A letter to OCSO Sheriff Jerry L. Demings
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 3:21PM Today, I sent this e-mail to the sheriff of Orange County, Jerry L. Demings. After yesterday’s experience, I made sure every deputy I spoke to in the courthouse knew about this incident.
Dear Sheriff Demings,
I write about the Casey Anthony case. In Dec. 2009, Sgt. John Allen interviewed me on the phone and asked me to come into the W. Colonial address to make a written statement. I must say he was a true gentleman in every way, and a consummate professional. This isn’t about him, though.
I attended the Frye hearing on 23 March in Judge Perry’s courtroom. During the lunch break, I walked down Orange Avenue to a Cuban Cafe. When I went to place my order, I realized I didn’t have my wallet. It was one of those uh-oh moments. I may have failed to pick it up after going through security, or I could have left it in the courtroom in a bag I left behind.
I asked a security officer if anyone had turned in a wallet. I said I’m a diabetic and needed to eat lunch. When she told me no one had, I said it could be in 19D. I went up the elevator and all courtrooms were locked for the daily lunch break. No one was in sight. I went back to the 1st floor, hoping that someone might open the door for me. While addressing security, an OCSO deputy was standing nearby. He told me “you need to eat lunch,” and proceeded to take $10 out of his pocket. I tried to say no, but he insisted. Again, he said I need to eat lunch. I asked him when he would be back again and he said, don’t worry about it. You can give it to someone in security if I’m not around. I attend as many hearings as I can, but he wasn’t aware of that. Despite having no knowledge of me, he trusted me, no questions asked.
Deputy Pat Patterson is a very caring individual, very much a gentleman, and an asset to your agency. He went well beyond the duties of his position. It is law enforcement officers like him that show just how caring and dedicated they are. In my opinion, he should be commended. He is someone you and the entire sheriff’s office should be proud of.
Please thank him again for me. Although I wasn’t able to go to today’s hearing, I will be there tomorrow, with my wallet in hand and a crisp ten dollar bill. Deputy Patterson exemplifies the true spirit of our men and women in uniform.
Sincerely,
Dave Knechel
By the way, my wallet was inside the bag. It was, obviously, safer in the courtroom than it was in my own pocket. I told Dep. Patterson I was going to write something on my blog, but it was Yuri Melich who suggested I write to the sheriff. OCSO is used to receiving more complaints than compliments.
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Reader Comments (33)
Hi Dave..glad your wallet was safe. I have found that though the idiots and mean people of this world get much of the attention, there are far more kind and caring souls out there than we imagine. Through our 'adventure in brain injury' with Sam, we have been blessed to meet many kind people who give of their time, or food, or occasionally even a dollar or two for Sam's enjoyment. One disability site on the 'net raised funds for a TV and radio for his room as we were preparing to return home from a 9 month hospital stay. These folks all live on SSI, and have nothing extra at all..yet they felt that sharing with Sam was important. Like the "widow's mite", a gift from them meant more than a million dollars from a rich man. glad you experienced human grace, rather than the vileness that seems to abound around this trial.
PS..I am completely stunned at what I have seen these past 2 days. DO the defense attorneys actually make a living at this, or is it a hobby?
I was glad, too, dadgum. I was a little shocked when I reached down for it and it wasn't there. I'll tell you, this deputy was a class act, like in a league of his own, but I must say I have gotten to know enough deputies down there to walk up to them and talk. They're all good people, and because of this high profile case, more of them are running around the courthouse. The deputy in the courtroom told me that Dep. Patterson is only part time. He's an Air Force recruiter. Had I known that, I would have told him about my brother, the major.
I'm so happy Sam enjoys the generosity of others. I sure hope I can do the same thing soon. Being rich has never been my top priority. Whenever I've had money, I am very giving. Of course, that's been too long.
Yes, the defense attorneys do get paid under normal conditions, but this one is far from normal.
I am glad you were able to eat and am glad you met up with Det. Patterson! Like Dadgum said, the nice people are out there in abundance!
