From: Terry Richards <veteranscorner@yahoo.com>
To: VAINSPECTORGENERAL EMAILCOMPLAINTHOTLINE <vaoighotline@va.gov>
Cc: Francis Watts <franciswatts@med.va.gov>; Kevin Begos <kbegos@tampatrib.com>
Subject: Calling for VA Inspector General Complaint of the Phillip Meskin Incidents on VA Property...Not a VA Police Investigation...
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2006 16:56:02 -0800 (PST)
March 21, 2006
OFFICE OF THE VA INSPECTOR GENERAL
P.O. Box 50410
Washington, DC 20091
E-mail: vaoighotline@va.gov
 
Dear VA Inspector General:
 
Attached is a letter dated March 20, 2006 written by me to Francis Watts, Chief of the VA Police at Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Florida
DECLINING their request to question me about the possible unlawful or illegal acts of Phillip Meskin of which I also recently reported to you in a Press Release.
 
Since I also reported that Meskin stated to me that he was permitted to bypass security at the St. Petersburg, Florida VA Regional Office and was given special parking privileges at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center by offering VA Police Free Event Tickets, I dont feel it to be appropriate to be questioned by the same Law Enforcement Officials whom may be guilty of "Misconduct" themselves. The Office of the VA Inspector General should conduct the investigation and that is why I sent you a copy of my Press Release in the form of a Complaint.
 
Sincerely,
 
COPY
____________________
Terry Richards
 
cc: Francis Watts, Chief of VA Police, Bay Pines VAMC.
cc: Kevin Begos, Senior Staff Writer Tampa Tribune.
 
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 20:51:46 -0800 (PST)
From: "Terry Richards" <veteranscorner@yahoo.com>
Subject: Questioning of Terry Richards
To: "Francis Watts" <franciswatts@med.va.gov>
I keep getting a failure notice so I thought I would try one more time sending to you in text box only.
 
March 20, 2006
FRANCIS WATTS,
Chief of VA Police,
Bay Pines VA Medical Center
E-mail: franciswatts@med.va.gov
 
Dear Chief Watts:
 
I received a voice mail message from your Assistant Chief of VA Police Lionel Barela today, requesting that I make an appointment to appear in person for questioning in connection with my Press Release concerning among other things, the possible unlawful and illegal activities of Phillip G. Meskin on and off VA Property.
 
Inasmuch as I do not wish to appear to be uncooperative, PLEASE DULY NOTE THAT the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) advised me that only a JUDGE can ORDER ME to answer questions to which I choose not to voluntarily answer, and only those questions which I do not invoke my Fifth Amendment Rights to which I feel may be self-incriminating.
 
Although I feel I did nothing unlawful or illegal in connection with the knowledge I had about Meskin prior to writing the said Press Release and notifying your office of same, if at some point in time I did agree to answer questions, I would only do so with the presence of an Attorney.
 
However, since I cannot afford an Attorney, and to date you have not charged me with any criminal act which would require that you provide me with a Public Defender, short of being ORDERED BY A JUDGE at a Hearing or Trial or Court Ordered Deposition in the matter of Phillip Meskin, at this point in time I DECLINE to answer any questions concerning this matter.
Respectfully submitted,
 
COPY
_________________
Terry Richards
P.O. Box 66202
St. Petersburg, FL 33736-6202
Telephone 727-327-0277
E-mail: veteranscorner@yahoo.com
cc: Original signed letter to be mailed by regular U.S. mail to Chief Francis Watts, and Copy to Assistant Chief Lionel Barela, Bay Pines VAMC VA Police, P.O. Box 5005, Bay Pines, FL 33744.