HUMP DAY HUMOR

ABC ENFORCEMENT DIRECTOR BOYCE HAMLET DOES NOT FOLLOW PROCEDURES REGARDING EMPLOYEE LEAVE

According to records provided by the Department of Finance and Administration, tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet does not appear to understand the policies of the State of Arkansas regarding leave requests of state employees. It also appears that he is allowing an employee under his control to take half a day off to take her mother to the bank, while still on the clock, without making that employee file the appropriate required forms. This is a flagrant misuse of the leave system and of public funds.

We made a FOIA request for a copy of Brown's leave form for August 14, 2015 and DFA/ABC responded that there wasn't one.

Not only is this a flagrant misuse of the leave system and of public funds, it's another example of Hamlet making false statements or lying...

Perhaps it's more efficient to let an employee take half the day off and not bother with using annual or compensatory leave and file all that paperwork.  

And that thing about being "better stewards of the tax payer dollar"? Pure bullshit.  This is not an isolated incident of Hamlet's waste of our funds (ABC misuses public funds).

The policy on compensatory time is very clear and easy to understand.

Arkansas State Employee Compensatory Time Policy

All state employee must take leave if they are not going to be at work.  If the employee is sick, they use available sick leave.  If the employee wants to take a vacation or take half a day off to take their mommy to the bank, they use annual leave or accrued compensatory time (if they are allowed to earn comp time). Hamlet's action of just letting his secretary take half a day off without the required paperwork is an abuse of the system. If they have no leave, then they take leave without pay.

This is not the only time Hamlet has played fast and loose and tried to dance around the state's leave procedures.  He was questioned by Max Brantley, editor of the Arkansas Times, if he took leave back on August 26, 2015 when he spent period of time all through the work day on the phone or emailing with Bill Sadler at the Arkansas State Police and trying to get in touch with the Attorney General's Office to stop release of the Arkansas State Police file on his hiring and firing by them in 2000. Hamlet claimed he took leave but could not produce a leave slip on Brantley's request. A few dates later a leave slip was provided, but it appeared to be manufactured after the fact.

NO WARRANT, COURT ORDER OR SUBPOENA? NO PROBLEM SAYS ABC

Apparently the ABC does not feel like they need a warrant, court order or subpoena to obtain cellphone records of a suspected bootlegger. 

Now this is not a bootlegger like you have seen on TV shows...

it's more like a nail salon that keeps a box of wine so that a customer can have a complementary glass of some ripple while getting their nails done. 

Next thing you know, ABC Enforcement agents will be rolling in wearing bullet proof vests, guns drawn, raiding the Arkansas Arts Center and arresting center employees and patrons for having a glass of bubbly at the Christmas Art Exhibition.

 

So the ABC received a complaint (usually made by someone pissed off at someone else, e.g., jilted lover or ex-employee) about a suspected bootlegger.  Instead of going through a local judge to obtain an order or subpoena or using their own subpoena power to legally obtain records, the ABC used the "good old boy" system and an enforcement agent an enforcement agent here in Arkansas got in touch with a buddy in Tennessee that works for federally funded organization, the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program / Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC) and got them to get records.

  RISS WEBSITE

Does the ABC routinely obtain information on Arkansas citizens without obtaining the necessary legal documents to prevent a violation of individual rights? Probably not.  With a tainted director of Enforcement with a 15 year history of lying and dishonest behavior you can expect the worst.

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CELLPHONE PRIVACY 

HOW THE GOVERNMENT CAN GET YOUR CELLPHONE INFORMATION 

HUMP DAY HUMOR

MARRIED ABC ENFORCEMENT AGENT WANTED A FEMALE TO "RIDE ALONG" - SUPERVISOR WANTED PROOF IT'S NOT A GIRLFRIEND

ABC ENFORCEMENT AGENT MICHAEL BUSH ASKED IF AN UNNAMED FEMALE COULD RIDE ALONG WITH HIM

Back in July,  married ABC Enforcement Agent Michael Bush asked his supervisor, Kenny Heroman, if it was okay if a female who was not a police officer nor his wife could ride along with him while he was performing his official duties for the ABC.

Heroman, not sufficiently empowered to make any semi-important decisions, asked tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet for input.

HEROMAN AND HAMLET

Hamlet, not having any experience whatsoever in supervising staff and not being known for his intelligence, after thinking about the question for most of the day said it was okay.

Heroman, having some actual supervisory experience and reflecting on a similar situation that occurred when he was a Captain with the Pine Bluff Police Department wanted proof she was not Bush's girlfriend. 

Wonder what Bush's wife thinks about that?

