Some 220 Fort Bend County Sheriff’s deputies, investigators and patrol officers walked into a mandatory meeting called by Sheriff Milton Wright on Thursday afternoon, and each person walked out with a cashier’s check made out for $1,000, written by an anonymous donor with an apparent appreciation of law enforcement.
Wright wouldn’t comment later Thursday, and office spokeswoman Terriann Carlson said “I need to look into that.”
But sources who attended said the cashier’s checks were handed out to all deputies and sheriff’s employees who perform law enforcement duties on the streets, in appreciation for their work.
Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Craig Brady confirmed the 2 p.m. mandatory meeting, but didn’t know who was responsible for the money or why.
“I have no idea other than an anonymous individual or some foundation, I suppose. The sheriff wouldn’t tell me who it was,” Brady said. “It was a nice surprise. The sheriff just told people to come to the Great Hall” at the sheriff’s office.
Others at the meeting indicated the checks were donated out of appreciation for the law enforcement officers’ work.
“I think they were pleased with their envelopes,” Brady said. “We had several people that had tears in their eyes, it meant that much to them.”
Sources said about 220 sheriff’s office employees received the checks, making the anonymous donation worth about $220,000.
Related: Deputies’ $1,000 Gifts May Have Required Commissioners Court Approval To Be Legal
as always a few try to turn this into a negative event….I’m happy for the deputies
Speaking of public time and resources. I am politically happy, to hear the positive feedback on Sheriff Wright & Chief Brady on either thread, beings I am a faithful volunteer giving her precious time to campaign with her children by her side. Thank you Bob for deleting some of the posts particularly directed personally to everyone, and against our FBN rules of “Texas Friendly” =-)
My #1 reason to post, and my other posts have been no where under an impression of being controversial. I remain happy for everyone, and I wish everyone would just realize FBCSO & our Constables– can & have– worked well together. Especially knowing some things I personally know, but will not repeat because not all things are everyones business. Thank you guys for safely taking care of our families.
I must agree that it’s radicals to fight over HOA contracts. However, if you are going to have a contact, you should service it and work your own investigations form start to finish.
As the discussion has been getting somewhat heated and there are a lot of posters new to FortBendNow, I think it’s a good time to review the rules of conduct for posting here. Which should explain why a few of the posts in this thread already have been removed.
For readers unfamiliar with those rules, they are most easily described as being similar to the road sign that still graces some of our back roads: Drive Texas Friendly. Another way to put it might be, comment as if your mother is reading what you’re writing.
While it isn’t our intention to stifle lively discourse and discussion, we also believe each commenter is entitled to his or her opinion, and to polite respect.
Consequently, we ask that posters refrain from using profanity, name-calling or personal attacks. While discussion about one narrow topic may logically lead to a broader debate, posts that are clearly off-topic or may be construed as libelous will not be allowed. Also, readers are allowed to post under just one user account.
Oops…my kin lives in Victoria. [Edna is the Wright word] =-)
Ha!
Loyal Deputy. Ambiguous ancronyms; it’s the “Czech” in me. Shh, I can’t dance the “Pokla” worth a hootie either. BTW, is Kim Pokluda from Victoria? I’m kin to the Sheriff; like Sheriff Wright he’s always winning!
And solemnly speaking– may God bless CH 13′s Marvin Zindler. Yes, he shot sum awesome scenes year ago. I feel blessed he’s of my alma-mater, rest his soul. Honorably exposing truths, is one nice thing he was known for. FBN is so “lucky”, we have Bob Dunn too. Sorry, I missed Sheriff Wright’s video [Hmm, wander.] Maybe our hot video shooter will honorably promote it?
Merci
=-)
one has to wonder what makes some so unhappy that they would disparage all deputies….once again thanks to all the deputies for the job you do.
