This week, the Mirror received photos that were taken by15-year-old Patrick Gordon Oliver of Eastville showing an Eastville Police officer placing signs in front of the registrar’s office. The officer was unaware he was being surveilled when the photos were taken.
Citizen Stuart Oliver, who sent the photos, told the Mirror via email, “He (Patrick Oliver) was concealed in the bushes with a telephoto lens on a Nikon camera….the officer was unaware he was being surveilled. I am a staunch Republican and am disgusted that these activities have occurred…Furthermore, the department was aware that they were under intensive scrutiny, yet were stupid enough, or arrogant enough to pull this stunt. I will be aggressively addressing the Eastville Town Council on Monday. Did Stubbs and/or Eder specifically state that Christain was OFF duty when the signs went up?”
Oliver also sent over a response he received from Sherrif Dave Doughty’s office for electronic tracking information that monitors the Town of Eastville’s Police Department, “Regarding your October 29, 2021 FOIA Request. According to our records on October 25, 2021 Chief David Eder and Officer Len Christian were on duty for the Eastville Police Department. Officer Christian marked on duty at 05:51am and Chief Eder at 09:33am. Officer Christian logged off duty at 14:57pm and Chief Eder at 00:09am. Please note that the on and off times are recorded in our RMS (Records Management System) from the officers MDT (Mobile Data Terminal) which is in their patrol vehicle. During the period that you requested (7am-9am) there were no calls for service”.
Opinions vary on the subject, however, the Mirror could not locate anything in the state code that would actively prohibit this action.
The Mirror contacted the Eastville chain of command to get their opinion. Police Chief David Eder told the Mirror, “The Town of Eastville encourages employees to volunteer for entities that better our communities, i.e. volunteer fire companies and other positive entities. The Town of Eastville will not try to dictate thoughts or causes to our employees. The Town of Eastville does not discourage volunteering when employees are not performing primary duties. Independent thoughts are not a prohibited act they are encouraged. Thank you for requesting a response.”
“Yes thank you for letting me know about the information. The Town of Eastville has no policy that was violated by the Officer. There is no illegal activity and the Officer was acting under his own free will and not in his official capacity. Law Enforcement is a very unique profession that doesn’t allow for Officers to live a normal life. The Officers are required to drive their Patrol Units to work each day, which doesn’t allow the Officer to use his own personal vehicle prior to the time to start his shift. The Officer very well may be in his Town Police Vehicle yet not on duty at many times. The Officers are allowed to make stops to and from work using the Patrol vehicle as they must use that to travel from work and back to their home base. The Officers also may be seen living their private lives during the day or night as federal regulations mandate lunch periods and break periods. The Law Enforcement profession does not allow an Officer to schedule these break times on a daily basis and they must be ever-changing and evolving. The Officers are on Duty during certain days that must move their break times to adjust to the demands of that shift. An example of that would be an Officer trying to eat lunch who gets a call for service and the Officer must immediately stop that lunch as work. I am just giving an example as to the difference between Law Enforcement Officers and more traditional jobs that can have set lunch/dinner times periods and mandated breaks. This is an example of an Officer carrying out a volunteer act, not in the performance of his duties. Mr. Oliver is grasping at straws as he can not substantiate any wrongdoing or illegal acts as he continues to write and talk about. His attempts to bring negative feelings and thoughts to the Citizens of the Eastern Shore of the Town of Eastville and the Eastville Police Department have not had his desired effect. It is particularly disgusting that while I was in Florida with my dying Mother as she passed Mr. Oliver takes this opportuning to attack me. He sent the email to the Board of Elections and media sources with the pictures. I usually put the signs out myself but was unable to this last week as my Mother was passing in Florida and I was there. This Officer offered to put the signs out for those candidates as he supports and actively takes action to try to ensure their election on November 2nd. The Officer was not ordered to put them out he was not doing so in his official capacity.” — Officer Rob Stubbs
If he is wearing his uniform, he is acting in his official capacity.
No sir…. Officers are not always in their Official Capacity just because they are in uniform. That is an assumption and I can respect that assumption but it is just that not a matter of fact.
I can just imagine a scenario down there of all these people driving around Eastville carrying VOTE FOR STUBBS signs and decals plastered all over their vehicles, just for insurance purposes, in case they end up getting stopped for something like speeding, so they can prove they are really GOOD PEOPLE, and then comes along some out-of-state dude without the VOTE FOR STUBBS signs prominently displayed, and he gets stopped for doing 120 MPH in a 30 MPH zone, and the next thing he knows, he’s spread-eagled against the back of his car, and the cop is asking him where his VOTE FOR STUBBS signs are on his car, and being from out-of-town, the dude, who now is in fear of his life, hasn’t a clue, so being in fear of his life, he asks the logical question to ask in a situation like that, which is “where can I get some,” to which the cop replies, “I’ve got a bunch in the car,” and seeing the out-of-state dude is from Maine, which really should be a part of Virginia, he hands him a packet of vote by mail forms with an admonition to vote early and often for Stubbs, because nobody will check, so don’t be stupid and mail them all back in the same envelope, be sure you do send them in because we’ll know if you didn’t, and away the out-of-state dude goes, thankful to get out of Eastville in one piece.
There you go Mr. Plante we see that you also hate the Police and are making up wild and disgusting comments against us also. Our Officers are fine upstanding Police Officers that serve and protect. I will add you to the prayer list as you obviously need it from your disgusting post.
Mr. Plante, what you are trying to pass off here as “logic” is astounding. I hope you don’t operate machinery that could injure people around you.
Logic, William is defined as “reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity.”
