than God, doesn't mean he isn't in touch with the community. He is a wonderful person and very much cares about protecting Victoria County. I defy any of you to PROVE differently!
As for Ure's past employment, well so what if he was fired? Haven't all of us at one point or another been &quot;let go&quot; from a job? Or quit because you KNEW you were going to get fired? It happens. Doesn't mean he is a liar, fraud or cheat! I'm sure there was a very through investigation into his background before the City of Victoria hired him. And yeah, sometimes, people are fired for B.S. reasons. Making personal copies on the office xerox machine... oh puh-leeze! Who hasn't done that! Using a company phone to make personal calls......... lets not even go there!
BACK THE MEN AND WOMEN OF VPD AND VCSO!!!!

Darn Justintyme, take some Prozac or something !

Justin Tyme: I am curious, you seem pretty angry about Ure and O'Connor. Why? They (Ure & O'Connor) have disagreed with Tyler for months on the same issues. Is it so odd that they would continue to support each other now?

Wow, that must have been great police work to know that O'Connor was coming to pick them up the next morning, or maybe it was ESP. Anyway, if that's true, then it was awfully nice of the tin star sheriff to call the night before so that everyone would know exactly when he was coming over.

I wonder if he does that for everyone?

I think not!!!

O'Connor is in the click and he's probably just wanting to stay on the PD's good side, just incase he's indicated and needs a ride. It was also really nice of him to tell Buentello in the video, "Ralph, why don't you get in the back" and then he says something about the mayor, I would guess so he could sit shotgun. That was really nice of him, then when the mayor was giving his big wave from inside the SUV that we saw on the Advocates site, we would be able to see who was driving them...TMO. I guess that was better than the big ol' hug he and Ure shared in front of the sheriff's department a couple of days earlier. Is that new policy at the jail, to let the sheriff give people being released a hug of support? Man, our sheriff, helping with the start of rehab, before their convicted, please, don't make me gag!!!!

And about the taxpayer money, I guess now that this has been brought up, everyone can turn in the time off cards on Monday morning, since they forgot to fill them out last week. You kinda have to go along with the flow, because if you don't, Ure might decide to let you go. But hey, then you could file a wrongful termination suit against the city like what happened in June or July of last year. And before someone says something, I know Ure was here before that time, but the suit wasn't filed until that time.

Please don't get me wrong. I would fully support someone who I felt strongly about, it's just that I feel Ure is trying to pull the wool over everyones eyes. I fully support the police and sheriff's staff, I just can't trust the two who run the departments. I'd heard some things about Ratcliff while he was in office, but nothing like what's going on now. I would never support anyone who did something like that. And O'Connor, come on, give me a break, the man needs to be sheriff like he needs more money. And Ure, well, it just seems that all of this started when he slid his way into town. Face it the guy is a fireman, not a police chief. He needs to go work with his buddy at the fire department dragging hoses and not dragging the PD down with him. Buentello, if you read this I just want you to know that I don't blame you, I blame the guy who is dragging you into all of this and he'll probably drag more good officers down with him before it's over.

Maybe if Ure and O'Connor keep hugging, tin star will get sucked into the dark hole together.

Luminary & Southtexas: Yes, they did know when Buentello was going to be picked up. Infact, they knew the day before. So again, some of them were on their day off and the others that were actually working, used vacation or "flex" time to walk down there and show their support.

Please dont continue to go on and on about something that you have the facts totally twisted up on.

THEY WERE NOT PAID WHILE THEY WERE THERE!!!

southtexas, rustyload is right. Those officers/secretaries were &quot;on their own time&quot;. How do I know? I was standing amongst them as one of the CPA alum. Some chose flex time, vacation, and holiday time for that near hour wait. So if you have any more comments, lets make sure you know what you are talking about. Your about as bad as Tyler in his interviews trying to think of the right words to say. And before you go there and say I'm only taking up for Rusty because we are on the same side, don't try it. Rusty and I may indeed be on the same side, just like sailor and shurlee are. I don't know any of them from adam but what I do know is truth will prevail and when it does you will be floored. For now, let the police dept. look like the bad guys, but it wont be like that for long. I would of have hated to be your co-worker there southtexas, to constantly hear you moan and gripe would of drove me to jumping out a window. So go ahead and fire back, as we will continue to shoot you down with &quot;facts&quot;. And by the way, still waiting on your articles....You used the word &quot;articles&quot; with a &quot;s&quot; meaning there is more than one. I've seen one, which didn't come from you.