Thank you for all you have done and are doing to bring us the best coverage in the case. TTYL! :-)
I wasn't even aware that the deputy overheard me telling the security guard that I was diabetic. When I was talking to one of the deputies in the courtroom later on, during a break, he told me they are trained to recognize symptoms of hypoglycemia. He asked me if I had anything on me that identifies me as a diabetic and I showed him my key chain. I have one of those medical alert bracelets on it. I don't like wearing jewelry. He said they always look at key chains, too.
It sure was an honor to meet such a great guy, Sherry.
Thank you for enjoying my blog. I do try to provide good coverage of the hearings. Today, I couldn't go because of a project I'm working on, but it's probably for the best. It was an agonizing day for Jose. I hate to see people suffer.
Dave, I am sorry to read that you misplaced your wallet. I am so glad that you had the opportunity to meet a caring, thoughtful person who was willing to help you. You seldom get the chance to hear about anything good that someone does and I am sure that Sheriff Demings will be honored to get this email from you regarding Deputy Patterson. He has good reason to be proud of having a deputy on his staff like Deputy Patterson. Kudos to you for letting us and everyone that reads here know about a good deed that has been done. Yuri Melich is right when he says that LE doesn't often get compliments.
I'll tell you, when I made it a point to let Yuri know about Dep. Patterson, he made sure I knew how I could pay his kindness and generosity back, aside from the $10. The message will be read by the sheriff and it will go into the deputy's personnel folder. Believe me, he is very deserving because, as much as I insisted I couldn't take it, the more persistent he was about it. What a guy!
I love miracles like that!! I am going to send you a donation soon when I figure out how that works. I would love to take you to lunch and shoot the breeze, listen to your accounts of court drama, and schooling me on you name it! Sadly but I'm thousands of miles away. Thanks for sharing your website. Writers are a great breed of people!
Thank you, Gerri! You don't have to send me a donation, you know. It's not really necessary, but I appreciate your generosity. If you're ever in the neighborhood, let me know. I love meeting new people. Otherwise, you can always keep in touch by commenting here or sending me an e-mail in the submission form located on the bottom of the left sidebar.
Thank you for being so nice. I'm happy you enjoy my blog. I like writers, too, but I think I'm biased.
You are the best and so nice of you to write that letter
Aw shucks, Marsha. That's very sweet of you to say so. That deputy needed a good pat on his back for what he did, and I love to mention those types of deeds on my blog. Thank you very, very much.
God Bless Deputy Patterson! There are good people out there. Giving from the heart and not expecting anything in return makes that person very special. I have met some folks just like Deputy Patterson and I am glad you did too, Dave. Thanks for sending that letter and sharing it with us.
Yes, Snoopy, God Bless deputy Patterson. I just had to write about this experience. Believe me, it's an honor and a pleasure. People need to know what a wonderful guy he is. He is to be commended for his generosity and caring. I'll bet you he's a great father, too.
Dave: I'm not sure which part of the story I find most moving--Deputy Pat Patterson reaching out to help you; or your efforts to return the favor.
Thank you so much for sharing. (I was also relieved to hear that your wallet was safe and sound.)
One more thing--I don't think there is going to be a hearing tomorrow. They will finish this on April 1 and 2, I think?
His act of generosity far outweighs what I wrote, nan11, and it would have been an affront to not write something since I have the means to do so. It probably would have been a problem had I not eaten, too, so what he did was he kept my sugar from dropping below the safety level.
There's no hearing tomorrow that I'm aware of. Nope. Next Friday, until late at night, and Saturday morning. I seriously doubt I will put myself through all that torture. I may go Friday for a few hours, but not all day.
Nan11, they are going to work late into Friday nite, April 1st and bright and early Sat morning, Apr 2nd. I am not sure what time they are starting on April 1st....the attorneys did not look none too happy. Baez is so slow. It seems he tries to impress his audience with his brilliant questions and wants his glory to linger on and on and on and... I spent half the time telling my monitor to "hurry up" today. It was pure torture to listen to Baez and I don't think that I am the only one who felt that way.
It's nice to know that there are still nice, caring people in this world. Thank you for sharing this story about an extraordinary person. He is truly a credit to his department and to the human race.