We don't know what a female employee of the Fusion Center (part of the Arkansas State Police) that worked on domestic terrorism would  accomplish, workwise, by riding along with an employee of the ABC. Seems like this might be something that could get a domestic relations case going between Bush and his wife. 

ANOTHER LIE BY BOYCE HAMLET UNCOVERED

Back in October, we posted how tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet had to pay state taxes owed since 2001 in order to keep his job (click to view previous post).

According to a document recently obtained from the Department of Finance and Administration, Hamlet told another lie and filed another false document when he was hired by DFA to head the enforcement section of the ABC...

At the time Hamlet was appointed to the position (even though he did not meet the written requirements for the position) and he signed the Acknowledgement of Receipt of Tax Obligation Policy form, he did and had in fact owed the state of Arkansas money for non payment of personal income tax since 2006.  The DFA had filed a lien (a/k/a, Certificate of Indebtedness) against him because of the unpaid taxes.

THIS DOCUMENT INDICATES THE TAXES WERE DUE IN APRIL 2001

But when is another lie and the submission of yet another false document a problem for a habitual, pathological liar? 

Arkansas Code Annotated  § 26-18-202 states that any person that fails to pay taxes is a felon.   Let's see Hamlet add that to his resume.

Since Hamlet is a felon, how can he possibly be employed in law enforcement?

CLICK TO VIEW FULL DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE PULASKI CO. CIRCUIT CLERK

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Apparently Republicans, like Hamlet,  do not have a problem with individuals that don't pay taxes or try to claim too many tax credits.  Hamlet took offense when it came to light that Asa Hutchinson claimed a homestead exemption on homes in NW and Central Arkansas.

Hamlet's psychological problem with mathematics not only poses problems with his administration abilities at the ABC but with simple addition problems as well.

Hutchinson defrauded Pulaski County $2,800 in taxes and penalties and was taken to task by the media for claiming it was an honesty mistake.  What was Hamlet's excuse?

HUMP DAY HUMOR

ABC PURCHASES QUESTIONABLE ITEMS WITH PUBLIC FUNDS

It appears that the ABC is making questionable purchases for items that their employees should be buying for themselves at Walmart or Walgreen's.

Back in June, Milinda Brown, secretary and gofer for tainted ABC Enforcement director Boyce Hamelt purchased two types of gloves that are worn by individuals that suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, swelling, sprains, strains and general soreness.

 

CLICK TO VIEW FULL DOCUMENT

Perhaps Hamlet needed some new workout gloves. After all lifting around 50 pounds or so is a strain on delicate hands.  Maybe the ergo bead gloves offer some pleasure when he manipulates things.

Regardless of their purpose, these items should not be purchased with public funds.  

We wouldn't be surprised if Depend's appear on another invoice.  

 

Cheryl Reed, a manager with DFA/Office of Administrative Services, did not want  to answer any questions about these questionable purchases in spite of DFA's policy that requires employees to "respond promptly and accurately to all requests for information and complaints regardless of the source" (DFA Code of Ethics, page 3). Reed did finally admit that these purchases would require supporting documentation demonstrating the need for the items.
 
Unfortunately DFA does not enforce this, or many other of their own policies or procedures,  nor do they adhere to many state laws.  But if you owe taxes (unless you work for the ABC - see this and this) or owe child support they will lower the boom on you.

When a FOIA request was sent to obtain the supporting documents demonstrating the need for the gloves, DFA/ABC replied with the response... none found.

This is not the first time that public funds have been spent on questionable items. You might remember former governor Mike Huckabee spending public funds on pantyhose and Taco Bell.

DID THE HUCKSTER HAVE A PANTYHOSE FETISH?

ABC COOPERATING MINORS VIOLATE ARKANSAS LAW BY BUYING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

ABC ENFORCEMENT DIRECTOR BOYCE HAMLET ENCOURAGES COOPERATING MINORS TO LIE LIKE HE DOES

The use of cooperating minors by the ABC to purchase alcoholic beverage violates Arkansas Code Annotated    § 3-3-203, Purchase or possession by minor, which in part states:

(a) (1) It is unlawful for any person under twenty-one (21) years of age to purchase or have in his or her possession any intoxicating liquor, wine, or beer.

There is no exception to the statue for law enforcement purposes. It might also be argued that parents and/or ABC enforcement agents are violating Arkansas Maltreatment Laws, specifically neglect, by placing these children in potentially dangerous situations and encouraging them and even paying them to break a state law.