You know what southtexas, you are about a know it all and a uninformed know it all at best. About 90% of those officers were off and the ones who were working docked themselves a hour off their time sheet. So before you go griping that the support was on your dollar, get your facts straight. I know everyone has their opinion on here but frankly I get sick of reading your ignorant posts that have&nbsp;no logic. Maybe if you wouldn't spend your retirement sitting behind the computer, you could get out and do some digging of your own. And to call me junior high? I wouldn't even go there. If I post my true feelings about you and your past hippiness, which your bong water use is starting to show, I'll get deleted. The next time you make a post, read line 3 of the VA policy just above this box. Why don't you go bake Stevey some cookies. Make love not war dude!

Rustyload....you are so funny! You are the one that gave me a one star rating....I didn't even know about the rating system thing....never paid that much attention. I had to laugh when I got the e-mail....how very junior high. So...to reciprocate I just had to give you a one star rating back, and you actually have the nerve to complain about it in forum. Hilarious.....OMG my life is ruined forever....Rustyload only gave me one star.

Willie, I beg to differ. I just watched the video of the Mayor and Buentello being picked up and taken to the Sheriff's department....I suppose to be arrested and then released on bond.
I read the stories and posts about the support Buentello had....friends coming to stand outside while he was being processed through the legal system.I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING HIM AND STANDING OUT ON THE STREET DOING NOTHING HAD JUST WALKED OVER FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE JOB. &nbsp; It shows this on the video....a large group leaving the police department, walking down the street to &quot;support&quot; Buentello.&nbsp; Please don't try to tell me that these people knew when they were coming to arrest the Mayor and Buentello and took off to be there.....these were people and officers who were supposed to be working I would bet my life on it.
Hey guys, if you want to support your co-worker, more power to you, but don't do it on my dollar. Can you believe....from watching the film, everyone in the police department from officers to secretaries just left their post and walked over to the sheriff's department. I truly can't believe it.

Correct Willie. They were not on the clock nor were they *ordered* by their boss to be there. LE is a 'brotherhood' and many, many took Flex time to support their 'brothers'.
BACK THE BLUE !

Justin Tyme: That goes for the city counsel meeting as well. Again, they were either on their day off, took vacation time, or some of them came in for their shifts a few hours early just to go!

THEY WERE NOT BEING PAID WHILE THEY WERE THERE!

Justin Tyme: The officers that were at the Sheriff's Dept the day of the arrests were not "on the clock". They were either on their day off, or used vacation time to show their support.

Ernie: You may be right, and the tin may yet rise up show us their muscle. I just recall that they claimed to have enough proof to remove him last winter, yet we heard nothing other than the same old bluster since.

Last fall I was highly critical of Tyler refusal to accept cases and was invited by an alledged member of the tin to join them in their attempts. Not being interested in a being involved in a witch hunt, I called a former DA asistant that I'm familiar with and got their read. He indicated the the office was still reviewing cases (despite claims) and was turning away about as many as the previous office holder. He recalled that sloppy police work was an issue, and someone needed to do something to fix it. He was hopefull that given time, Ure might improve that situation. And that Tyler had over played his hand, not being too bright in handling people or the public.

Enjoy your sunday.

I just want to say that Buentello is a good man and the rest of the POLICE force do a GOOD JOB. It take's brave men and women 2 do the job they do. As for RATCLIFF and the DA that's another story

Bighorn:"If the Victoria tin was "for real", we'd have heard from them wwwwwaaaayyyyy before... "

It's my opinion, my friend, that if the Vic10 were real (and they are) you would have heard little from them until this petition hit the courts. A lot of people would still be friendly toward each other and in due time, a whole lot less crow would be being consumed - to whichever side it gets served up to.

The Victoria 10 is not a group of attorneys, they are a group of citizens who feel our DA has not comported himselfw with the professionalism and decorum fitting the position he was elected to fill. While they do have some attorneys who sympathize with their efforts, none will touch this case. Not for lack of basis in some cases, but out of a sense of self preservation.

