An interesting debate, and Ortino was the clear winner. Rambosk did not answer questions posed to him, such as the one about employees leaving the CCSO. He skirted the questions and was obviously the consumate politician. Ortino on the other hand gave direct answers, and did no song and dance. Rambosk appeared to be unsure of himself and his answers. Rambosk also twisted and spun the truth about the agency to a great degree. That was the most interesting facet of any of the comments. Rambosk is a wonderful spin-meister. Ortino is the man. Ortino needs to be the new sheriff. Just as he out-classed the competition in the debate today, he will outclass them as sheriff.

I think that is a very inappropriate comment," Rambosk said. "Every member of this agency is committed to the county ... and never should be compared to a member of a gang."

ENOUGH SAID!

How dare this Angiolillo character (he's a real "class act") make a slanderous and disrespectfull comment like that at a public forum. It is an insult to our current LEO's and to anyone who's ever been "on the job." Can you say LOSER???

Once again Victor Ortino demonstrated why he is the best candidate of the three for Collier Sheriff. Way to go, Ortino. You clobbered Rambosk and Vinny in the debate at Pelican Bay today. The "gang" at the CCSO, known as "the tribe" are certainly worried -- and they should be. For Rambosk to say that there is no morale problem at the CCSO is like saying there is no salt in the ocean. That goes double for his comments to the question about consistency in policy and practice at the agency. If you can find a deputy who is not afraid for his job, and will talk to you, off duty, go ahead and ask about the goings on at the CCSO. I have earned the trust of many of them, and they all admit, whether they are happy at the agency or not, that the agency and its administration is suffering extensively from low morale, high turnover, complacency, fear, intimidation, arrogance, and on and on. It is incredible and needs to change. Victor Ortino is the man to bring about that change. He has what it takes. Don't let the so called "experience" of Rambosk fool anyone. We need clear vision, fresh ideas, a new direction, not the same old stuff to save the CCSO and the people of Collier County.

Mr. Coyote, sounds like you are a friend of Ortino who is tasked with write glowing reviews of him. Like him or not, Rambosk is the only candidate who has actually experienced the day to day operation of a medium to large governmental agency that answers to the public. Vinnie the limo driver wants to give drunk drivers a ride home instead of arresting them. That is a great idea. I'm sure he has the full backing of MADD. Ortino doesn't really know whats going on. He has his information from disgruntled former deputies. Thats great and of course "very accurate" information. I for one like the low crime rate that the current administration has given this county. I say more of the same for as long as they can. By the way, the sheriff has to be a politician at some point in his tenure. The Vinnie's are just clowns.

Yeah, Ortino was the clear winner. Ortino was on the money today. Rambosk did not give any direct answers to the questions, and like the post above says he is just a politician. I agree that the CCSO is not a gang. Vinny should not of said that, even though he was probably just talking about a certain few in power at the SO. Ortino will certainly be the next sheriff of our county. And that is GREAT!!!

I want a sheriff that'll tackle the illegal immigration problem and From talking to Ortino personally he's not the man.
This race is like the presidential race all losers.
I'm waiting to here what vinnie says about the illegals

Vinny Angiolillo,owner of Class Act Limousine in North Naples. Nuf said!

Everyone has their opinions for sure. But, any intelligent, non-partisan, open minded, free thinking individual who witnessed today's debate could only, if honest with himself, see that ORTINO is clearly the better choice for sheriff. Did you see that Rambosk had green fortune cookies out to promote his campaign. I wonder if that means he has a witch doctor and a gypsy fortune teller helping him also. I suppose he needs all the help he can get, and the desperate often reach for any straw they can find. I know that Hunter and Rambosk have been trying to get all of the deputies, the citizens, the county commission, the media and everyone else to drink their kool-aid for years, but fortune cookies? What a joke! Ortino for sheriff. Like it or not, it's the smart choice, the best choice and the most logical choice. No matter what you say. The details of running a large organization are the same for a smaller organization, and Victor will learn quickly and have a staff, much like Hunters and Rambosks to assist him. The advantage Ortino has over Rambosk is that he is an outsider, someone not tied for 20-plus years to the good old boy network and the little kingdoms that exist in the CCSO. He will bring good and necessary changes to the agency. No more arrogance, no more thugs, no more intimidation, no more inconsistency, no more a system and practice of "who you are and who you know." Instead, a meritocracy will be instituted. Wonderful! Ortino!

You said it thinker.

Angiolillo......shut-up and drive.

Doesn't matter what Vinnie says about illegals, grouper. Ability to arrest illegals based solely on immigration status lays with Feds, not State.

Vinny,

You are anything but a class act. Fold up your car seat and go home.

Ortino, you're an idiot, too. Go hide behind your wife's skirt.

Rambosk is the only professional in this race. Now he's a class act!