It seems as though ‘loyaldeputy’ has a tremendous amount of anger or a high volume of frustration surrounding his persona. If what I am gathering from the tone in which he writes or communicates suggests he is not a ‘regular’ deputy, rather a well ‘connected’ or ‘made’ high ranking member within the ‘King’s Court’ of the S.O.
I am a buisness owner withn this fine county and I do not understand why ‘loyaldeputy’ continues to reel into this forum a current sitting Constable or a former Texas Ranger unless, via his obvious discord for the two, he may be harboring a sense of uncertainty or fear of the two gentlemen he may have to work for in the near future…just something to think about!
a few of these “anonymous” bloggers should find something better to do like adjust their horribly installed hair plugs
Hey Otis,
I agree 100% with your comment 18.
Hey AOS,
I do not care what questions u ask in here- but apparently you missed CH 13, because Wright explained why everyone did not get it; then above Kim Pokluda explained it; and if u want to know…hey go up to the SO, ask for Wright or Brady and I am sure they will be more than happy to explain it again….and talk about offensive-I am not using religion; God my be in my back pocket or front pocket…I just hope he is with me everywhere I go! You have still yet to explain why u think I am a bully……does it bother u that I state what my observations are on here or maybe I am asking folks to state facts and they can’t? Maybe your the bully…..and no I am not Brady and no I am not running for office; we have a good person running…BRADY! So I will support him and save my time and money, besides I do not have any desire to be in the political arena. I will vote for who I like, and u do the same…that would be why you get a vote on election day! As for Constable contracts, I am not familiar with what you are talking about, so I am not going to pretend to be, just to be able to respond to you! And Kat, the whole marriage thing was that Kim and Jimmy Pokluda were married recently and it was a congrats to them! Not sure what you meant about the wishful dreaming….
LoyalDeputy,
If that’s the marriage you speak, you are Wright; otherwise whatever you heard is just wishful dreaming…
But..
Peace is prevailing. I’ve seen it, heard it, felt it in my heart. It’s overwhelming joy to see the Constables, Sheriff’s and Victims to be Freely United As ONE!!!!!
Hey KP,
Can I get an amen about our future Sheriff Brady? Oh and by the way congrats on your marriage!
Law_Dawg I did not post my comment to have a financial debate with you or anyone else. And yes I am married to the Patrol Captain (we don’t have commanders)and yes I am a Sergeant in the jail. I posted my comment so that the “street deputies” who received the generous gift would know that not everyone, who did not receive a check, was angry at them, the Sheriff, or the donor. The Sheriff distributed the gift the way the donor asked him to. I’m sorry you did not get a check. Maybe next time it will be your turn. I am sure the gracious donor didn’t expect that his/her gift would cause such animosity. I hope all this crap hasn’t hampered other generous people from wanting to give.
Hey AOS,
The answer to you question mark; no bully here! Why do you refer to me as a bully…do you not like what I am saying? That is not being a bully….stating my opinion with a lot of factual information-not rumors and gossip! Why is that being a bully? Vote for who you like as I and everyone else will too! Go Brady until election day…go Brady and we will celebrate! Can I get an amen!
I hope these LEOs enjoy spending this money any way they see fit…thanks guys you deserve it.
Did not claim to be a spokesperson and I am far from a bully; My belief is that God plays a role in everything and my freedom of speech right allows me to say that! Not defending the public official himself but the intentions he has for his employees; he is a good man! And I am defending the generous donor! Sounds to me like you and others are upset you did not get a check! And maybe you should review Texas Law because I think if it were a clear violation of the law as you seem to think it is, our DA would be officially investigating, instead of unofficially as he stated on TV. So, maybe he is not sure about it either! My conversations with attorneys, some being DA’s seem to think it is no problem! What is wrong AOS you upset you did not get a check? You think 200 plus deputies should be filed on? As for the spokesperson…..I will see if I can change my name to Brady or Leach and see if I can get that job since everyone seems to think that is the way it works; that way I can work on my spokesperson skills!! Keep having doubts about God and you may end up in a hot place one day! As for the violation of the law….why don’t u read it; oh because if you do then you will know it is okay for the money to be accepted and you will not be able to get on here and speak negativly…..why lable me a bully AOS, Truth hurt or what? What is your stake in this….you an employee? Or maybe your a supporter of the unqualified constable/ex-ranger who created this drama. I think you refer to me as a bully because I am asking folks to state facts on here-not rumor! That is not being a bully. I will gladly accept that title though because I have to laugh out loud and say…I have been called a lot of things, but never a bully. God bless you and your family!