Additionally they are not a group of well-heeled professionals so loaded with resources that they can afford an expensive attorney located from enough from Victoria county to feel he/she is insulated from any repercussions. All of them - at least the ones I know of and/or have met - have jobs and that being the case, progress has been slow and it hasn't helped that the rate at which new events surrounding and often relevant to their efforts have kept the issues in question very dynamic.

Right, wrong or just plain deluded, these citizens of our fair city are doing what they think is the right thing to do and for having the chutzpah to stand up as citizens and publicly say, "We don't think this is right and we're going to do something about it" they deserve respect - not unquestioning support perhaps but at the very least, respect - from the rest of us who are perhaps too intimidated, complacent or just down right scared to get off our collective butts and stand up for what we believe in. It takes no courage to adopt a psuedonym and pop in and out of these forums with drive by opinions. It *does* take some gonads to put real names on a real court document and stand up and be counted.

Win, lose or draw, agree or disagree, I think these citizens deserve a little respect for what they have had the courage to at least attempt. And I think one T. Jefferson, one B. Franklin, one J. Adams et. al. would agree with me having had this very scenario in mind when they penned our Constitution.

Government governs by, for and at the direction of the governed in America. Lord help us if they are allowed to reign unchecked instead.

Ernie

STX: "I certainly didn't see the Advocate expressing the good things friends and family had to say about Sheriff Ratcliff...."

Sorry, STX but check the article entitled "Peers Respected Ratcliff" from the Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007 issue of the Victoria Advocate. According to some of his peers and co-workers and even one of his school teachers here in Victoria, Ratcliff was/is an intelligent hard working and diligent officer and later sheriff. Apparently he also is alleged to have some serious problems that got the better of his intelligence and common sense.

While I do see the occasional slip of a reporter's or the Advocate's opinion displayed in a news article I believe that 1) the Advocate has done an admirable job offering an unbiased presentation of the facts on both sides of a difficult story in which they are involved and 2) have, for the most part, kept their editorial stance confined to the op-ed pages where it belongs.

What I also have seen too much of is people who blaspheme the Advocate for slanted reporting when an event, fact or incident in reported that is unfavorable to their chosen "side" then accuse them of not being harsh enough when it's the other side's ox being gored.

Either you want a newspaper or you want an ally but you can't have it both ways, folks.

Ernie

Justin, I'm sorry but your and your neighbor's observations are in direct conflict yet you post both as castigations of the police department.

If I read you comment right you're crying about the waste of taxpayer money perpetrated by the officers that showed up to support their chief and fellow officer on the occasion of their indictment - an event which is very serious and which occurs (thankfully) perhaps once in a blue moon. And yet you *also* condemn them for NOT showing up in court EVERY day of the trial, ostensibly wasting much more taxpayer money, to show their antagonism toward a suspect being tried for threatening the lives of some officers which is pretty much a common occurence.

That certainly sounds like a "heads I win, tails you lose" argument to me! And it's been years since I fell for that old ploy.

Ernie

You know it keeps going on and going on, one bad thing after another. The police department, in my opinion, needs to start thinking a little bit more about what their doing from this point it time. Now the chief and mayor are wasting taxpayer money! If your don't believe me, just watch the video on the Advocate website of the procession of support for the mayor and Lt. Buentello. I think I counted at least 20 police patrolman and investigators walking from the police station to the sheriff's office. Let's see, the walk to and from the the offices, not to mention the time they stood out in front of the sheriff's office waiting on the release of the two, probably took at least an hour. Now I don't know exactly what a patrolman or investigator at the police department make, but I would venture to say it would be between $19-23 dollars an hour. So, let me figure this out, 20 city employees times (we'll use this amount) $21 an hour, that's $420.00. Oh, and don't forget about all the support that was at the city counsel meeting, I don't have a count of employees, but I was told there were quite a few there. I wonder how someone can get a copy from the city of who was actually on the clock during both those times, I really don't think they all came in on their day off. Makes you wonder who was INVESTIGATING ALL THE CASES AND KEEPING OUR STREETS SAFE!

And you know what else bugs me? Well I'll tell you. One of my neighbors was on the jury about a week ago with the trial of the guy who pulled a gun on several police officers last year. You wanna know what comment she made to me this morning after watching the video and news stories on TV, she said she was shocked to see so many police officers waiting for someone to get out of jail. And the reason she said that was while she was doing her civic duty on the jury, she didn't see anyone from the police department sitting in the courtroom during the trial, of a young man, who had pointed a gun at some fellow police officers, and possibly could have shot and killed one of them, until the last day. She did say she thought she saw Ure on the last day, but she did know if it was him and he wasn't there very long. That my friends didn't set to well with her. Looks to me like someone would have shown up to support their fellow officers for a trial of that type.

