Bubba Dogs

Check out Local swell.com link for pics of the swell that Noel brought on November 3rd and 4th.  Hope I’m not the only one that missed it.

LBI November 3/4 2007

Chief Kennedy has been placed on paid administrative leave.  Council meets on Thursday to discuss.  Full article in today’s Press:

Sea Isle City puts chief on paid leave during probe

By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, 609-463-6713

Published: Tuesday, November 6, 2007

SEA ISLE CITY - The city placed police Chief William Kennedy on paid administrative leave Monday following allegations his wife made about explicit text messages and photos she said she found on his city cell phone. The city also hired an independent investigator to determine whether the police chief violated city policies or procedures.“We simply don’t know what the facts are,” City Solicitor Paul Baldini said. ” He (Kennedy) was placed on a paid leave of absence that is a non-adverse action, so we are not making any allegations against him or about him.” In October, Kennedy’s wife, Phyllis Kennedy, filed a restraining order against her husband of 20 years in Superior Court under the state Prevention of Domestic Violence Act.  She told The Press of Atlantic City last week that she filed the restraining order following arguments after she discovered explicit text messages and a graphic photograph of a woman’s genitalia that came from the phone number of a female employee working under her husband’s supervision.  Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor has said his office is looking into internal affairs issues, but he would not elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. City officials said the independent investigation will differ from one currently being conducted by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office. “The Prosecutor’s Office is looking at what, if anything, the chief may have done as a police officer,” Mayor Leonard Desiderio said.  “We’re investigating if any of our city policies were violated.” Baldini said the alleged misuse of a city cell phone would fall under the scope of the independent investigation. “The chief will be on this paid leave until the investigation is completed,” Desiderio said. The police chief earns $113,833 annually. On Monday, Chief Kennedy said he could not comment because of a court-order barring third-party communication with his wife.  Desiderio said the city hired an independent investigator from Fox Rothschild, a large Philadelphia-based law firm with 14 offices and 400 lawyers across the country. “The city will be cooperating with him and giving him full reign on this investigation,” Desiderio said. Francis Cook, a partner in Fox Rothschild, said the investigation would entail possible inappropriate behavior by Kennedy. He said he expects to start today. “The issue with these sorts of investigations is that you typically you don’t know what’s involved until you begin the investigation and you start to get into it,” he said. The city retained his law firm Friday. Cook recommended the city place Kennedy on paid leave while the investigation continues. The Prosecutor’s Office had suggested previously that the city and Kennedy work out an agreement for a temporary leave of absence while their investigation was ongoing. “Before we even know what the investigation’s going to disclose, it’s very common we put the person on a paid leave of absence,” Cook said. He said the investigation may take two weeks. After Phyllis Kennedy filed a restraining order, Chief Kennedy subsequently filed a restraining order against his wife.  After his wife filed a restraining order last week, Chief Kennedy had to relinquish his service weapon and firearms in accordance with state regulations.  Sea Isle City Council has a meeting scheduled for Thursday morning. The city announced it plans to hold a closed session for personnel reasons to discuss the chief. The allegations the chief’s wife made against him are feeding gossip in this oceanfront resort where gossip is in no scarce supply.  It’s a town where the public comment sessions of City Council meetings last longer than the meetings themselves. A citizens’ group even mails periodic newsletters informing others of noise complaints and quality-of-life issues the police department handles each summer. “I think this is best for all and for Sea Isle City,” Desiderio said of the independent investigation, “because there’s so much going on out there, and this will help let the citizens know I’m on top of it, we’re on top of it.”

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