Deny that if you can.
And yes, I do operate machinery that could injure people around me if in fact I was really stupid and didn’t know how to operate the machinery, but since I do, to date, nobody has been injured because I am not stupid.
You see how that works?
And Rob is quite wrong when he says I hate the police, and I put in a post explaining why that was so, but it hasn’t been posted, so I will simply reiterate the fact that when Rob says that, it is an ignorant comment.
But he seems nice.
So are you going to vote for him because you seem nice, too?
A police officer is always a police officer in or out of uniform. He can arrest you in his boxer shorts if he wishes too.
There was a tough state trooper, in 80’s, that lived in Onley. He came off his roof one day to catch a blatant speeder that came by.
I have witnessed General Stubbs at political events in uniform on the clock more than once.
I have dated photos of him at Island House way up road at Scott Taylor event.
Now he did not drink at it But informed me he had to get back down the road to justify his existence.
My personal experience with Stubbs definitely has me question his moral compass.
Hope he don’t THREATEN me with arrest for mentioning his name!
Or falsely accuse me of mailing a post turtle a chocolate penis..
We all have haters that will make up anything to try to disparage someone’s name. I guess mine are Stuart Jimbo Z Roberts Kasz. I will let the Public judge the character of these individuals as they are well known. I have attended many events on the Shore and some have been right after getting off work or on a break. I have not been paid to attend events or live my life outside of work. Nice try but no such luck disparaging my name on that either. If these haters would use their passions for the betterment of the Eastern Shore or Society think about what good they could do. Stand up and be a good human and use your talents for good that is my challenge to all of my haters. Stop the petty attacks on me and do good for someone else. You don’t have to like me you don’t have to speak to me. God will help you overcome your hate and depression and you too can rise above and live a good meaningful life. I will continue to pray for you all.
Get your Stuart right.
I defended you and all police officers. Right or Wrong, I will defend a cop to be in direct opposition of the liberal left, and every BLM member that exist.
You are not that Stuart referenced sir thank you for your support of LEOs!
The commonwealth attorney agreed that it appeared state code was violated. No provision, however is made for a penalty. The officer was in full uniform, driving a town car, and being paid for his activities. If this is not operating in an official capacity, than nothing is.
Furthermore, his immediate supervisor was benefiting from the signage, only Republican candidates were represented, and his supervisor is chairman of the local Republican Party. This was purely partisan political activity paid for by town residents. Mr Stubbs has made as much as $106,000 dollars in his position with the Eastville Police Department. He can afford to pay someone himself to put the signs out.
There is no question that this activity gives an appearance of impropriety, and implies that the locality is endorsing this party, and this particular candidate. The state code is clear:
Law enforcement officers , and other employees specified in subsection B are prohibited from suggesting or implying that a locality has officially endorsed a political party, candidate, or campaign.
It cannot be cleater than this.
Blah, Blah, Blah Blah…..BLAH!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss2hULhXf04
That says it all
Stuart don’t hear you complaining when the Democrats do it.
Try reading the article….i am a republican.
No You are not, you are a RINO.
OMG!! Give it a rest and stop this vendettaa against Rob Stubbs. And I am sure this is the case with this Stuart Oliver. I mean, his kid was hiding in the bushes. Anything can appear to be an “impropriety”. If you don’t like Rob, don’t vote for him. Run for the position yourself. I have run twice for Cape Charles and lost twice. But I didn’t sit back on my sofa complaining. I put myself out there hoping to make a difference. TEAM ROB!
My Kid wasnt in full uniform, bullet proof vest, driving a atown police car and being paid for his activities. .
In the United States one may sit in the bushes with a camera on leased premises…it is allowed Nioaka.
Still sneaky. Sooo.,. You lease county property?? Yeah right..phhhh. You just need to stop your mudslinging and take real action instead of boo hooing cause you can’t get your way. Big baby. And, for the record, we have met.
Isn’t the Cape Charles Mirror just the greatest?
Benjamin Franklin once said “it is best to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.” Perhaps you wil b enefit from his advise….my two Youngkin signs in my yard and the one in front of my farm say different.
You have never met me or had any contact with me so you know nothing abou me….lets keep it that way
Maybe, you could benefit from this advice also.
As a matter of fact, my wife holds the lease on the property from where the photos were taken. That is fact. Does “phhhh ” mean you are capable of a mature discussion? The Ben Franklin comment was not directed at you.
Bless your heart…
RINO
In todays world..what could you possible be thinking to let a 15 yr old engage in this activity..what are you teaching that child??? You would not be happy if it was you being photographed by someone hiding in the bushes..shame on you!
He was covering for me while i got us breakfsst biscuits. No shame on me…i teach my children to stand up, and speak out on corruption.By the way…..he was on our leased property. He is nearly 6′ tall. And worked on clams all summer….heaven help most men who would take him on. No shame here…i am proud of what we did, and will do it again in a heartbeat
In a land of fools…Ignorance is bliss. They are proud they used an urchin like that
There is no expectation of privacy when you are engaging in questionable behavior on the lawn in front of the Eastville Courthouse…..in broad daylight.
What am i teaching my child? That police and public officials need monitoring too…..no apologies. I would do it again tomorrow
It always amazes me when the keyboard warriors, operating under pseudonyms, rant and impotently foam at the mouth. You will notice that i sign my real name and defend my positions with some modicum of dignity and civility.
My little operation was done with exquisite political timing, and was legal, moral, and quite effective. If you dont like it, there is nothing you can do…………….nada….nothing.
By the way, my oldest son feels a little left out. I think i will set him up for a little varmint hunting