The Neary Case:

Did FBI Provide Bad Information To the Press?

FBI SPOKESWOMAN SAID THE THE AGENCY HAD FOUND ALLEGATIONS OF
CORRUPTION INSIDE THE KWPD UNFOUNDED— DAYS BEFORE THE AGENCY HAD
THE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE SUPPOSEDLY INVESTIGATED. AND INVESTIGATORS
NEVER CONTACTED NEARY— THE OFFICER WHO SUPPOSEDLY MADE THE
ALLEGATIONS

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

The Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) has once again
shown why that organization
is one of the top investigative
agencies in the world. Sort of.

Last month, on Tuesday,
December 11, Judy Orihuela,
the FBI’s Public Information
Officer in Miami, announced
to the press that the agency had
found insufficient evidence to
substantiate allegations that
Key West Police Officer Tom
Neary had misrepresented
himself as a federal agent.
Neary had been on administrative
leave since late
October, pending the results of
the FBI investigation.

In that same announcement,
Orihuela said that there
was also, apparently, a companion investigation in which the
agency had also looked into
claims by Neary, supposedly
alleging that there was corruption
within the Key West Police
Department (KWPD). Orihuela
said that investigation had
found no wrongdoing.

But Key West The Newspaper
has learned that Orihuela
may have provided incorrect
information to the press.

Ted Wray At Finnegan’s

TED WRAY is at Finnegan’s Wake tonight and tomorrow night,
Friday and Saturday, January 18-19.

<!–
google_ad_client = "pub-0248567963690731";
//KWTN 4 links one line
google_ad_slot = "9745607081";
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 15;
//–>

PROFILE

New District IV Rep: Barry Gibson

HE IS READY TO WORK TOWARD MEETING CITY NEEDS DURING LEAN BUDGET
YEARS

by Rhonda
Linseman-Saunders

Barry Gibson ran a successful
campaign and beat out
some tough competition to become
the District IV Representative
on the City Commission,
but he doesn’t view himself as
a politician.

“I’m not a politician,” he
said, “I’m someone who cares
deeply about doing the right
thing with respect and integrity.
Contributing my efforts as City
Commissioner is a way for me
to help make a difference.”
Gibson, co-owner of Shades
of Key West and a former bank
president, is no shady character.

Tony Roberts Band

Has 2 Gigs Here This Weekend

They'll be at the Green Parrot Bar tonight, Friday, January
18, starting
at 10— with a special 5:30pm “sound check.” Then, tomorrow night, Saturday, the
band with be
at the Rum Barrel 8 ‘til midnight.

<!–
google_ad_client = "pub-0248567963690731";
//KWTN 4 links one line
google_ad_slot = "9745607081";
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 15;
//–>

Page One Commentary

The Purpose of Any Law in Key West Is to Be Selectively Enforced

THE SCOTT HARRINGTON CASE

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

We have suggested to you
here before that the real purpose
of any law in Key West is to be
selectively enforced. That is
especially true for bicycle scofflaws.

We are certainly aware
that there are a few bicyclists
in town who obey the law, but
most (and we don’t think that
using the word “most” here is
an overstatement) routinely run
red lights and stop signs, ride
the wrong way down one-way
streets and ride on the wrong
side of the road on two-way
streets. They ride on sidewalks,
endangering pedestrians. And
some ride at night without
lights. They endanger themselves
and they endanger the
motorists around them.

We see this behavior every
day. And if you are out and
around at all, you see it too. And
if we see it, you know the cops
see it. But, for the most part, the
police here ignore bicycle scofflaws.
Bicyclists breaking traffic
laws rarely get ticketed.
Unless, of course, the cops
are out to “get” one of them.
Then, suddenly, they get really
serious about bicycle laws.

Paris Luna At the Schooner

PARIS LUNA is at the
Schooner Wharf Bar tonight
and tomorrow night, Friday
and Saturday, January 18-19,
7 ‘til midnight

<!–
google_ad_client = "pub-0248567963690731";
//KWTN 4 links one line
google_ad_slot = "9745607081";
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 15;
//–>

Will She Be Your New Sheriff?

SANDRA DOWNS of Cudjoe
Key announced this week
that she is running for Sheriff.
She completed the official paperwork
at the Supervisor of
Elections Office Monday. She
says she is running because she
is concerned about corruption
within the Sheriff’s Office and
she says she would push for an
independent Citizen Review
Board to oversee the agency,
patterned after the CRB in
Key West.

House & Garden Tours

Friday and Saturday
This year’s series of House & Garden Tours continues today
and tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, January 18-19, 5-8pm. This
is the 48th year for this event, sponsored by the Old Island Restoration
Foundation.

Five beautiful homes will be open for the
tour: the home of James Barrett and Gail Roberts at 811 Southard
Street; the home of Michael Pelkey at 532 Grinnell Street; the home
of Todd Martin and Joe Reichter at 728 Love Lane (off Southard
Street); the home of Jonathon Beyers and Stephen Hammond at
907-909 United Street, and the home of David and Sharon Symonds
at 915 Johnson Street. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at
the featured homes during tour hours. Conch Train service is
available, but reservations are required: 294-9501.

<!–
google_ad_client = "pub-0248567963690731";
//KWTN 4 links one line
google_ad_slot = "9745607081";
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 15;
//–>

Rhonda

No, Because I Love You

by Rhonda
Linseman-Saunders

While stopped at a red
light on Roosevelt Blvd. last
week, I noticed I was waiting
alongside what appeared to
be a teenaged girl in a shiny
new SUV. Whether the SUV
was manufactured by BMW
or Mercedes escapes me now,
and it doesn’t matter, really.
What matters is that it was a
teenager driving a vehicle that
cost at least twice my yearly
salary. With one hand she held
an expensive pale pink metallic
cell phone to her ear. Since
we were stopped, her other
hand, complete with delicate
fingers tipped with expensively
French manicured nails, was
free to twirl her expensively
highlighted hair.

I was immediately disturbed,
as evidenced by the
weird, forced-sounding Conch
accent I take on when I’m
pissed. “Tell me what that child
(pronounced “chowld” in Key
West) is doing driving that
absurdly expensive vehicle?” I
demanded out loud, although
I was alone. Nobody answered,
not even me because I was too
busy laughing at the sound
of my really bad Midwestern
flavored fake drawl.

Suenalo, Tony Roberts And Carl

At the Parrot

SUENALO, an Afro-Latin-funk jam band from Miami will be at the Green Parrot this
Saturday
and Sunday nights, January 19-20, starting at 10.

Tonight, Friday, the TONY
ROBERTS BAND
will be in the house, starting at 10, with a special 5:30pm “sound check.”
CAFFEINE CARL &
THE BUZZ will return on Sunday afternoon for a 5:30 “sound check.”

<!–
google_ad_client = "pub-0248567963690731";
//KWTN 4 links one line
google_ad_slot = "9745607081";
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 15;
//–>