Didn't Rambosk say in the past that there was a gang problem in Collier, but that there was a specialized unit who is very proactive and is dealing with it? Today, he says there isn't a gang problem. That's interesting; in just over a month the gang problem has been solved. HOORAY!!!!

What I'd like to hear from FORMER Undersheriff Rambosk is how "Some of the things we’ve heard this morning are not accurate or just don’t make sense," exactly. Which things exactly were not accurate and how were they not accurate? If he's going to call someone a liar, it would only be appropriate for him to defend the comment accurately, if that is possible.

I heard that Ortino has already Vinny picked out as one of top chiefs should he be elected.

He likes his idea about taking driver's licenses from people over 65 years old.

That's a shame, Victor, I believe you'll be losing the senior vote in Collier County.

Rambosk is the only professional in this bunch. Good luck, Kevin. You'll make a great sheriff.

Yo Vinny,

Guess you are trying to grab some headlines...your 15 seconds are up!

Byebye

Ask Vinnie how he manages to get Homestead Exemptions on two different properties in Naples. One he owns with his wife(actually he's not married if you ask the girls at the bar) and one he owns with, a former fired from the job, city policeman (who also claims two Homestead Exemptions).

Ask him about his numerous court cases, restraining orders, and pending cases. How about his prior arrests?

How can this clown even run for dogcatcher?

At least Ortino was only fired from Law Enforcemnt once.

W_Coyote wrote:
He will bring good and necessary changes to the agency. No more arrogance, no more thugs, no more intimidation, no more inconsistency, no more a system and practice of "who you are and who you know." Instead, a meritocracy will be instituted. Wonderful! Ortino!

Thugs! Intimidation! Arrogance! You,W_Coyote, should be ashamed of yourself. You have every right to choose your candidate, and stand up and be heard - however sir, I find your comments rude, untruthfull, without merrit or foundation, and down-right blasteding.

How dare you lable our current CCSO and it's cadre of LEO's with such slander, sir. When you cast these stones at our current deputies and the department, you are also maligning their families, neighbors and friends as well.

As a retired LEO I'm personally offended by your remarks, and wonder if you are capable of respecting any law enforcement/peace keeping orginization. Are you a true reflection of this Ortino character? Are you one of the Ortino "who you are and who you know...meritocracy?"

I'll say for sure that you, sir, are a mountainous pus-ladden boil on the arse of a group that is on the radical fringe of our Collier Community. You make Obama's Pastor Wright seem like a choir boy.

cupcake, excellent post. A visit to the Clerk of the Courts website and doing a search backs up all of your comments.

Maybe it is time for a change. We have had the Hunter Administration in for to long and a change is what is needed. Victor Ortino seems clearly the best person to take this organization through the change needed.

Vinny, how can you show such disrespect? Soon, you will be dancing with the fishes.

Seems I struck a chord with MarcoRobert. My comments are based on my observations of and personal experience with members of the CCSO, the CCSO in action, the thoughts expressed to me by a number of deputies and my personal experiences with Ortino, Rambosk and Hunter, and the "cadre" mentioned, also known as the tribe. Those are the ones who all went out and obtained "tribal art" tattoos on their upper arms.

What a select club they are. Yeah, right. Arrogant, condescending, self important, with greatly inflated opinions and assessments of themselves and their abilities. Hunter revealed an unforgiveable lack of sophistication in putting that group in power, and has cast a blind eye on the destructive influence that "cadre" has had on the agency and its members.

I stand by my comments. I doubt there is anyone more supportive of our law enforcement than myself. I spent a good number of years in the profession and know what it takes to be a good officer and what it takes to make up a good law enforcement agency. The CCSO is lacking leadership, among other things, and Ortino is the best man to fix that broken agency, to supply the needed leadership and bring more professional, more dedicated, more effective policing to the people of this county. ORTINO!

I have said it before and I think it bears repeating. Ortino is the the fresh blood and new thinking needed at the sheriffs department. Rambosk is for all intents and purposes an incumbent. He has been in power for two decades, which is way too long, and like all incumbents of that ilk and time in office he must be replaced and new management, new leadership must be allowed to revitalize and restore the sheriffs office.

Get them all out -- the school board, the commission, fire commissioners, all of them, including the sheriffs department incumbent, Rambosk.

Ortino is the only reasonable, right choice for sheriff.

How can you Vic voters say he’s the best man for the job? All he says is “It’s time for a change.” He’ll change employee morale and correct the “malfeasance’? Please, you those who say they know many deputies who complain about these things are really stretching the truth. Truth is you know or are related to an ex-deputy that now works for Ortino, or you know or are related to a current disgruntled deputy. If the deputies are that disgruntled, they’d be out in force for Vic. And don’t say they are not because they fear for their jobs. I know of several deputies who openly opposed Hunter in previous elections, but now hold high rank. Now how is that intimidating? Kevin Rambosk is all about law enforcement. Ortino knows private eye work. He’s not even a certified Law Enforcement Officer. I find him questionable due his hiring practices of taking on fired, dishonest deputies. VOTE RAMBOSK! The only INTELLIGENT choice.

