Brian Reilly answers more commenter questions

The following was received in email today from Brian Reilly:

My answers to questions are underlined and in bold italics. Thank you for your very thoughtful questions.

CarlOrcas March 13, 2014 at 11:29 pm #
Mr. Reilly,
Here are the questions I mentioned to Doc. If you are inclined and have time I think we’d all find your answer enlightening. Your material is in bold italics.

The Crown Vics were owned by the Cold Case Posse, a non-profit Arizona corporation, and yes they had government plates.I presume they were purchased as surplus from the county, is that correct? I was told by Zullo the silver Crown Vic was purchased from the county for 50 cents. Do you know if the purchase was made from the MCSO before they went to the county for disposal as surplus? Unknown And do you have any idea how they retained their government plates once they were sold to a private, non-profit entity? Unknown.

How about insurance? I know you said you put the one you were assigned on your personal policy but do you know if the posse had insurance….of any kind….in its own name? Unknown.

Do you know how many cars the Cold Case Posse owned? I was aware of three vehicles, and possibly a fourth vehicle. Were they equipped with any police equipment: MCSO radio? Yes. Siren? Yes. Emergency lights? Yes.

You said something about having gas card or key. Was that a commercial gas credit card or a key to the county pumps? County pumps, county key.

4. The files were maintained by Commander Mike Zullo. It is his work product.

5. I am unaware of any MCSO DR (case) number. The non-profit CCP Inc. was doing the investigation, not the MCSO.

This really fascinates me. Having been involved with non-profits I know that the members work product belongs to the entity, not the member and especially not the officers.

It strikes me that Zullo can’t have it both ways. Did he explain to you how he felt it was “his work product”? He told me it was his work product and he did not have to release anything to Arpaio. Did he think the posse belonged to him? Unknown. Did the posse have an attorney? I was aware of one CCP member who was an attorney. If so, did he/she approve the ownership situation? I saw a letter, but I‘d prefer not to comment about the content.

As far as the “investigation” is concerned did either Zullo or Arpaio explain how a private entity was going to be able to conduct an “investigation” that one of its founders would own? No. Along the same line of thought, once I became aware of the publication of the first Zullo, Corsi e-book with an introduction by Sheriff Arpaio I was absolutely irate. As you can tell I find the whole proposition dubious, at best.

6. My expenses were paid by Commander Zullo by credit/debit card.
Do you know if it was personal card or the posse or the county? Unknown. If it was a personal card do you know if and how he was reimbursed and by whom? In theory it would have been from public donations.

You may find this very difficult to believe (as did I), but Commander Zullo informed me that the CCP was used as bar bouncers for taverns and paid less than $10 per hour per person.

This is absolutely mind boggling! Did this stop before you joined the posse? Yes, that is my understanding. A couple other questions regarding this amazing revelation, if you know the answers:

How was the posse paid ? Posse Posse members are supposed to be unpaid volunteers. I have no knowledge how they were apparently paid as bar bouncers and where the funds went.

Were members paid for their time and by whom? I was told they made a figure less than $10 per hour, per person.

If so were taxes withheld? Unknown.

Did the posse have business licenses? Unknown.

Did anyone explain to you how a non-profit charity can compete against private for-profit security companies? No. I was never involved in any CCP bar bouncer details.

The car that I was assigned was used on those details and exhibited extensive paint damage. Commander Zullo told me that the damage was from throwing people against the car during tavern details.

Leaving aside the phony bravado for the moment did Zullo explain what authority posse members had and who covered them should someone get upset about being thrown up against a car?

It was my understanding that if actions were taken by posse members that were according to policy, posse members were covered by Maricopa County Risk Management. According to MCSO policy, the unpaid volunteer posse member is considered support for law enforcement, but the posse member is not a sworn law enforcement officer. He /she may act in a law enforcement support capacity at the direction of a sworn MCSO deputy sheriff. My Sheriff’s Posse ID stated the following: KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS: THAT I, JOSEPH M. ARPAIO, SHERIFF OF MARICOPA COUNTY,STATE OF ARIZONA, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT Brian Reilly IS MY LAWFUL POSSE MEMBER WHO IS EMPOWERED TO ACT AS IF I MYSELF WERE PRESENT, WHEN CALLED UPON TO ACT.” (Caps used in original text) At one point Zullo told me that Sheriff Arpaio had given us full law enforcement authority. How could that be when we were not sworn law enforcement officers? The MCSO posse system, truly is an enigma, and in the case of the Cold Case Posse, in my opinion, it appears not to be financially accountable to anyone or any entity.

That’s it for right now.
Thanks….again.
You’re very welcome.

Notorial Dissent March 14, 2014 at 6:43 am Notorial Dissent #
Mr Reilly,
Thank you for the responses, they definitely went a long ways towards filling in some of the glaring gaps in the saga of the CCP. You’re very welcome.
I am curious as to why you resigned from both Surprise Tea Party Patriots and the Tea Party, would you care to share your reasons?

At the time, I was very uncomfortable and concerned about what I considered to be unethical fund raising advertising on the STPP website allegedly seeking funds for the Cold Case Posse investigation. As a CCP member I wrote three formal letters to the STPP requesting that they cease their misleading Cold Case Posse advertising. After I wrote the letters, my wife and I chose to disassociate with the STPP and resigned from the board of the STPP. Five other board members resigned after Denise and I resigned.
(Snip)

….Again, I do want to thank you for taking the time, and not to mention the effort, to put this all down on paper, or electrons, as the case may be. I have very much enjoyed reading it, and look forward to further material.
You’re very welcome.

jtmunkus March 14, 2014 at 8:14 am jtmunkus #
Mr. Reilly:
I am impressed by your candor and your followup. Obviously you are committed to the noble truth, and for that I commend you.

Like I said on the Fogbow, I’ll forgive you your earlier birthing, and even your Tea Party leanings, that we may work together to reclaim an honest, civil, two-sided discourse and rise above all the hatred that’s been going around.
Cheers!

Thank you for your kind comments jtmunkus. I resigned from all Tea Party affiliations in June of 2012. I agree, civil two sided discourse is indeed necessary.

begansel9:
I realize that in theory, but how about reality? Do you have any clue whether that rule is being followed? (“Does the money to cover these items come from donations or is it coming out of MCSO coffers?”)

I never saw any of the financial records. I was told by Zullo that in mid 2012, donations for the Cold Case Posse were up to $80,000.00. If his statement was true, there would have been sufficient funds to follow the theory.

Thanks again to all for your comments and your kind remarks.
Regards,
Brian Reilly