I first began receiving reports about this fatality early in the week in the form of anonymous comments posted here. Then today, I was approached by a local attorney who provided me with a copy of a memo that Court administrator Jermaine Greene provided to the entire court, reporting on the death as flu-related Greene added that a second officer was on life support with flu-related symptoms.
In addition to publishing a story, I emailed administrators at the jail asking that they inform the public as soon as possible as this is a matter of public health.
Less than an hour later, Executive Lamont McClure contacted me to say that, though an officer had passed away, it had nothing to do with the flu. Nor is a second corrections officer on life support as a result of the flu
The officer who passed away is Thomas Michael LeBeau Jr., 29, of Bethlehem Twp. He is a Bloomsburg University graduate.
McClure declined to provide additional details concerning the death.
Though this flu season has been virulent, it has killed no corrections officer.
I apologize again for getting it wrong.
Corrected 10:19 pm.
RIP. Terrible. Too many of these stories this year.
ReplyDeleteShouldn't all of the inmates as well as officers be required to get a flu shot?
ReplyDeleteWow so sorry to hear this. Didn't see it in the dailies. Hope the other officer pulls through. RIP
ReplyDeleteproblem is, the flu shots do not work this yr for more than 80% of the population. This was on the news the other night. the flu had mutated and the shot doesn't work against it.
ReplyDeletePlease keep us informed. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteIt was a heck of a story and shocked the hell out of me - agreed. You can't be too heavily faulted if a court administrator reported this to you initially. I am sure she feels terrible.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear the cause was not the flu, but still very sorry to hear about Mr. LeBeau's premature death. Condolences to his family, friends and coworkers.
You should think before you post. You go for the big shocker and can hurt people.
ReplyDeleteI did. I thought the public had a right to know and would do the same thing again. I had a memo from the court administrator to the judges, and that is a reasonable basis for my story. Though this kind of story can scare people, I'd rather retract incorrect information than hide the truth.
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ReplyDeleteIf you want to post false information, identify yourself.
ReplyDeleteSo the memo the CA sent out is false? Where is the correction follow up to those it was emailed to? Something does not pass the smell test.
ReplyDelete"Something does not pass the smell test."
ReplyDeleteIt isn't right to characterize O'Hare that way.
I am sure the CA corrected himself. In hindsight, I should have asked him if he had any new info before I scared everyone.
ReplyDeleteThat’s what you do. Live for the scare. You have never cared about facts and this proves rhetoric is all that matters to you. A matter of public concern should be vetted before you report on it. This is why you are not a real reporter and a bottom feeding loser who is just out to hurt people. So much for anonymous tips!
ReplyDeleteGreat reporting, BO. You got info and reported it, the info changed and you clarified it.. Great reporting..
ReplyDeleteYou should nominate yourself for next years fake news awards, but with only a small handful of readers who check in, to make sure their name is not the target of your endless smears and harassments, you are off the radar as completely insignificant.
ReplyDeleteYou should apologize to G Greene for making up a hoax ....everyone has your number. You are toxic and radioactive, and no one will get anywhere within a stone throw to feed you the vermin you seek every day. No one handed you a memo. You are not an honorary member of the bench. You are a nobody...disgraced disbarred alcoholic who went off the rails years ago, and never cleaned it up.
Get help.
This is so sad for this officer my heart is so sad he was a nice guy. .thxs bernie
ReplyDeleteAt a time like this people are still evil bernie didn't do anything wrong we all no the real story. If it wasn't for bernie stories we would all be living a lie and the jail would continue on doing what ever they want
ReplyDelete9:39, Bernie did the honorable thing and corrected himself. Which is exactly what CNN, the NY Times, and other reputable news outlets do following rare erroneous reports.
ReplyDeleteI am friends with multiple journalists and while it's true that personally they are liberals, I've seen firsthand their commitment to reporting accurate facts.
From day one, 45 has been demonstrably wrong on more facts than I can count. I haven't seen him correct himself or apologize a single time. Yet he and his followers don't see any hypocrisy in continuing to accuse honorable, serious professionals of being "fake news". If you wish to see actual fake news, look no further than the White House or your bathroom mirror.
"You should apologize to G Greene for making up a hoax ....everyone has your number. You are toxic and radioactive, and no one will get anywhere within a stone throw to feed you the vermin you seek every day. No one handed you a memo. You are not an honorary member of the bench. You are a nobody...disgraced disbarred alcoholic who went off the rails years ago, and never cleaned it up."
ReplyDeleteThis sounds just like Tricia Mezzacappa.
Word has it the Express times has a turkey trophy waiting for you? Glad it was corrected, however I am in the jail very often and I heard the exact same thing.
ReplyDeleteFred, when was the last time the ET actually did a real news story? What has happened there is sad. I would do it again. On a blog, I can always correct an error, as I did here. If I were writing hard copy, I still would have published the story.
ReplyDeleteHeroin?
ReplyDeleteMore fake news
ReplyDelete3:30,all I know is that it was not the flu.
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DeleteBernie - I'm joking with you lighten up buddy. You wrote an article on what you thought was credible information (I heard the exact same thing), when you found out it was not correct you corrected it, all is good.
ReplyDeleteGive me a call I have information 4847071143
ReplyDeleteTypical for you ass hole, blogging BS. What’s not typical is you admitting your lies. What happened? Did your buddy McClure whisper in your ear while kissing your cheek?
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