A Standford Law Review article says that breaking the law to catch lawbreakers is authorized criminality:

"This practice of authorized criminality is secret, unaccountable, and in conflict with some of the basic premises of democratic policing. And to the extent that authorized criminality presents mixed messages about their moral standing, it undermines social support for the police. While the practice isn’t new, authorized criminality raises fundamental questions about the limits of acceptable police conduct and has been too long ignored…

In fact not only does the ABC encourage these minors to break the law, they encourage them to lie about their age:

NOTICE THE STRIKETHROUGH TEXT

If the ABC encourages the minors to lie about their age, what else do they lie about?  The ABC Enforcement division is headed by a known liar, so it is not unreasonable to think they might encourage lying about trying to purchase alcoholic beverages.

Not only do the minor receive payment and mileage for breaking the law, ABC enforcement agents/police officers get paid "per bust" too!

THESE FIGURES WERE RELEASE BY THE DFA IN JULY 2015

 

And there is also the possibility that some improper activity might occure between these minors and the ABC Agents.  This is a point that former ABC enforcement agent Jerrell Smith:

If an agency will break laws to enforce laws, what else will they do?  We know that ABC Enforcement is led by a dishonest and untrustworthy individual who has an established pattern of lying to achieve goals and in a recent local court case  a judge stated that tainted ABC Enforcement director Boyce Hamlet posed problems for the ABC because of his character.

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WHAT A JUDGE SAYS ABOUT BREAKING LAWS TO ENFORCE LAWS

HUMP DAY HUMOR

REP. JULIE MAYBERRY CAUSED THE ABC TO CHANGE PROCEDURES PRIOR TO HER FILING SUIT AGAINST THE ABC

 

REP. MAYBERRY AND THE DAYCARE CENTER THAT THE ABC THINKS IS NOT A "SCHOOL"

State Representative Julie Mayberry's lawsuit against the ABC isn't set to be heard until December 17th in Benton, but she has already caused the ABC to acknowledge that a permit to sell alcoholic beverages cannot be issued to an applicant if their establishment is within 1000 feet of a daycare. 

The discovery of this fact may undo the ABC in the lawsuit as their attorney, Mary Robin Casteel, argues that the ABC does not consider a daycare to be a school.

CASTEEL SHOWING FRUSTRATION AT ROBERTS' DECISION AND EMAIL

Current Arkansas law (A.C.A. § 3-4-206)  states in part that "No new permit to engage in the retail liquor business in this state may be issued by the Director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division for the location of any business situated within one thousand feet (1,000') of any church or schoolhouse property line." 

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has issued an opinion that daycare's are indeed schools.

The ABC previously had not considered daycare centers to be "schools" and disagreed with AG Rutledge, so it was surprising that ABC Administration Director Bud Roberts sent an email out to ABC employees that indicated an abrupt change in policy to apparently bring the ABC in compliance with the law.

Pay particular attention to the date of the email... it's August 27, 2015 a little less than a  month prior to the filing of Rep. Mayberry's lawsuit and about a week after she appeared before the ABC Board to object to a permit being issued that was within 900 feet of a daycare center in East End.

In the hearing before the ABC Board, Rep. Mayberry used A.G. Rutledge's opinion to back up her assertion that a daycare center is in fact a type of school.

Funny how the ABC can waste taxpayer funds on defending a lawsuit that seeks to enforce the laws of the state of Arkansas and the regulations that the ABC itself espouses. And if Rep. Mayberry wins the suit, her attorney will collect fees and costs from the state.

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Note to Bud - There are things called family daycare homes that may or may not require a license from DHS.  Like daycare centers, these family daycare homes can receive state funds for meals, etc. 

ABC ENFORCEMENT AGENTS USE PRIVATE EMAIL FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS OPENING THOSE ACCOUNTS TO FOIA INQUIRIES

KENNY HEROMAN PONDERS ON HOW TO TURN ON HIS COMPUTER

Following in the footsteps of Hillary Clinton, two ABC Enforcement Agents, Kenny Heroman and Ken Coon frequently use personal email to send messages and reports that relate to their positions as ABC employees.

This opens up these email accounts for inspection under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Heroman has an official email address, kenny.heroman@dfa.arkansas.gov,which

he can utilize on his state issued laptop and iPhone, but he often uses his personal email address, klheroman@cablelynx.com or one belonging to his wife, a certified court reporter, lydia_williams@sbcglobal.net,  to send official reports and information to other ABC employees.

Likewise, Coon has an official state email address, ken.coon@dfa.arkansas.gov, but he often uses his personal email address, kencoonjr@gmail.com,  to send official reports and information to other ABC employees.

Maybe these two cannot handle more than one email account and like Hillary Clinton use one email account "for convenience".  