Thank you, docsharon. It's one of those endearing stories, isn't it? I agree with you wholeheartedly. The guy's a class act.
Dave - I am so glad you found your wallet. Thank goodness for people like Deputy Patterson. He was so kind to pull out the money and insist you eat. There are many kind people in this world and he will love having this letter in his folder.
I was amazed at the attitide of Baez this afternoon. I missed the morning part. He kept going over the same thing with question after question. At this rate we will never have an ending to this trial as long as we are alive. Forget the apology to Jeff A. the other day. Baez just took it back and ruined it. I have never seen such an outburst in a courtroom. I do believe Judge Perry was really getting angry.
Hi, Nika1, I was just thinking about you yesterday. The gentleman sitting behind the prosecution, the heavy set bald man, wore a Gator pin on his lapel. We exchanged a few words during one of the breaks and I mentioned that I had been to two games this past season. He was a friendly guy.
I sure am glad I found my wallet, too. The woman I spoke to in security told me that if I didn't find it, I needed to file a report. I think that meant they would look through security cameras and see if they could spot who picked it up. I'm telling you, it's like a small community down there at the courthouse. It's like a friendly, helping town. I've met quite a few nice people, but what the deputy did was exemplary.
I watched as much as I could on TV today. It was one of the worst days for the defense. There's no cohesion to it. It had to be one of the most frustrating days so far for the judge. I don't know how he does it.
Hey! Great to see you!
Dave, Glad that you found a good person to help you and that your wallet was found and everything was in it. It is good to know that there are some good people out in the world.
I was able to watch the hearing today online. I do not like watching it that way, but I have no other way. I thought the hearing was really good. Baez is in really deep do do and the trial is almost a month away. Keeping Casey off of death row is the only thing they have IMO. Baez is getting more inept; if that is even possible.
I hope you had a good day, looking forward to your post. Thank you for all you do for us.
We are leaving to go back up north on April 1st, so I will miss both the Friday and Saturday sessions. I can hopefully watch it when we get back home. I am looking forward to going back home, I just hope all the snow is gone.
Hi, Peggy - I think by next week this time, the snow will be gone. Spring has sprung, but weather on April 1st may fool you.
I'm glad there are sterling people like Dep. Patterson in the world. Despite not knowing if I would find my wallet or not, his deed was very comforting. After that, I knew it couldn't have ended badly.
You know, with all that traveling you do, you should get an iPad with built in Verizon or something. That way, you'll always have the Internet, wherever you go.
Before I delve too deeply into the Frye stuff, I'm going to rip into the new motion Mason filed. I think I know a thing or two about framing judges.
Thank you. I always enjoy your company.
Loved hearing of your experience. I also loved dadgum's term "human grace."
Baez has filed a motion for Judge Perry to reconsider some of his decisions today alleging bias???
Hi Newbie... Yes, it was a great experience and I loved dadgum's term, too. Human grace... it has a nice sound to it.
Yep, a new motion. Mason signed it. Trust me, I know. It was his idea to take down Judge Strickland. Like this one, his signature was all over it.
You know, it gives me great pleasure to see you here. Thank you for that.
No, SnoopySleuth, you were definitely not the only one!
I wish HHJP would take that pen away from Baez. His incessant clicking of it
is so very disruptive and annoying! I have heard a lot of people that were irritated by that too,
not to mention what a pathetic so-called "attorney" he is.
By the way, at HM someone posted a link to your new website and I checked it out. I hope that was okay! It is very cool and you are doing a great blog! I would like to check back in now and then if that is okay with you. ?
Dave, thank you for sharing this beautiful and inspiring story with all of us! Made my day!
Looking forward to both yours and SnoopySleuth's thoughts on todays hearing and Cheney Mason's outrageous motion for a re-hearing on suppressing her statements.
I have a few more questions too, but I need to go and read the comments everyone left here today on your other post! They will likely be answered there. Thank you both for being you. And hello to everyone here! What a day, eh?
Well, what I first heard isn't exactly correct. The new motions are stated on the post Today's Hearings.