W. Coyote,

Doesn't the Ortino campaign manager have anything better to do?

Oh, I forgot. You don't have a real candidate in the race.

#13......Very interesting !! Thanks for putting the spot light on them !!!!

Go Rambosk !!

Ortino will bring change alright!

Since he is not qualified to be Sheriff the changes will be evident to everyone in the community.

God help us!

#24 if you believe #13, well, I have some beachfront property for sale in Arizona you may be interested in.... CHEAP.

#13 has to spread lies to try and get his candidate elected and that's also CHEAP. No class there.

Victor Ortino CLEARLY won the debate today.

Victor Ortino for Sheriff!

Ortino does have a certain appeal... to simpletons who think they know what's best for law enforcement. You Vic voters complain about the good old boy network but take a look at Vics contributors - all good old boys who left the S.O. Yeah, bring in Vic and set back the S.O. twenty years...Swell..

Why would Rambosk say there isn't a gang problem in Naples? Of course there is. Or maybe he's just choosing to turn is back on that problem too.

Listen, we all have our opinions on each of the candidates. My opinion...Vinny has no business running for Sheriff of any county. The race comes down to Vic Ortino and Kevin Rambosk, and it appears to me that Vic has gone way passed Kevin in this race.

Collier County needs a change and Vic Ortino is the man to make that change for the better!

I find it interesting that Rambosk said "Collier County does not have a gang problem".
The last county fair I went to had no less then 4 CCSO gang unit deputies at the gate "interviewing" possible gang members, plus gang unit CCSO walking around and some undercover as well. But yet we don't have a gang problem?

CCSO hides the fact that we have increasing gang issues. Remember Miami and Fort Lauderdale are a stones throw away from Naples. Hour and 15 minute drive due east?
If you to went to the Collier County fair or other large public event in the last few years you will notice increasing gang activity. Definitely cause for concern. Go into Golden Gate City on a weekend or down in East Naples near Lely High School and tell me there aren't escalating gang issues.

Interesting how CCSO likes to try and keep the general public in the dark. Why? Fear of causing panic? Fear of actually admitting Collier has gangs and has for some time now? Afraid of losing support from the wealthy residents?

At what point does a gang "issue" become a "problem" for Rambosk?
1100 documented gang members, imagine how many more that are undocumented.
Quite a few illegal immigrants here that are undocumented, take a wild guess as to how many undocumented gang members are here under CCSO's radar....

If you want to witness Colliers gang "issues" or lack there of as Rambosk seems to want everyone to believe. Take a stroll down to Sugden Park for the 4th of July fireworks out over the lake in a couple of months.
It is free for the public. See how many CCSO gang cops you can count and count how many people they interview.

Lets look at the changes Ortino has made:

Changed his work hours so his time card is fraudulent

Changed from being a trooper to a small time PI

Changed wives

Changed his child support so his kids get even less money from him

Are these the kind of "changes" we want for Collier County? Heck NO!

Vote KEVIN RAMBOSK on August 26!

Vinny, please suck in the double chin next time you pose in your Chippendale outfit. Ortino and employees of his posting here: You have the morale problem because you were let go for wrongdoing.
*****************Rambosk '08********

Lets look at the changes Ortino has made:

Changed his work hours so his time card is fraudulent

Changed from being a trooper to a small time PI

Changed wives

Changed his child support so his kids get even less money from him

Are these the kind of "changes" we want for Collier County? Heck NO!

Vote KEVIN RAMBOSK on August 26!

Show the proof of any of these statements. There is no record showing Ortino was fired, if there is show it. Ortino’s children were living with him full time and he gave his ex-wife money to help her out. Ortino has changed the lives of 1000's of his students and 1000's of his clients. You will see when it's time to vote. Ortino will win.

Rambosk has the education, poise, experience and intelligence to get my vote. None of the other candidates come close to measuring up.

I haven't made my decision yet, but I live in Golden Gate City and have for most of my 24 yrs here--Don't EVEN try to tell me we don't have a gang problem. If anyone in the CCSO doesn't see it, they are delusional!

This good enough for you Citizen?