 

You may ask how do we know they are using private, personal email for official business? From documents obtained by the useful Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.  

We wonder how secure the information is that is sent through private email servers.  This may be a violation of certain state laws.  But the ABC and their employees are no strangers to breaking laws, and it starts at the top with the ill-chosen ABC Enforcement Director.

However, Heroman and Coon are not the only ABC agents that use personal email for ABC business, other ABC Enforcement agents have also used personal emails for official business:

Shelby Clark- sclark1799@yahoo.com

Jesse King - jesseking@sbcglobal.net

Trent Vollmer -tavollmer@yahoo.com   

Even tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet has used a personal email address, bhamlet08@yahoo.com, but everyone knows that he lacks intelligence, character, honesty and common sense.

 

DOES BOYCE HAMLET USES PERSONAL EMAIL TO TRY AND HIDE THINGS FROM FOIA REQUESTS?

Why public employees use a personal email address for official business when they have an official state email address and secured server to send and receive these emails calls their judgement and motives into question.

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FYI - This is an interesting publication regarding public employee emails and the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act - CLICK TO READ.

HUMP DAY HUMOR

DFA REVEALS NAMES OF COOPERATING MINORS USED BY THE ABC

The Department of Finance and Administration kindly provided us a list of cooperating minors used in ABC enforcement activity.  

ABC agents recruit underage individuals, to go into stores, restaurants and bars to try and purchase an alcoholic beverage. Many legal experts believe this activity is entrapment. This subject was presented in a previous post. 

These are a few of the 97 individuals the ABC had on the list.  

Wyatt Banta - Maysville (Benton Co.)

 

Lexa Page Blake - Marion (Crittenden Co.)

Alicia Ann Boyd - St. Paul (Madison Co.)

Erin Elizabeth Bradley - Marion (Crittenden Co.)

Carson Broussard - Jacksonville (Pulaski Co.)

Bradley K. Caldwell - Monticello (Drew Co.)

Baileigh Chadwick - Rogers (Benton Co)

Cydney Cheatham - Little Rock (Pulaski Co.)

Taylor Jerrell Coleman - Blytheville (Mississippi Co.)

Michaela E. Davis - Greenwood (Sebastian Co.)

Stormy Evelyn Dean - Jacksonville (Pulaski Co.)

Jeremy Wayne Dowdy - Paragould (Greene Co.)

Haley Jordan Edwards -  Bentonville (Benton Co.)

Tyler "Ty" S. Fowler - Hot Springs (Garland Co.)

Katelynn "Katie" Gilgen - Rogers (enton Co.)

Tanner Reece Goodwin - Hindsville (Madison Co.)

Leah Elizabeth Holaway - Monticello (Drew. Co)

Tanner Regan Hess - Forrest City (St. Francis Co.)

Sean Jernigan - Paragould (Greene Co.)

Tonnyce Lagrone - Pine Bluff (Jefferson Co.)

Hayden Brooke Laird - Fayetteville (Washington Co.)

Logan Dale Laird - Forrest City (St. Francis Co.)

Tiffany T. Le - Rogers (Benton Co.)

Amber L. McDaniel - Hazen (Prairie Co.)

William Austin McGhee - Fayeteville (Washington Co.)

Rowan Mason - Newport (Jackson Co.)

Savannah Parker - Magnolia (Columbia Co.)

Keelie Perez - Benton (Saline Co.)

Kenan Plunk - El Dorado (Union Co.)

Wes Rains - Mountain View (Stone Co.)

Ashley K. Rocco - Springdale (Washington Co.)

Callen Russell - Pea Ridge (Benton Co.)

Sabrina Rust - Van Buren (Crawford Co.)

Edward Sanders - North Little Rock (Pulaski Co.)

Kolten Schibblehut - Fort Smith (Sebastian Co.)

Markel Scott - Pine Bluff (Jefferson Co.)

Kylee L. Shepherd - Springdale (Washington Co.)

Regan Brock Simons - Mpuntain Home (Baxter Co.)

Kielin Smith - Blytheville (Mississpiip Co.)

Brennan P. Stegall - Bentonville (Benton Co.)

Brittany Lee Tessitore - Warren (Bradley Co.)

Brooklyn Waller - El Dorado (Union Co.)

Alvin Warren III - Little Rock (Pulaski Co.)

Autumn Noella Wesson - Warren (Bradley Co.)

Jonathon W. Wiles - Fouke (Miller Co.)

Whitney Willis - Texarkana (Miller Co.)

Garrett W. Wise - Bonanza (Sebastian Co.)