That would have been taxpayer money well spent!!!!!!

Ask Buentello, or someone who worked with him, why he was removed from the Narcotics Unit of the VPD when he worked there. Some of my VPD friends tell me that although Ralph seems like a nice guy he will stab you in the back to better himself should the opportunity arise.

If the Victoria tin was "for real", we'd have heard from them wwwwwaaaayyyyy before Tyler had a chance to indict anyone. As I recall, they were going to "bust his chops" back in December.

Methinks tinmen like to write too much of themselves.

Oh dear Dig,
When I said that &quot;I dont' care what you think&quot;,&nbsp; I really have hurt your tender feelings haven't I?&nbsp;
I repeat...Man up!
Yawn, Hohum, ZZZzzzzzz

You know, I was reading some of the other stories related to this case and noticed several things....1) Southtexas has already convicted the 4 in the court of public opinion. Southtexas is taking the indictment as gold and running with it. They must be guilty he/she says if they were indicted. BS! Ratcliff was indicted, is he guilty too? Indictment's is merely probable cause, and probable cause equals about 51% whereas a conviction equal 95-100%. Big difference. None of these 4 are guilty and should not be labeled as such. To say the police department is corrupt is ignorant as well. 2)Tyler cannot have a interiew without his trusty penal code. I'm not going to even begin on this one. His interviews are horrible. Can't wait to see Cagle get ahold of him in court.

Dig,

>”you have plenty of free time to come on here and verbally bash and cyberstalk anyone who dares question what's really going on in Victoria.””…the childish comments aren't helping your position”“….have attacked posters who do not agree with your so far unproven and unfounded accusations does not in anyway give creedance (sic) to your cause’.”<

I repeat, I haven’t attacked posters who disagree with me – I’ve tried carefully an logically to explain my positions – not attack them personally – perhaps you’d care to share some examples.

You speak for yourself (an perhaps for a few others) but pal--- pay attention---one more time --I really don’t care what YOU think – I’m sure that hurts your feelings, but man up, dude!

southtexas gave me a one star rating!!!!!! I'll lose sleep tonite. You bake Steve his cookies yet southttexas?

southtexas, why don't you go sit on one of those cactus you have in your picture. Glad to see my long time friend shurlee-u-jest back on the scene.

Dig,
You're missing the point, YOUR opinion (and the rest of Tyler's sheep herd)of what helps my position or makes or breaks my case doesn't mean a whole lot to me or the rest of the&quot;10&quot;.
We'll present when we're ready, and everyone will get to make up their own minds - I think you're making on way too much of your own importance if&nbsp;you think the general public is waiting breathlessly for your opinion on our efforts and/or my comments. Personally, I 'm really tired of hearing you and Luminary, and southtexasguy,etc, saying the same thing over and over as if that will make it so.
I respect the fact that you are entitled to your opinion and that your opinion carries as much weight on this forum as mine -&nbsp;although I don't agree with your opinion(s) on most of what you've had to say about a variety of topics.
To reiterate, I really don't care about your opinion of me or what I have to say here. And puleeze... you and your crew have not exactly been above a few childish remarks from time to time - and no, I'm not gonna go back and point them out.

Dig,

You said: >"We are STILL waiting on the 10 to anti up or fold."<

That's right, Dig, you and the rest of the Tyler fan club will wait until WE are ready - quit whining - if you can't bear to wait, then go lay down in the corner with your blankie, assume the fetal position an suck on your thumb.

Onlooker....
I certainly didn't see the Advocate expressing the good things friends and family had to say about Sheriff Ratcliff....or for that matter anyone else indicted by the Grand Jury.

I conceded that perhaps this was a good man who got pulled into a bad situation by his peers. The purpose of the press is to present unbiased news....something that is seldom seen these days.

Ernie you got it right. Tyler didn't seem at all familiar with his own paperwork. If he really felt that he was furthering justice and that all this was so important, I would have expected him to almost have it memorized. To me this just adds to the political nature of the situation. With the ego of this man I doubt he even let anyone else&nbsp;proof read the document.