Miami Herald, The (FL)
March 13, 1985
Section: GLF
Edition: STATE
Page: 1B
FHP TROOPERS APPEAL TO SERVICE COMMISSION
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Attorneys for 10 Florida Highway Patrol troopers accused of falsifying expense records will begin defense arguments today as a hearing before the Florida Career Service Commission enters its third day.
Nine of the troopers were fired and a tenth was penalized in May 1984, after a lengthy internal investigation turned up discrepancies in mileage and court appearance records.
Since no charges were filed by the state attorney's office, this week's hearing is the first opportunity the troopers have had to defend themselves.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles closed their case against the troopers Tuesday afternoon.
The final witness was Christopher Knight, a three-year veteran of the force.
Knight testified that while on duty in Collier County in 1981, he refused to fill out mileage and court appearance forms in an improper manner, despite suggestions from another trooper that he do so.
"It was obvious to me what was right and what was wrong," Knight said. "And (falsifying records) was very wrong."
The ten were suspended from the force in January 1984. All had been assigned to the Everglades substation in eastern Collier County.
The troopers are accused of three different types of improprieties, all of which state officials described as "theft."
They allegedly accepted $5 fees for court appearances made during duty time, though such fees are intended only for officers who must appear in court while off duty.
They also are charged with padding mileage figures for court appearances made in personal vehicles, and accepted mileage compensation for trips made in patrol cars.
The troopers do not deny the charges, but say such claims were routine for years in Collier County, and were never questioned by superiors.
"The evidence simply shows that there was a system in place," argued Ron Myer, an attorney representing eight of the troopers. "They had never once been told they were doing anything wrong until they were fired."
The list of those fired includes Donald L. Price, James E. Barber, David L. Greve, Christopher J. Hickel, Thomas A. Kushmer, Mary V. Lathrop, David L. McCarter Jr., Victor P. Ortino, and Dennis E. Smith.
Trooper Ralph Strader, a 21-year veteran, was suspended for a brief time following the investigation, but is still employed by the force. He joined in the appeal to clear his record.
All except Strader are fighting for reinstatement, and all seek full back pay.

Copyright (c) 1985 The Miami Herald

Such effort at research. Too bad the researcher did not continue. The researcher would have discovered the facts: that Ortino won his case, and his job, and his pay. Holy crap is this all, is this the best that the desperate Rambosk camp and their green fortune cookies can come up with?

Take the state of affairs at the FHP all those years ago, and hey, it looks a lot like the CCSO today! Maybe some recently disciplined deputies should find attorneys... Ortino will be Collier County's next sheriff.

naples00native,

Didn't Ortino appeal?
And, didn't he win the appeal?
And, wasn't he offered his job back?

Evidently he was wrongly fired, huh?

It's funny how you skipped those details!

"Knight testified that while on duty in Collier County in 1981, he refused to fill out mileage and court appearance forms in an improper manner, despite suggestions from another trooper that he do so. "It was obvious to me what was right and what was wrong," Knight said. "And (falsifying records) was very wrong."

AMAZING: only Knight was ethical enough to realize what they were doing was wrong and to refuse to be sucked into the scam? Is this the kind of unethical individual we want running CCSO?

Q: How does Victor Ortino run a campaign?

A: By sitting on a bar stool with his wife, drinking on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at his favorite Lee County bar. Oh, and sometimes a Collier County spot called the Iron Rhino.

Hey Victor, are you so stupid, you think LEE COUNTY bikers will vote for you? Viiiiiiiiiiiiiiictor.....Wah!

And is alcohol for everyone a legal use of campaign expenditures? How about that, NDN?

I played cards with Victor once. He cheated!

Time cards, marriages, poker, same thing to Vic.

Is it true that you only hire Sheriff's Office rejects, Vic? Who is that ugly man with the tattoos I saw you with? Who is that sadly obese man that follows you around? Are they rejects? Yes, they are.

I heard they call Vinny for a ride home after every campaign meeting. He's the official Ortino designated driver.....Victor and Vinny are very "tight".

Vote for KEVIN!

Three words.

Congratulations, Sheriff Rambosk!

Hey longtime, Vic won his appeal, turned down going back to work. He was no longer interested in police work. So 20 something years of serving Civil Process and peeping on cheaters and hiring bad ex-cops has really qualified him to run the Sheriff's Office. Um sure,,, it's plain as day. NOT! Vote for a real cop and a real leader - VOTE RAMBOSK!

#36 – Interesting post. It's this kind of theft that has gotten CCSO deputies fired or disciplined in the past. And every time that kind of news has hit the papers the GOTCHA bunch of Hunter haters who are lying in wait are quick to strike.

Despite the stupidity of some deputies in recent years at least the Sheriff’s Office has taken formal action whether you all agree with the outcome or not. And now we have a small group who are supporting this man and wish to elect him Sheriff. If that’s not the epitome of hypocrisy then I don’t know what is.

If indeed this article is true and factual I would like to know if Mr. Ortino is going to give breaks to those who do the same?

From this read it appears Mr. Ortino may know right from wrong but as a candidate for Sheriff he needs to address this. I would like to know what the dollar amount was for this unlawful compensation.