Hey AOS,
It was a public issue because a certain ex-ranger and constable made it that way; Milton certainly did not make it a public issue……and yes the officers deserve a heck of a lot more! And the Sheriff had to know about it; he is the department head-Hello! And maybe it is the obvious; is it so hard for you to believe we have a good hearted person out there that wanted to do some good for someone? When was the last time u gave a buck to help someone, or just simply thanked an officer? Maybe that is why it is hard for you to believe. What could Milton’s motivations be……he does not need a vote-HE IS THE SHERIFF ALREADY-and he has already anounced he is not running again! I know who sent the gift to everyone…..IT WAS GOD! So everyone should just thank him and be done with it!
Hey negative Dawg,
It is none of ur business where anyone lives and if you looked at a Sgt./Captain pay grade….it’s not all that! Just becuase some have good titles, does not mean they have good pay! Our pay structure is all messed up, some non ranks make more, way more than some who have had rank for years! Almost all LE Officers have to work hard and work xtra jobs to make ends meet; espicially if you have children, children you want to send to college, a house note, one car note, and to maybe take a vacation every few years! You apppear to be a negative, non-factual person who just randomly speaks without facts! Why u take a minute of your time, request the pay salaries of the employess of our great office….you may be surprised! And before you respond negativly, no BRADY nor MILTON made the pay scale….they have however faught with the proper people to try and fix it so it is fair and even for everyone….even you negative people at our office who think your treated so unfair! So, do not concern yourself with where KP lives; why not see about finding out what you can do to help Wright/Brady fix our pay structure, then maybe we can all quit working xtra jobs……I bet u work them to make ends meet….and I bet you make more than me and my spouse!!!!
Lawdog’s comment on the Pokluda’s household exhibits his immaturity and ability to create rumors. What happens in someone else’s household is none of your business unless your on a call and invited in by the public. Grow up. As for the “CONCERNED” CITIZENS you mentioned what is the big concern? the other 400 employees were never told they would never receive anything. A gift is just that, whether it’s for appreciation, commendation, a birthday, a holiday, or whatever the reason. So why the concern? When you receive an awesome gift and everyone else doesn’t are you or the citizens CONCERNED about why everyone else didn’t?…..don’t hate Congratulate! :)
Please correct me if I am wrong, although, the manner in which my2cents is saying what is being stated is rather startling yet, the low ratings from the minority could possibly be related to the fact that the minorities as in minority people and majority as in the majority of the status quo, I’m thinking, it does rings true regarding minorities in that minority do not feel protected by the police as opposed to the sentiments of the majority in the status quo (87%) of which my2cents has made no bones about feeling so blessed to be apart of the existing majority. In the final analysis the folks in the majority status quo are favorable to the police for justifiable reasoning, but, simultaneously, the minority of the folks in the minority who do not feel favorable to the police have justifiable reasons as well.
kimpokluda says she is strugling to make ends meet, thats funny but isn’t she the same person that is married to the patrol commander. WOW with a sergeants pay and a captains pay in one household how are you strugling to make ends meet. no one is faulting the deputies from excepting the money, concerned citizens are just wondering why the other 400 employees that work at the sheriff’s office didnt get the same gift.
my2cents,
Why on earth do you want to hate on minorities? The minorities of this country have just as much rights and say as you or anybody else in this country. My goodness, hating on minorities…I don’t know what to say!
not if I started it….