You nailed it Ernie!
And&nbsp;Tyler's nervous giggles that kept erupting....
The reporter clearly had little experience in interviewing - listen to her twittering comments throughout, yet Tyler was clearly as nervous as if he were on trial.And the business of spending the first two minutes of thwe interview doing &quot;other paperwork while the reporter waited silently - really impressive - such a busy man. LOL

SouthTexas,

Why do you ask the Advocate how dare they? They simply reported what his co-workers had to say of this honorable, God fearing, family man and public servant of nearly two decades had to say of him. Do you think he really wanted to be the one who would have to investigate and expose the twisted illegal sexcapades of a former Sheriff, and then current District Attorney honcho? Knowing the recourse it would likely have. And is having. Knowing how the POWERS THAT BE possibly would want to "smash him" to save their own face, which is happening. Doubt it one bit. You have no room to judge The LT. here, and take away what he has worked hard for to earn. Give it time, it will all come out, and I doubt the presenters of the evidence will be warranted a death sentence as you and the Tyler/Ratcliff chronies so desire.

Blueskies: I believe you're correct on all but one of your points. I don't believe Mr. Tyler is all that much an example of a "darn good [attorney]."

I watched the full ten minute interview the VA did with him following this latest round of indictments. The man spent a full two of those minutes looking for a word or phrase in *the document HE prepared for the GJ* to make a point of law. He wrote - or at the very least approved the work of one or more of his assistants - the indictment and, one would hope, would be intimately familiar with both its contents and the points of law contained within. Why not just explain the point of law rather than attempt to "remind" himself what that point was by finding the words or phrase in question?

Talk about deer in the headlights....

Ernie

Nah, you could be right. All I've wanted is for them all to step aside until this is cleared. Hopefully we'll know the truth and can kick tail then.

It seems to me that our current DA could make ANYONE look like a criminal. He would probably get a small child indicted for 'reckless endangerment' for cutting in front of him in line at the grocery store, arguing to the grand jury that the child's actions caused substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to him! ...and the worst part about that is he could probably convince them! HES A LAWYER, REMEMBER? A DARN GOOD ONE.

Tyler is like a bully on the playground... there are consequences to not playing the game his way. I don't know if anybody remembers, but back in October was when the PD officers involved in the ratcliff case began to expect these indictments... here is a blog from October 28th from a website called South Texas Chisme:

'Victoria police sergeant blocked investigation of sheriff:
Because he has refused to bring the district attorney's office evidence from the case, a police sergeant investigating Michael Ratcliff expects to be arrested.
Sgt. Ralph Buentello said he would not give the district attorney original notes, recordings and reports from the case. Ratcliff is a former Victoria County sheriff and the chief of staff for district attorney Stephen Tyler's office. Ratcliff was charged Friday with aggravated sexual assault, a first-degree felony.'

Okay... I am not claiming to be a genious by any stretch of the imagination, but if you were in Buentello's shoes, would you hand over ORIGINAL documents to Tyler when the OFFENDER IN THE CASE is still working as his chief of staff??!? Why was Tyler after the originals? He could have easily worked off copies while the originals were kept at the Police Department. So Tyler gets upset at Buentello for refusing to hand them over, which is what Buentello feels is the right thing to do ethically and so the evidence is not tampered with. and this is how Tyler gets back at him... it may have taken Tyler several months to come up with a way to twist the law around to favor him, but he managed to pull it off.

Just because Tyler is a clever man doesn't make Buentello a CRIMINAL. In my opinion, it would have been criminal to hand over the documents knowing full well what might happen to them. I don't think the city is out of line letting the people involved in this continue working... the charges are rediculous! The only conspiracy going on in victoria Tyler's abusing his power and succeeding at single handedly turning the public against their city council, city management, and law enforcement. kudo's to Tyler. NOW everyone understands why he looked so smug in his interview the other night, huh.

Okay, I've said my piece... thats just my opinion, have fun ripping it apart.

Angel & JW: City officials refusal to STEP ASIDE or STEP DOWN pending a resolution illustrates their arrogance is equal to Tylers.

Logic defies any other conclusion.