“They also are charged with padding mileage figures for court appearances made in personal vehicles, and accepted mileage compensation for trips made in patrol cars.

The troopers do not deny the charges, but say such claims were routine for years in Collier County, and were never questioned by superiors”.

Bears repeating. Ortino is a liar and a time card cheater.

Miami Herald, The (FL)
March 13, 1985
Section: GLF
Edition: STATE
Page: 1B
FHP TROOPERS APPEAL TO SERVICE COMMISSION
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Attorneys for 10 Florida Highway Patrol troopers accused of falsifying expense records will begin defense arguments today as a hearing before the Florida Career Service Commission enters its third day.
Nine of the troopers were fired and a tenth was penalized in May 1984, after a lengthy internal investigation turned up discrepancies in mileage and court appearance records.
Since no charges were filed by the state attorney's office, this week's hearing is the first opportunity the troopers have had to defend themselves.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles closed their case against the troopers Tuesday afternoon.
The final witness was Christopher Knight, a three-year veteran of the force.
Knight testified that while on duty in Collier County in 1981, he refused to fill out mileage and court appearance forms in an improper manner, despite suggestions from another trooper that he do so.
"It was obvious to me what was right and what was wrong," Knight said. "And (falsifying records) was very wrong."
The ten were suspended from the force in January 1984. All had been assigned to the Everglades substation in eastern Collier County.
The troopers are accused of three different types of improprieties, all of which state officials described as "theft."
They allegedly accepted $5 fees for court appearances made during duty time, though such fees are intended only for officers who must appear in court while off duty.
They also are charged with padding mileage figures for court appearances made in personal vehicles, and accepted mileage compensation for trips made in patrol cars.
The troopers do not deny the charges, but say such claims were routine for years in Collier County, and were never questioned by superiors.
"The evidence simply shows that there was a system in place," argued Ron Myer, an attorney representing eight of the troopers. "They had never once been told they were doing anything wrong until they were fired."
The list of those fired includes Donald L. Price, James E. Barber, David L. Greve, Christopher J. Hickel, Thomas A. Kushmer, Mary V. Lathrop, David L. McCarter Jr., Victor P. Ortino, and Dennis E. Smith.
Trooper Ralph Strader, a 21-year veteran, was suspended for a brief time following the investigation, but is still employed by the force. He joined in the appeal to clear his record.
All except Strader are fighting for reinstatement, and all seek full back pay.

Copyright (c) 1985 The Miami Herald

Sniff, sniff...What's that smell?

It's Victor Ortino's candidacy going up in smoke.

Someone's under investigation......Hmmmm. Again?

Oh, Victor, go home. Or go hide in some bushes.

Seems that Rambosk's supporters are getting a bit angry with this election. What a nasty lot! LOL

Victor Ortino for Sheriff!

It's pretty obvious that the Rambosk supporters are mostly sick, pathetic creeps.
Ortino at least shows a little class, something Hunter, Rambosk and their supporters are lacking.
And by the way, Rambosk was former chief of the Naples PD, so well known for abusing the taxpayers, and let's not forget the two Rambosk subordinates who mugged that little girl a couple of weeks ago!

greathornedlizard - you have been an idiot for how long now?

Boo hoo, boo hoo, great horned lizard.

What's that noise? The sound of a shoe dropping...A second shoe on the way?

Vic, buy me a drink?

You people really think in a million years that Ortega (opps) I mean Ortino, has even a slight prayer to beat Kevin Rambosk? I have been to the debates and there isn't even a comparison between hyperventaling, stuttering, brow sweating Ortino and the professional, dedicated, well spoken and calm Rambosk. Vinny keep driving north on I-75 because you don't even fit in the picture. Ortino, hire more disgruntled, terminated, former employees who can't wear the BADGE with HONOR any longer. Just ask Mike Koors DUH!

Victor Ortino couldn't find a class.

No education. Can't even run a business.

And he couldn't discover class either.

Surrounds himself with the class-less.

Victor who???

Vinnie who???

Some people still smoke crack to.....

But who,.....losers???

What a cople of crack pots....

Like I said, a bunch of no class losers, creeps and worse support this Rambosk.
I hope that Sheriff Ortino takes a good look at his officers and cleans out the cesspool, I'm certain he will include a few posters here in his list of those to receive pink slips.
I wonder how many Rambosk supporters are using their county laptops to post in this thread?

People -

we all enjoy the benefits of a low crime rate per capita.

Take ONE LOOK at your county to the north. Be glad we live in Collier.

The quality of life we currently enjoy because of the lower crime rate has been sustained through Don Hunter's diligence throughout his tenure.

If you just want change - just to change - then you will also be voting for Obama in November, without any consideration for what he has really accomplished.

