“A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION OF MONROE COUNTY IS LONG PAST DUE”
Jan 9, 2012
To Gov. Haslam and all others concerned:
To say I am distressed would be an understatement! Today we visited a friend at the Monroe County, TN. Jail. This man, Walter Fitzpatrick, is a retired Lt. Commander in the Navy. Now he is forced to sleep on a damp floor in the day room of the jail – no water – no bathroom and he is a diabetic with an ulcer on his heel. He was denied a shower for 24 days until the nurses ordered he be allowed to have a shower. Now, again 2 weeks gone by and no shower.
What was his humongous crime that warrants this treatment you ask…..OK you didn’t ask, but I will tell you anyway. He had uncovered the grand jury illegalities and attempted a citizen’s arrest of the grand jury foreman in the courtroom. The same man had been appointed and re-appointed as foreman for 27 consecutive years. Deputies proceeded to arrest Walter instead. Walter fired his attorney because the attorney was threatened and intimidated by a judge. He reported to the clerk of the court that all correspondence be sent to him personally. She either forgot or disregarded this and he did not receive a notice for a court hearing. This absence brought out a team of 3 detectives – no uniforms – and an unmarked car in sight of his door, but up a little hill. He started to head to his landlord’s house. Just by chance he glanced over his shoulder to see 3 men attacking him from the rear. He ran back into his house at which time they kicked in the door and attacked him physically and yes, he fought back. One deputy came close to taking his ear off. He was tasered several times and taken to jail. All of this, because a clerk neglected to inform him of a date for a court appearance. I, personally witnessed the trial. What I witnessed was a miscarriage of justice. The judge allowed a deputy who was a witness to stay in the court room listening to testimony. Highly irregular! The jury found him guilty of resisting arrest, but not on the assault charge.
At the sentencing, Walter read a statement that the court had no jurisdiction because of faulty jury selection. The judge sentenced him to 6 months. On Dec. 3rd….approximately 60 days before completion of sentence, he was released. On Dec. 7th he observed the picking of the grand jury. That night 7 deputies again kicked in his door – guns drawn – and said he had been released too early and also he had taken some papers from the courthouse. The swat team use was excessive. Did they need practice so badly that they used the Commander for this purpose? They ransacked his home, took his computer and a multitude of other items. The door was broken again. His major crime that day was to observe the judge hand picking the jurors. Isn’t the jury supposed to be picked randomly to assure as much as possible a fair and impartial jury? When the jury works directly for the court system an innocent person doesn’t stand a chance. That, sirs, is why he is sleeping on the floor and deprived of the necessary showers for his health.
Is this acceptable judicial and law enforcement actions? I think not! A murderer would have more rights. I believe a complete investigation of Monroe County is long past due. I implore you to exert your influence to get him out of there to receive the much needed treatment for his foot.
The commander spends much of his time in Cell #9 which is normally reserved for unruly inmates. If you knew him, you would know he is generally a mild mannered man. The only connection this cell has with the outside world is when rain water blows through the wall and wets the floor. There is no sense of day or night or changing seasons. Walt is alone in this cell for long periods of time, which results in mental confusion and disorientation. This is defined in Amendment V111 in the constitution as cruel and unusual punishment and as such has not been allowed since the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791.
Walter’s adult onset (type 2) diabetes was in remission when he was first incarcerated in 2010. It returned at the end of his previous incarceration in 2011 and has now progressed to ulcers on his extremities. Type 2 diabetes, in its early stages, is controlled by diet and exercise. Type 2 diabetes in a susceptible individual is precipitated by inappropriate diet and no exercise. The diet for diabetics is low glycemic; the food in the Monroe County jail is high glycemic. He is not allowed to exercise and does not receive a proper diet and medical care to control his diabetes.
The Commander is a political prisoner, in fact. He has no recourse from his condition. He is in pseudo solitary confinement without access to a phone or any means to prepare himself for future defense in court. His treatment is unconscionable and unlawful in the 21st century. Walter is sure God has a purpose in all of this and maybe that purpose is the stench of corruption being exposed throughout Tennessee. His life has been threatened and we are fearful someone will succeed. Law enforcement states they are to “Serve and Protect.” In Monroe County they only serve and protect judicial misconduct. I am appalled at what I have personally observed here. You should be equally appalled!
I await your response.
Sincerely
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Editor’s Note: The following cover letter was sent to a citizen’s business associates along with the above letter regarding Walter Fitzpatrick’s current situation:
As a business man in east TN [Certified Building Inspection] I should not get involved in local affairs, however I cannot sit back when the “Cruel and unusual punishment” of another human is involved. If you do not agree then simply never use me again.
Monroe County is holding Navy Commander Walter Fitzpatrick in jail as a Political prisoner. He has type 2 diabetes and could lose his foot if nothing is done quickly. At this time he has had ONLY ONE SHOWER in the last 30 days and only because the nurse had to order it. He is sleeping [ON THE FLOOR] in the day room with no water or toilet. Many days he is held in solitary in cell #9 which is used as the drunk tank and when it rains one must sleep on the wet floor. Amendment #8 to the constitution outlaws CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT ratified in the Bill of Rights in 1791
Please read the letter below that tells about the evil system in Monroe County, TN. Also please call the jail 423 442 3911 and ask about Commander Walter Fitzpatrick and his health. If you agree with me please pass this email on to whomever you would like.
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Contact information for Tennessee officials:
I have once again called all of the offices Gov, LtGov, Senator, Jail. I thought you may be interested in that the Governors office promised to pass my comments along. I told the lady it was action related to the comments that were most important. The Lt.Gov. did not want to talk about it and wanted to divert the issue that I was only passing on third party information. I had to leave a message at Sen. Lamar’s office as he is filtering calls. The jail, most interestingly, said that Walter Fitzpatrick is well and when asked how they knew, I was put on hold & transferred to “booking”. When she came on she said he was being treated good and was OFFERED a shower ever day. I asked how that could be verified and was told they log it that he was OFFERED and they can’t make him take one. It was obvious they did not want to talk about how they were treating him.
Can’t say as I blame you, whoever you are for telling Haslam to wake up. Doubt he will and maybe someone should call for him to be recalled. Hey look at the outrage in Wisconsin with Walker and how it will cost taxpayers there $9 million all the behest of the leftist unions.
The Battle of Athens (sometimes called the McMinn County War) was a rebellion led by citizens in Athens and Etowah, in eastern Tennessee (right next to Monroe County) , against the local government in August 1946. The citizens, including some World War II veterans, accused the local officials of political corruption and voter intimidation. The event is sometimes cited by firearms ownership advocates as an example of the value of the Second Amendment in combating tyranny.
Representative John Jennings Jr. from Tennessee decried McMinn County’s sorry situation under Cantrell and Mansfield and the Justice Department’s repeated failures to help the McMinn County residents, and was delighted when it was over that “…at long last, decency and honesty, liberty and law have returned to the fine county of McMinn.”
The Daily Post-Athenian, Athens, Tenn., August 7, 1946; pages 1, 6. had an article from Eleanor Roosevelt in which she made the comment: “Any local, state or national government, or any political machine, in order to live, must give the people assurance that they can express their will freely and that their votes will be counted. The most powerful machine cannot exist without the support of the people. Political bosses and political machinery can be good, but the minute they cease to express the will of the people, their days are numbered.”
Since the people of eastern Tennessee have by now waited years for justice to come to Monroe County, and the county and state governments refuse to accord its people a lawful county government, maybe it’s time to re-look at history for solutions for the people.