&nbsp;I absolutely agree with Urbanangel. &nbsp;Lt. Buentello is&nbsp;a fine family man,&nbsp;an honorable man and a damn excellent Police&nbsp;Lt. &nbsp;I would stand beside him any day and I stand behind him, now.&nbsp; I&nbsp;am blessed &nbsp;to know him as I have watched him come up the ranks from Rookie to Lieutenant. I highly respect&nbsp; Lt. Buentello for the Memorial Honor Guard he formed and the service it provides for Peace Officers and their families.
&nbsp;BACK THE BLUE!

RobertTX: Don't worry. Newscenter 25 made up for the Advocates over promotion of Lt. Buentello.... they did so by not showing even a second of the huge amount of support he had when he was arrested, and they also flat out lied and stated that he refused to comment after being released. Just watch the two videos from this site and from myvictoriaonline, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

So, I guess that makes it about even.

Anyone on this board who has anything bad to say about Lieutenant Ralph Buentello is completely ignorant. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge, and you fit this description to it's extreme.

Had you been at the Sheriff's Office when he was released you would have seen just how many people were there to support him.

Buentello, like others accused, is a good cop just trying to do his job.

Thanks to Tyler, good reputations are being dragged through the mud. I pray for all of the individuals and their families.

BACK THE BLUE

BigHorn, SouthTexas & Luminary... What you are witnessing here is not the destruction of our City and Police Leadership, you are witnessing the self destruction of our DA. What you see as media bias is not, it is only the reflection of this communities loss of confidence in it's DA. He has cried wolf far too many times to be believed anymore. The DA only holds our (the peoples) power of the office until we see fit to remove him. After he no longer has the power of the office of DA, I predict that he will be seing many more indictments, only this time with his name on them. I don't know if our DA can see that far into the future. The power is not his, it is ours, we the people, we trusted Mr. Tyler with it, never again.

WOW !

Victoria Advocate, thank you for tainting the jury pool if this case goes to trial. What a horrible decision to run this article at this time.

or

Maybe you know this man needs to be tried out of this area. Maybe a local trial would let a guilty man off or an innocent man go to jail.

Either way, terrible decision.

What happened to innocent until proven guilty? They have not been convicted of this crime. I think that is where we can back the police. I think there is some slimmy stuff going on...The DA is head of that stuff.

SoTex: Had this been a DWI case, would he, or me, be supported by the community, newspaper, or anyone else?
In reality, these allegations from a PUBLIC SERVANT SWORN TO UPHOLD THE LAW, to break the LAW even while claiming the mindset of PROTECTING THE CITIZENS, is even more serious.
&nbsp;For posters who &quot;back the blue&quot;, or &quot;support the cops&quot; despite their actions will someday find themselves living in a POLICE STATE.
Let's suspend them all pending the outcome of this mess. Including Smith's stipend, and Tyler on these cases. Then punish the guilty, and allow the innocent to procede with their lives.

Victoria Advocate.....you should be ashamed of yourself!!!

This man was not accused of jaywalking. He has been indicted by a Grand Jury and you write a piece making him out to be Santa Claus, Jesus Christ, and Ghandi all rolled into one.

He very well may be a fine man and officer and my heart has to go out to his family and child. However....even the best and the most honest sometime get caught up in nasty situations. This is especially true if their livelihood depends on pleasing people with more power and influence who are less ethical than they.

People make mistakes. Good people do break the law and do evil things. If they do they must pay the price. Come on Advocate.....I can't wait until the next meth-lab is raided.....I want to see a piece on what nice people the ones running it are...what horrible backgrounds they came from....and how they were such cute children and gave to chartable causes and their mothers loved them and their Sunday School teachers were impressed with their attentiveness.

Unbiased press? There is no such thing in Victoria, Tx.

Well, I'd bet&nbsp;he's the one that really did the dirty work and would not wait for DPS to finish their investigation. Pushy guy got his wish and an indictment for his trouble.

Ralph, my brother, I know what you go through when you wear the blue. Tain't easy, I thank you, my wife thanks you, my family thanks you. We give all of our people in blue much love, much respect. Keep doing what only you can do best and be safe. Blessed are the peace keepers, they shall be called the children of God.

To all the ones Dressed in Blue,
&nbsp;I wish to say &quot;Thank you&quot;!
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~ God Bless You ALL&nbsp; &amp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I&nbsp; &quot;Back the Blue&quot; ! ~
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Kolache&nbsp;Lady ~ Civilian Police Academy #1
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;