Law enforcement in this county has made it a very good place to live...

Again, if you don't agree, watch to the north as Sheriff Mike Scott plays "Catch-Up" to the criminal activity in Lehigh Acres and the other areas of Lee County.

Thank you Don Hunter for your dedication. We welcome Rambosk to continue to provide citizens with the best service received from any Sheriff in the state.

Lets look at the changes Ortino has made:

Changed his work hours so his time card is fraudulent

Miami Herald, The (FL)
March 13, 1985
Section: GLF
Edition: STATE
Page: 1B
FHP TROOPERS APPEAL TO SERVICE COMMISSION
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Attorneys for 10 Florida Highway Patrol troopers accused of falsifying expense records will begin defense arguments today as a hearing before the Florida Career Service Commission enters its third day.
Nine of the troopers were fired and a tenth was penalized in May 1984, after a lengthy internal investigation turned up discrepancies in mileage and court appearance records.
Since no charges were filed by the state attorney's office, this week's hearing is the first opportunity the troopers have had to defend themselves.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles closed their case against the troopers Tuesday afternoon.
The final witness was Christopher Knight, a three-year veteran of the force.
Knight testified that while on duty in Collier County in 1981, he refused to fill out mileage and court appearance forms in an improper manner, despite suggestions from another trooper that he do so.
"It was obvious to me what was right and what was wrong," Knight said. "And (falsifying records) was very wrong."
The ten were suspended from the force in January 1984. All had been assigned to the Everglades substation in eastern Collier County.
The troopers are accused of three different types of improprieties, all of which state officials described as "theft."
They allegedly accepted $5 fees for court appearances made during duty time, though such fees are intended only for officers who must appear in court while off duty.
They also are charged with padding mileage figures for court appearances made in personal vehicles, and accepted mileage compensation for trips made in patrol cars.
The troopers do not deny the charges, but say such claims were routine for years in Collier County, and were never questioned by superiors.
"The evidence simply shows that there was a system in place," argued Ron Myer, an attorney representing eight of the troopers. "They had never once been told they were doing anything wrong until they were fired."
The list of those fired includes Donald L. Price, James E. Barber, David L. Greve, Christopher J. Hickel, Thomas A. Kushmer, Mary V. Lathrop, David L. McCarter Jr., Victor P. Ortino, and Dennis E. Smith.
Trooper Ralph Strader, a 21-year veteran, was suspended for a brief time following the investigation, but is still employed by the force. He joined in the appeal to clear his record.
All except Strader are fighting for reinstatement, and all seek full back pay.

Copyright (c) 1985 The Miami Herald

Vote KEVIN RAMBOSK on August 26!

The troopers do not deny the charges, but say such claims were routine for years in Collier County, and were never questioned by superiors.

The troopers do not deny the charges, but say such claims were routine for years in Collier County, and were never questioned by superiors.

Vote KEVIN RAMBOSK on August 26!

ortino for a real change!

The troopers do not deny the charges, but say such claims were routine for years in Collier County, and were never questioned by superiors.

Vote KEVIN RAMBOSK on August 26!

Hunter's administration is a corrupt, inbred group of elitists. Time for a change.

I've known Kevin Rambosk for 20 years. You couldn't find or meet a more caring leader. He's smart, has integrity and will lead the Sheriff's Office into the future.

I have urged everyone I know to vote for him.

Kevin Rambosk for Sheriff

I'd wish you luck, Kevin, but you don't need it with competition like this.

Wow.
This is getting nasty.

Just vote for RAMBO.
He will be sure to keep us all safe.

Vic why dont you just pack it up and leave. Now that Ginny-poo has been fired from her job at the school board just go ahead and move up to your Lot 10 Fontana View in Almond NC...with all the other nuts.

RAMBOSK FOR SHERIFF!

Now Victor is the guy in the shorts, right?

Really, Victor, you should wear long pants like the big boys!

I would like us all to take a moment of silence for the end of the Ortino campaign.

Gentlemen, remove your hats.
Those of you in the Ortino campaign, stop spitting your tabakky and put down your fiddles.

Please stand for the playing of taps.

Dude...i think thats dueling banjos playing taps for the deadbeat Ortino deliverance campaign.

Victor, with all your disgruntled supporters who you employ, keep looking for Moby's unmentionable with your magnifying glass.You may be a private dicktective but you will never be a sheriff. I agree put down the tobbacco and fiddles.

The Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, the largest union for law enforcement officers in the state, has endorsed private investigator Victor Ortino for Collier County sheriff.

“He has an encouraging outlook, a fresh positive outlook in his management style and I think that is very encouraging to us in the FOP,” said James W. Preston, president of the Florida State Lodge. “Victor comes from the rank and file. He’s honed his management style in private industry. ... I think one side complements the other.”