HOT OFF THE PRESS!,……NEWS BREAK!…….
Channel 13 just completed a survey in which 87% of the people voted in favor of the deputies keeping the money,….Now about you 13% of negative selfish hating peopleI hope you take notice of how you are in the slim minority of the public,..
Kinda like the last numbers in the last election when Sheriff Wright spanked that guy from the Richmond police dept,…
I am proud and blessed to say I am part of the 87%!
I’m not sure who donated, but I would like to thank whomever it was. Law enforcement officers seldome get a single thanks,and are often feared and spoken poorly of. It’s a shame some folks would begrudge a small thank you, if it had been a strudel, or some body armor I wonder if anyone would care? All folks seem to see is the dollar signs, and want some of their own. Bringing politics into this is poor form, the donation was anonymous and not a bribe, it would seem a bribe if given openly. Once again I thank whomever it was for showing how much they appreciate what Deputy’s on the street do everyday.
Rumor has it??? JBB, I thought you were aghast at rumors.
Kampf,
Very civilly stated.
At some point in every officer’s career we feel unappreciated for the sacrfices we make to do a job that we love. It is not often that we get a pat on the back or a “good job” from our bosses or the citizens that we serve. I don’t understand why some of you would begrudge your fellow officers an anonymous “atta boy”. We are all struggling with making ends meet and the loss of extra jobs during this financial crisis. Why the anger and jealousy over something your fellow officers had no control over nor asked for? We all come together during times of sorrow and grief, why not come together to celebrate our “brother’s” good fortune.
A fine citizen of an unknown county did something nice for the law enforcement officers of Fort Bend County; it is a crying shame that it has been turned into something negative! It shows the negativity of Fort Bend County by responding with all of this negative publicity…trying to make it as if it is a criminal act! OR better yet, maybe it shows how a Former Ranger and a Fort Bend County Constable are already playing dirty politics! Leave our future Sheriff Brady out of this…leave our current Sheriff Wright out of this, and leave politics out this….and for once,let the deserving officers see some good…..THEY SEE BAD EVERYDAY OUT IN THE TRENCHES! This donor is probably the most kind hearted, law abiding citizen in the state who is being portrayed as a criminal and tax evader! It is a shame this county cannot let something good happen without it being political drama!!!
Otis: fyi. I do not work for the sheriff’s department or any police agency. I do, however, pay taxes and expect my elected officials to be held accountable.
I drove by the Sheriff’s Office and the news media was there. You might hold your comments until you see the news. At least give them the benefit of the doubt.
rumor has it some developer donated the money….
to “Tiger Eyes”
thats sad–you get two days off in the week and you choose to spend it whining on a blog and holding your hand out and asking “where’s mine?!”. Instead of wondering where your money’s at why dont you sit and think about the fact that maybe your poor excuse for work ethic was probably why you didnt get anything…
What citizens should really be concerned about is why the constables that they pay with their taxes are “running to daddy”–or the powers that be– and investating the internal workings of the sheriff’s office during duty hours instead of serving the public the way they ought to…by pushing paper.
Again, I am not against rewarding officers, but I have never heard of cash. Poor management decision to allow the donor to limit it to certain ones.
For the CPAs out there, what about tax liability? The deputies would have to report it and wouldnt the donor as well? I doubt you can move $220,000 without the IRS involved.
I think my2cents wants to go live in a communist country. Every citizen is equal there, right? Everybody working the same to create a utopia that Lenin once saw sounds great, but let history be a lesson. Utopias don’t exist! There is something fishy about a $220,000 payout to the sheriff’s dept., in my opinion.
my 2 cents – where did you see “negativity?” It is not negative to expect accountability. When you demand that we don’t ask questions, that is being negative. There are no “facts” for us to check, my2cents. That, please understand, is what we are asking from our elected sheriff. That’s not negative, that’s being a conservative American.