I totally agree with Detective Melich. Police officers, waiters, waitresses, office personnel, sales clerks all work for and with us every day and if one goes above and beyond like this guard did he deserves recognition and personally I always go out of my way to give some recognition. I either go to the supervisor, manager, or write a letter stating how nice the person was and how good they did their job. Note to everyone.. for Dave's next birthday get him a shoulder MURSE (man's purse) lol.
On a side note, I wonder if Baez is paying Casey to sit and do his busy work. Looked like she was organizing his notebook today. Personally I think if we have to sit through the hearing and listen, then she should. She looks like she's escaping into the roll as legal aide whenever she goes to court. Hope she doesn't do that during the trial.. it'll make her look really bad.
Hi Connie - I hope Yuri gets to read my letter commending the deputy. I want him to know I'm a man of my word. As for a murse? I don't think so! A cheap 7-11 type plastic bag will do me just fine. It was just supposed to be food and nothing else. Of course, a new iPad would be nice...
Just kidding.
I agree with your assessment of Casey's peculiar behavior. I don't know what to make of it.
Always wonderful to hear about good people in this world! So glad you met up with one of them.
Do you know when the public will be able to see the new motion? I can not believe this bs!!!!
It certainly is, Patti o. There's no doubt he is one top shelf kind of guy.
Here's the link to the new motion:
http://www.wftv.com/pdf/27311684/detail.html
Has anyone checked out TCD post on this hearing today- Casey's expression at the description Dr. Vass gives of the decomp stench from the sealed container- the decomp stench from her own little daughter. Her eyes bugged out for a nanosecond like a frog's- then back down to her writing she goes. Can't even help herself, not even a fake lip tremble for her little girl.
I came here to read about the hearing, but you know what, this human interaction you enjoyed and your own subsequent letter is such a lovely digression- thank you SO much for sharing this all with us. It's good after being rubber-hosed by Jose the better part of the day to remember that not everyone is a meretricious hack and that there is so much that is good in the human spirit...
You know, Karen, after yesterday's hearing, I was speechless. It would have been an ugly writeup so I felt this would be better. It's heartwarming. Since the show goes continues next week, I want to address the new motion first, so I'll be reading it today.
This post was a better story, as far as I'm concerned. Thank you for letting me know how much you enjoyed it.
Hi Dave,
What a wonderful heartwarming gesture by Dep. Patterson. Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad you could have the lunch you needed.
You know, Frankie, it proves that cops aren't just cops. Some of them, like Dep. Patterson, take "To serve and protect" to a higher level.
Thanks for caring.
Hats off to you Dave for writing the sheriff and letting him know about the officer who helped you out in a pinch. He is to be commended.
Thank you also for doing such a wonderful job with the coverage of your case on this blog.
Keep up the good work.
Hello Yvette! If I take my hat off, you'll find out how bald I am.
No doubt, the deputy should be commended and I did the right thing. Now, I've got to get down to the courthouse to pay him back. Thanks for your kind words.
The OCSO is a good department with a good staff of officers. I am glad that you were able to eat your lunch. Both my wife and son were diabetics and this makes me fully aware of what you were going through.
The department has had it rough lately with the loss of some good and experienced deputies. I am certain that your letter will go far to boost morale at the department.
I applaud the deputy for coming to your aid and I applaud you for thanking him for his being considerate.
MURT
Hi Murt - My only interaction with OCSO deputies is down at the courthouse, and they are all decent people. I've yet to meet one who isn't. Dep. Patterson must have overheard the conversation I had with the security guard and when I returned, he took my well being to heart. I've had bouts of low sugar lately because of a new med I was put on, Byetta. I'm sorry about your wife and son. A lot of people don't fully understand what the disease is all about.
Yes, the department has had a rough go lately. I sure hope that letter helps.
Thanks for the accolades. He came to my aid and he needs to be recognized for his outstanding work and concern for others.
Hi Dave,
Sorry to hear about your incident with your wallet. So glad it was resolved. About the motions - don't know if I can listen to anymore nonsense. Baez, with his smirk, and Casey acting like a lawyer or a student - it is getting very annoying to watch. The jury, at trial, will not appreciate this disrespect. What is your opinion? Now, the defense is filing a new motion about JP - make sure you stay clear of their crap. Once, was enough. Thanks for your hard work.