Ortino, 48, called the endorsement a big step for his candidacy.

“I think it shows I’m a viable candidate and it shows me that law enforcement has respect for me that I can do the job as the top law enforcement officer,” Ortino said. “I’ve been indirectly working on this for a while. I wanted this endorsement. ... By them endorsing me it shows the deputies that I will be supportive of them.”

For 23 years Ortino has been the owner and manager of the private investigation firm Ortino Investigations, which has five employees. He is also a martial arts instructor and for 23 years owned and operated a karate school in Naples.

Ortino worked as a state trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol from 1982 to 1985 and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

As sheriff, Ortino said he would focus on controlling the Sheriff’s Office budget, reducing crime without manipulating statistics, reducing turnover and restructuring the agency so it is not top heavy.

On Monday morning Sheriff Don Hunter announced that he would not seek re-election in 2008. Instead he endorsed Undersheriff Kevin Rambosk for sheriff.

Rambosk, a former Naples city manager and police chief, said he will announce his intentions at noon on Thursday on the front steps of the Collier County courthouse.

Ortino said he believes he is more qualified than Rambosk to be sheriff.

“We need a change in Collier County,” Ortino said, “and by just switching hats you’re not going to get that change.”

By the way... I'm undecided.. just thought I'd stir the pot... LOL

This blog really is getting nasty. Especially from those people who are judging just from what the media has told them. Sunnidaz, Scottape, etc. you seem to comment on topics you have no idea about. People will vote the way they see fit, and it looks as though Vic Ortino will win those votes and do it with class.

Vic, you've got my vote!

With Open Eyes,

I am the smartest person on this blog.

Sing it with me, brothers and sisters!

Ding, (naughty word), Vic's campaign is dead. Ding, (naughty word), Vic's a ding (naughty word).

Now, now, now.
Let's be fair here. You can't depend on everything you read in the NDN.

He did get fired - They didn't deny the charges,
He usually can't get the facts straight,
He makes attacks on the Sheriffs Office without adequate proof,
He has hired people fired from the Sheriffs Office
The Deputies won't respect him if he does get elected.
He may try to re-hire employees that were fired.

He may be a good small business man, but I don't know about being a ding (naughty word). Maybe a lack of good judgement sometimes? Certainly not someone voters should trust with thier safety and security!

1 last thing, LEO's are a close knit fraternity. They won't partner with someone they don't trust and respect. Would you have someone like that watching YOUR back in a life threatening situation?

Re: #71
Yes Ortino was endorsed by the state FOP group, but that was BEFORE Rambosk declared his intention to run. Once he did announce, the state FOP said they would not reconsider their endorsement. That makes their endorsement worthless to me since they aren't considering all the candidates.

Bravo, Pauls.

quite frankly, this whole election for Sheriff is useless.

All three candidates are truly unfit for the duty of Sheriff. Rambosk is just a puppet Hunter, and the other two don't have any experience running a large organization. I don't care how much experience they have running a small company, the skills don't carry up to running a multi-million dollar public agency.

Unfortunately, I think the only person here whom has the acumen to keep the self perpetuating disaster we call a Sheriff's Office operating with a semblance of effectiveness is Rambosk, because at least he's got some (20 years) practice at it.

If you vote Ortino you will have that crew of scary looking people that follow him around running the SO.

He talks about Rambosk owing favors but who do you think he will hire?

Maybe the mustached tatoo guy can run Youth Relations, the sexual harasser can run IA and the girl that got fired from the jail can run the jail.

They have experience.

Victor is a bad tipper.

I just thought you'd want to know that.

He leaves food on the floor.

Victor
Give it up, you are wasting your time and everyone elses.

I think you are a nice guy but are in way over your head.

You don't have to be privy to inside information to have an opinion on how you would run the SO.

My vote goes to Kevin Rambosk who is also a nice guy but knows what he is doing.

Ortino = Girl

You are giving girls a bad name.

I'd just call him slime.

The bottom line for me is --- Vic and Vinny lack credibility and respectability. Rambosk has my vote!

If the comments I'm reading from the Rambosk supporters are indicative of the current CCSO, and Rambosk campaign, Vinnie has some valid points in his debate. If you think that a purging of Non-Hunter supporters didn't occur through drastic demotions and re-assignments through his first few terms go back and do your research.
If you want to repeatedly post partial truths about Mr. Ortino's, overturned dismissal from FHP, you do nothing but turn objective citizens away from the smear and into his camp.
As a disinterested party in this election, I can speak from first hand knowledge as I was a CCSO Deputy through this period, left on excellent terms and hold respect for both Sheriff Hunter and Mr. Ortino.
This being said, To the Victor goes the spoils, purging of Departments after elections is commonplace and needed for a proactive administration.