I agree that the donor has a right to free speech. But even the most liberal interpretation of free speech does not include buying off a police officer.
If the donor has nothing to hide, why doesn’t he/she take the POSITIVE step of revealing themselves to show they are not conducting criminal activity and they expect the sheriff’s office to look the other way. Revealing themselves and encouraging others to make the same effort toward all police officers and firefighters would be a very POSITIVE thing.
Ms. McClure, you are correct. We do not know what these checks were for. There’s the rub.
Not sarcastically speaking, but who really cares about someones negative comments or opinions that are based on rumors and gossip?
Do you really know the truth? No, you just sit back and speculate and draw conclusions about false information. Check the facts before making negative hurtful remarks.
I know we have first ammendment rights, but we don’t go around screaming “Fire” at a movie theator.
If everyone minded thier own business. worked hard, did the right thing in life by helping others, then this world would be a greater place to live.
I just don’t see how the negativity helps, I just don’t!
Would it make you feel better if someone gave you an unconditional gift? If you start working hard, helping out others it will come back to you! *It’s promised in the bible!”
I was just stating my opinion. The people who attack people for practicing their First Ammendment Rights should get a life.
Once again, the very, very few miserable people that sit around with no life and wish “BAD FORTUNE” to others “SPEAK UP!”
The rest of the happy productive people in the world that are not fortunate enough to give such a gift that heard about this gesture are “Happy” about this gesture! They wish good fortune for all of mankind whether it be a policeman, garbage man or doctor.
These people will be happy and the others,….well they will continue to live in the past and be miserable.
Yes, the system is for sale.
Once again, not commenting on the donation, but don’t hold your breath for this type of politically charged investigation in this county. Only the unconnected get reviewed.
TexasPig, I quote from the article above:
“…each person walked out with a cashier’s check made out for $1,000, written by an anonymous donor with an apparent appreciation of law enforcement.”
It does not indicate what the checks were for specifically. Note the words “apparent appreciation”…Was there a note attached? I’m not sure your legal argument works if there was no note or reason given.
Law_Dawg, If you feel bad for them, now is a wonderful opportunity for you to give all those people $1,000 checks anonymously yourself…or if you cannot afford that amount, maybe you could anonymously donate what you can, or start a fundraiser for them, or start writing letters to the people in charge indicating you think they should be given $1,000 bonuses.
One of my favorite stories follows (which I believe relates in analogy fashion to Law_Dawg’s comment):
A woman was walking with a companion through a ghetto and saw poor, naked, disease-ridden, hungry and dirty unattended children roaming the streets. She was outraged and screamed out angrily, “Someone needs to do something for these children!!!”
God heard her and whispered in her ear…”That is why I made you.”
I am all for rewarding our law enforcement, but this smells funny. Mr. Healey, is the donation legal?
Most normal agencies’ policies prohibit such a gift and the law may too.
Texas Penal Code:
Sec. 36.07. ACCEPTANCE OF HONORARIUM. (a) A public servant commits an offense if the public servant solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept an honorarium in consideration for services that the public servant would not have been requested to provide but for the public servant’s official position or duties.
Perfect example of mismanagement by Wright and Brady if he is elected as announced on this site. Wright should have divided the amount amongst all employees including the jail deputies, clerks, and dispatchers. What a way to contribute to the already low morale!
The gracious donor had specific instructions on the gifts. Please don’t attempt to tarnish the fact that a person has stepped up and restored faith in mankind!
The gift was God sent and desparately needed by many. It was just a great act and disply of “Someones character and unselfishness”,..let’s leave it that way!
God Bless!
Dispatch should have been included. They are the patrol officer’s lifeline and the public’s contact. A police department is useless without them.
My oh my — that’s a sweet bonus!
I suppose you can say, “anonymous tips” pay off.
Best of Wishes Guyz!!!!