Yup, simba, my wallet was intact and the bag was still tied shut. I can't say enough about the deputy, though.
As for the motions and hearings, is it the defense team's plan to bore us to death so by the time the trial comes around, no one will want to watch it? Fortunately, my guinea pig days are over. What's that old saying?... First time, shame on you, second time, shame on me.
Thank you for acknowledging my work. It is appreciated.
Dave,
What a wonderful letter! What a wonderful distraction from this trial. My faith is restored when I hear of these acts of human kindness. (human grace) And make sure to take care of yourself. We need you, your great writing, and more stories of human kindness so we can make it through this trial. Thankyou for all you do for all of us. Yes, writers are the greatest!!!
Hi SageMom - I needed to say something great about the deputy. I also wanted to commend Sgt. Allen because he's such an upstanding person. What the deputy did was beyond the call of duty and it couldn't go unnoticed. I'm thankful for him, and I'm just as thankful that Yuri Melich sent me in the right direction.
Thank you for your touching words. I'm happy to know you enjoy my writing and I enjoy doing it just as much.
I'm going down to the courthouse to return the $10 Deputy Patterson gave me. If anyone gets stuck in moderation, I'll let you out when I return.
New motion by defence DENIED by JP
http://www.wesh.com/pdf/27325185/detail.html?utm_source=manual&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=casey+updates
Hi Dave! It's been said that bad things happen to good people, but thankfully in this case, something good happened to a really nice guy. I'm thankful that this deputy took care of you. Isn't this the way it's supposed to be? We should care for our fellow man.
I'm glad to know you're ok. Take care and God bless you my friend.
Hello Carmen! This was a really good thing he did. He wasn't working when I went to the courthouse yesterday, but I did give it to another one and we talked for about 20 minutes or so. He was a good guy, too. Used to be with NYPD and the only thing he misses from up there is the food. You just can't beat a NY deli or pizza joint.
Yes, what Dep. Patterson did was amazing. Thank you, and God Bless You, too!
Dave,
The story of Deputy Pat Patterson touched me deeply. Caring people like him seem to be becoming rarer and rarer. I would love for him to know how proud I
am of him, and just wish we had more people like him! I am equally proud of you for acknowledging his kindness! I wish that all of us here could send him a card thanking him for the kindness shown to you. May God Bless Both of You...mb
I like it when I have opportunities to tell stories like this one, and this was a perfect one to tell. I placed the money in an envelope with another thank you. Thank you, mb, and may God Bless You, too.
Hi Dave, Your story about Deputy Patterson lifted my spirits. I understand that you could have run into medical problems if you did not eat, and your blood sugar went out of control. It is truely a breath of fresh air in an otherwise cloudy day in that court room. I do look forward to reading your thoughts on the events that have happended in the last few days.
It was a wonderful thing, Rob, and it was a great story to tell. No doubt, he made sure I had no problems.
I'm sorting through all the crap we just went through. I'm not quite ready to write about the Frye stuff. Instead, I think I'll write a piece on the 2 motions the judge just denied. I can have a field day with those. Thanks.
Dave,
Once the "verdict" is in, do you think we can expect a Media Blitz from the Anthonys? What better time to build their bank accounts back up? (more blood money) I'll bet they already have plane tickets for New York City! mb
I think if the verdict is guilty, they will be shocked and won't say anything right away. There would still the penalty phase. If she's sentenced to death, they will burst into tears and, again, it might be days before we hear from them in person. I would imagine statements would be forthcoming from their legal representation.
Thank you Dave for sharing your experience with us and the great outcome. LE are always the first to blame when someone gets into trouble, however in your case, they are the first to help and
I am happy that they did. Being a diabetic myself I know how important it is to eat because at times I wait and then I feel like I am going to pass out. Have a great weekend!
I just love to tell stories with happy endings, Janet, and this was certainly one of those times. Which reminds me, time for my Byetta. That's some potent stuff. Thanks, you have a great weekend, too!
