Arthur Jones, Bunnell’s police chief for four years until 2012 and a founder of the Alliance of Involved Ministries who relished his role as a mentor to children and youth, has died. He was 61.
arthur jones
Bunnell Welcomes Its Newest Police Chief as Jeff Hoffman Steps In and Arthur Jones Exits
Jeff Hoffman, 41, a captain at the Daytona Beach Police Department, where he’s been for 21 years, was endorsed by a unanimous Bunnell City Commission. He starts work at the end of the month.
Capt. Jeff Hoffman of Daytona Beach PD Wins the Job as Bunnell’s Next Police Chief
Jeffrey Hoffman, 41, been a captain in the Daytona Beach Police Department since January 2001, supervising 75 uniformed patrol cops, he’s been in that police department since 1991, and lives in Ormond Beach. He’ll be taking a $45,000 pay cut.
Bunnell’s Insurer Offers Ex-Cop $100,000 to Settle Whistle-Blower Suit; He May Not Take It
Ex-Bunnell cop Frank Gamarra was reportedly seeking $250,000, but last week was willing to accept $100,000 as a result of what he considers his wrongful termination in 2010. Bunnell City Manager Armando Martinez said the city was willing to fight it out in court.
Bunnell’s Police Chief Candidates Narrowed To 2; Lt. Randy Burke Doesn’t Make the Cut
Lt. Randy Burke, at the Bunnell Police Department for two decades, was among the 19 candidates who made the first cut, from 31 applicants, but wasn’t chosen among the first six finalists, or the last three. City Manager Martinez will make a decision this week.
Ex-Bunnell Cop John Murray, On Trial, Takes Stand and Denies Wrongdoing
John Murray was fired in 2010 and faces four felony charges, including cocaine possession and tampering with evidence. The trial Flagler County Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano is expected to take all day.
In Bunnell Police Chief Battle, a Popular Choice Against City Manager’s Unpopular Criteria
Lt. Randy Burke wants to be Bunnell police chief and has been at the department for almost 20 years. Some 200 people signed a petition favoring his appointment. But Burk has no BA–a new job requirement that outgoing chief Arthur Jones never had to meet, and that Burke says was put there to keep him out.
Citing Health and Other Priorities, Bunnell Police Chief Arthur Jones Will Resign in April
Bunnell Police Chief Arthur Jones will leave his post at the end of April after three years as a tempering force in a small but tumultuous department, and as the city’s first black police chief.
Flashgate: Internal Investigation Clears Bunnell Cop, Citing Another for “Honest Mistake”
Cpl. Sergio Pina was exonerated of acting improperly when he deleted files off the flash drive of a former Bunnell cop that had been turned into the department. Lt. Randy Burke was cited for “improper procedure” without malice.
Citing “Deliberate Indifference,” Woman Sues Bunnell Over Ex-Cop’s Sex-Laced Defamation
The case centers on the actions of then Cpl. Nick Massaro in late November 2009, who posted an ad on Craigslist soliciting sex from black men–and signed the ad with the name of the woman now suing him, Bunnell and the Bunnell Police Department.
Bunnell PD Seizes Ex-Cop’s Lost Flash Drive, Deleting Files Against His Consent
Roosevelt James, formerly of the Bunnell Police Department, lost his drive on June 21. The police department held it for 26 days “under review,” deleting files along the way, according to James, who’s calling for an investigation.
Bunnell Commission Says Nyet To Reducing $1 Million Police Force, Whatever the Savings
Bunnell City Commissioner Elbert Tucker proposed reducing the police department’s ranks to cut back its $1 million burden on a $4 million general fund budget. The rest of the commission smacked him down.
Bunnell Police Miscues Helping To Lessen Case Against Ex-Cops John and Lisa Murray
Lisa Murray faces one less count of official misconduct, but while a grand theft charge against John Murray was dropped, a charge of official misconduct was added. The cases, for now, are proceeding to trial.
Small-Town Big Brother: Bunnell Eying Slew of Spy Cameras In City’s South Side
The eight cameras would allegedly deter crime in the drug-prone south side, though the city has no evidence they’d be effective. The commission is debating costs, but is sold on the idea as one way to buttress the short-staffed police department.
As Bunnell PD Tries to Clear Its Name, Missing Evidence Turns Up, Discrepancies Remain
A follow-up investigative report by the State Attorney’s office sheds more light, and raises more questions, on the Bunnell Police Department’s habit of producing previously missing evidence and paperwork.
Bunnell Police Inquiry: In Videos, Chief Jones Strains to Keep the Focus on John Murray
Three video clips illustrate some of the background of the inquiry that led to the arrest of two Bunnell cops, but also continue raising more questions than have been answered since.
Ex-Bunnell Cops Lisa and John Murray, Facing 6 Felonies, Angle for 6 Trials–and Pleas
The defense’s tactic is an attempt to dilute the force of the felony charges the Murrays face. While it may backfire, the cases are unlikely to go to trial as both sides are talking of a resolution.
Ending 8 Years of Extortion, Bunnell Quietly Invites Drivers to Get Their Money Back
From 2002 to May 2008, Bunnell charged owners a $350 “administrative fee” for impounding their vehicles, even when there were no legal grounds to impound the cars. The burden is now on vehicle owners to get their money back.
Shooting in Bunnell at South Church and MLK: Oxycontin Deal Gone Bad
Bunnell Police Chief Arthur Jones said a man was shot in the chest and airlifted to a hospital around 9 p.m. Monday. It was a drug deal gone bad–over Oxycontin, the pain pill.
Bunnell Police’s Latest Slipshod Accusations Clear Ex-Cop of Counterfeiting
Former Sgt. Frank Gamarra had cooperated with a State Attorney’s investigation of shoddy policing at the Bunnell PD only to be fired and charged with carrying a fake $20 bill.
Bunnell Rebuffs Sheriff’s Offer to Provide Law Enforcement at 26% Less Than City’s Costs
The Flagler County Sheriff’s proposal to cut Bunnell’s police costs by $260,000 by taking over proved less convincing than commissioners’ emotional attachment to a troubled police department.
Sheriff Knocks Commissioner Flynt’s Towing Company Out of Wrecking Rotation Indefinitely
Saxon’s Wrecker, owned by Bunnell City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt, is at the center of a withering investigative report showing Flynt benefited from chronic favoritism at other towers’ expense.
State Report Details Disturbing Patterns at Bunnell PD and Favors For Comm. Jimmy Flynt
A 35-page State Attorney’s report puts Bunnell City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt at the center of a pattern of favoritism involving the long-troubled Bunnell Police Department.
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 6 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 6 of 6
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 5 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 5 of 6
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 4 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 4 of 6
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 3 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 3 of 6
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 2 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 2 of 6
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 1 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 1 of 6
2 Bunnell Cops Arrested; Commissioner Flynt Embroiled in Favoritism Allegations
Bunnell Commissioner Jimmy Flynt’s Saxon’s Wrecking service is at the center of pattern of police favoritism and misconduct.
Timeline: Bunnell Police Department Firings and Resignations, 2005-2012
The Bunnell Police Department has been riddled with serious internal problems for the past several years. The following is a list of firings, resignations and allegations going back only to 2005.