Letter to the Board IP: 65.32.142.82 Posted on May 6, 2019 at 09:37:06 PM by Jeffrey L Smith
"Tampa Retired Fire and Police Association" Board
President: Tommy DePolis
Fire Vice Presidents:
Jim Bates
Billy Lynn
Aubrey Grant
Police Vice Presidents:
Don Gage
Grady Snyder
Dear Gentlemen,
As a retired police officer I have been a dues paying member of this Association for over a decade. I recently posted some opinion pieces on the social media page "Tampa Retired Fire and Police Association".
The opinion pieces were addressing political endorsements by the Association and pension disabilty fraud. My articles raised the ire of some and the support of others. One such person was Scott Helms, editor of our news letter and administrator of the Associations facebook page.
Scott Helms has stated in the past that it is soley his page and he is free to act as he pleases. If this is true and his actions are not accountable to the Association. He should not be permitted to advertise and promote the Facebook page as "Tampa Retired Fire and Police Association". as his own personal page.
Mr. Helms on several occasions has allowed others to mock and insult me. That is perfectly fine and I can handle the ridicule. The problem is he will then lock the thread prohibiting me from responding to those attacks.
Most recently Mr. Helms tried to call me out and bait me. When I didn't take the bait and simply stated the following; "please stay on topic, thank you for your cooperation and service." Mr. Helms apparently threw a temper tantrum posted "good bye" and banned me from the Associations facebook page.
Is the Association going to permit one sole individual who is so thin skinned and an autocrat with a hot temper to ban members for exchanging opinions and ideas. Mr. Helms was out of line and I insist that the Association get Mr. Helms in line and reinstate me.
If the Association is unwilling to put controls on Mr. Helms. Then he should be required to delete the facebook page using the Association's title and branding. Further more he should be banned from using the Association's name to promote and advertise any additional personal pages he may create in the future.