Dave, more often than not people will write a letter of complaint but will not ever write a complimentary letter to praise someone for doing a good deed..I know you fall in the latter catagory. I try to always acknowledge a person's kindness. I worked for years as an office manager in a health care facility and can count on one hand the good letters we received..I always made sure the Dr. saw them and then filed them in the employee's personnel file. Most of the bad ones went in file 13. Lol. I'm glad your problem was resolved so quickly.
Now i'm waiting with baited breath to read your post regarding the latest 5 o'clock motions. Not rushing you but would you please get on it? J/K
Yes, GLENDA, most letters are complaints which, unfortunately, seem to be more important than compliments. Too bad. I've always strove to give credit when it's due, and this time it was well warranted.
I'm tossing the motions around in my head and I'll be spitting something out soon. Tomorrow, we have another radio show, but I'll try to write tomorrow or Monday. Monday morning, I have some business to take care of. I've been busy lately!
Hi Dave,
Maybe I'm missing something; but at this time, I just don't see anything that the Defense has to win this case. Nothing. With all the time and money that they have spent one would think they would have "something". If they do, I sure can't think of anything! Casey doesn't appear to be very concerned. I think she will "settle in nicely" if she is sent to prison.
I don't see much at this point, either, and I don't think Mason is used to being slapped around like this. He made his bed, but I'll bet he's having a lot of sleepless nights these days.
In my opinion, the only hope the defense has is finding the perfect jury, just one person who believes in all kinds of crazy conspiracy theories, rather than the plain stark truth. If OJ can be acquitted, anyone can. I saw Mike Eiglarsh on JVM the other day, and when asked what the defense would be looking for in a jury, he responded, "Have you seen the movie Dumb and Dumber?"
You know, LisaT, from what Mason has been up to all along, I wouldn't put it past him to file a motion against the location of where the jury will be chosen, along with rejecting everyone who is interviewed. We shall see.
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I think it is a mistake to compare this case to the OJ Trial. There are a lot of factors missing from this case. One is the fame of the defendant and the second is race. The verdict of OJ was attributed to jury nullification of the jury which was made up of mostly minority jurors. OJ was also a famous athlete and to a lesser extent, actor.
This time we have a White single mother accused of killing her own child, Until this case broke, nobody ever heard of her. The only reason this case has any attention at all is the unusual circumstances surrounding the case when it first broke.
It is also a highly local case. At this point in time, there is little national coverage of the case except on the true crime talking head shows. The viewer percentage of these shows versus the mainstream media markets is low by comparison.
The participation numbers on the blogs,forums and stream sites are low as well. One example of this is the numbers that show up on the mainstream media sites during the hearing coverage. Right now the average number of people tuning in to the high rating stations is just over 1000 people. Those are dismal numbers in the industry.
There will likely be an uptick of numbers during the trial itself. However, I do not think the numbers will come anywhere near the numbers generated by the OJ trial. After the opening arguments, people will drift off to more exciting news and not return until the closing arguments and the verdict.
After the verdict and sentencing the public interest will come to a grinding halt and Casey will soon be forgotten.
MURT
Hi Murt - I agree there's no comparing the two. In this one, the defendant faces the death penalty. In OJ's, that wasn't a factor, but at the same time, both defense teams had to/will have to be very careful selecting a jury. In Casey's case, they still must be willing to sentence her to death, but both have a similarity - evidence that is primarily circumstantial. Of course, the same was true with Scott Peterson, and look where that got him.
In my opinion, this trial will take off like a rocket. As soon as jury selection gets under way, millions of people will tune in again. Those who have wandered away have been waiting for the trial to return to the fold. The media will also make sure it receives national attention, and to some degree, international. The amount of money Turner Broadcasting is investing into the property across the street is staggering. They expect a huge following and as far as I know, Nancy Grace and others will be here. It should be very interesting from where I'll be sitting. I also expect a lot of the blogs that have been hibernating to a certain degree to come out swinging. It's too big of a story to ignore. People love a mystery. This one has the makings of a movie. Sure, after the verdict/sentencing is over, she will slip back into obscurity, but until then... not a chance.