USD.
Go ahead and establish your credibility. Tell us your name. If not, you are as full of crap as Ortino. And remember, the firing may have been overturned, but they admitted the deeds. They admitted illegal behavior. If you truly were a LEO, you wouldn't accept this. How funny!

The Hunter/Rambosk groupees are out in force. The problem is they cannot or will not debate issues. They go straight to personal attacks, half truths and rumors. A little civility would go a long way which seems to be totally lacking on the Hunter/Rambosk side.

Time card fraud this old story is all you have on Ortino. You have too much at the CCSO to worry about. What about Gonswallowz (not sure it's spelled correctly sorry if it's not) getting busted for time card fraud & she's still working there. Rumor is she keeps telling everyone she's going to make Lt. Holy crap. A Lt. who isn't honest. Isn't this a first at the CCSO. Like the Lt. who went to the call where his wife was shoplifting & he covered it up, the same Lt. who conducts personal business at his substation, the same Lt. who is helping cover up a domestic disturbance another deputy had with his wife. Another Lt. who is under investigation for having relations with a subordinate deputy while on duty & holy crap it wasn't his wife. How about a Captain who had an affair with someone & he's now in charge of ethics. Should I go on. Think you guys might want to stop the attacks on Ortino cause we certainly can attack your man cause all this is going on while he's the #2 guy & he does nothing about it.

Remember when Kevin fleeced the police pension fund when he left the Naples PD?

As City Manager (or was it as Chief of Police) Rambosk was instrumental in firing an NPD Lt. arrested for drunk driving & then rehiring him at the PD

Attn: Senior Citizens:

Victor Ortino would like you to give up your driver's licenses at age 65.

He came up with that one all by himself. He's going to give Vinnie all the business.

Oh, my goodness! What great entertainment this story and all the comments have been. Mr. Angiolino's comment was out of line, and off the mark. The "gang" appears to be the desperate, antagonistic, mud-slinging Rambosk supporters. They appear to be obsessed with Ortino's FHP past. However, there is nothing in that past to scrutinize or ridicule, as when the entire story is examined, Ortino did what I would want a sheriff to do -- stand up for what is right and for what he believe in. It is clear that the Rambosk camp cannot debate, much less take a stand on the issues, as the truth about Rambosk and the CCSO is entirely too painful.

Ortino is the clean, honest, and moral candidate for sheriff. Ortino has made his positions clear on everything from red light cameras to promotions to discipline to crime fighting to recruitment and retention of employees, to reducing the budget to more efficient policing and use of resources and on and on. Rambosk side steps and dwells on history (like his supports seemingly) and tries to fool the constituency with the same old smoke and mirrors. I was at the debate in Pelican Bay and was most unimpressed with how Rambosk addressed the questions posed to him. He talks about everything but the issues and the questions and the problems. Rambosk exhibits behavior I certainly, and any intelligent voter who cares about its community and its law enforcement, do not want in a sheriff.

Get RID of the incumbents. Vote ORTINO for Sheriff!!!!!!

Mr. Campaign Manager/W.Coyote

You do not know what you've gotten yourself into. Vic can't say the word "moral."

Too bad you've been snow jobbed into this fiasco.

P.S. I am not a gang member. But I am an AARP member.

I am not on anyone's payroll or campaign staff. I happen to think the anti-Ortino forces are very clever.

I shall join them in their support for the fine Undersheriff Kevin Rambosk. I met him and he seems intelligent, well-spoken, well-mannered and quite the professional. He has my vote and I shall cover my bumpers with his stickers.

I would like to keep my license. I am 66.

To the Vic & Vin supporters, not all change is good. Change to Sheriff Ortino or Sheriff Angiolillo=not good. Change to Sheriff Rambosk= good.

Me too. Retired from the CCPS.
I know both of these guys well. I was at the BCC meeting when the Board of County Commissioners totally ignored Vic. His presentation was shaky at best. Not confident. He acted emotional. How did the BCC vote?
He is a nice guy, but not Sheriff material.

#88 Longtime, You bring up a nice point. A lot of you (both sides)are going negative because you have deep feelings for your candidate. This serves no purpose. If you dig deep enough, everyone has some skeletons in the closet. Let's allow the candidates to show us what they can do/plan to do for Collier County. Then vote. No one is changing anyone else's mind in cyberland here with the dirt. You got real dirt, sign your name, your source and your proof and let the NDN investigate...lol

Hey Cardshark, try to get your story straight and get the CORRECT details of why each of those deputies were fired. But then again....maybe you should run YRD. Wait...no one would trust you around their kids.

If the majority of you were under a microscope, the skeletons would come of your closet and everyone would be bashing you right now.

Let's just stop all of this bashing and let people decide who they want to vote for all on their own.

I needed to vent that because most of you don't have the right information.