Cowardly criticism: Scott County's 911 communications director responds

By Thomas Beardslee

I am responding to the person who so viciously attacked me in an anonymous online comment following the story in last week's Southeast Missourian that stated I had been appointed 911 director for Scott County.

I took on that additional duty at no additional pay to help the county commission with a financial problem, to help improve working conditions for Scott County 911 employees and to smooth out a few rough edges so that our 911 could be a more professional and better prepared communications center for the safety, and for the well-being of Scott County residents and those traveling through Scott County.

For this I was rewarded with a scathing diatribe casting doubt on my ability and motives by a person who lacked the courage and decency to approach me with his concerns face to face like an adult.

He even questioned the intelligence of my dog, and we can't have that.

My dog, a search-and-rescue trailing dog, finds missing people.

Her very existence is dedicated to that mission.

We go to schools and nursing homes so that others can enjoy her.

To have an anonymous and cowardly person attack her is unconscionable.

I suspect I know who this person is.

I recognize him from his propensity to write in all caps, his inability to spell and his penchant for going behind someone's back to criticize.

This, however, is a new low, even for him.

It is not really unexpected, considering his lack of integrity, but unfortunate nonetheless.

I am not afraid to be public with my comments, and my name will be attached to this.

I would encourage anyone else who might have some comment or concerns about my motives or ability to do these jobs to come to me face to face, like an adult and not hide behind the anonymity of the Internet.

I can be found by contacting the Scott County Sheriff's Department or 911 Communications Center.

Or, I can be found at home on rare occasions. I would suggest, however, if you want to come to my home that you call ahead.

Thomas Beardslee is chief deputy in the Scott County Sheriff's Department and director of the Scott County 911 Communications Center.