(Go to Bits & Pieces for more details about how Milton arrived at this troubling state of affairs. Click on the following link: Bits & Pieces)

In the past week, Milton’s Mayor Jamison has received explicit death threats to himself and his family.  Within this post are the text messages and excerpts from the police report, which includes details of a phone call to Jamison.

Law enforcement has been engaged.  An investigation has been initiated.

Before I get to the details, I urge anyone with pertinent information to immediately contact the Milton Police Department.  If you have seen something or have heard something . . . say something.  If in doubt, err on the side of caution and call the Milton police.

The threats began with texts sent to Mayor Jamison on the evening of September 2, 2023.  This occurred on the same day that Mayor Jamison (and former Mayor Lockwood) endorsed Council Member Carol Cookerly for re-election.  That’s no coincidence.  See texts below:

Fast forward to September 6^th.  Less than half an hour before city council’s meeting (again no coincidence), two additional texts were sent to Mayor Jamison.  My assumption is that the texter was attempting to coerce the mayor into not chairing the evening council meeting.  See texts below:

Shortly after receiving the first two texts, Mayor Jamison received a phone call threatening to kill him.  Coincidentally, Police Chief Austin was in the room.  The mayor passed the phone to Chief Austin and the caller again repeated the death threat to Chief Austin.  Following is the excerpt from the police report about the phone call.  (I am including the full redacted police report at the end of this blog post.)

Fast forward (about a half hour) to the start of the city council meeting, with Mayor Jamison presiding.  A third text stating “You fucked up” was sent during the council meeting . . . this was the texter’s answer (I assume) to the mayor proceeding with chairing the Milton City Council meeting.  I would infer that the caller was watching council’s live-streamed meeting (or was attending in person).  The text was sent at 6:01 pm . . . just 1 minute after the council meeting commenced. See text below:

When I googled the two phone numbers used to text/call, half a dozen websites appeared—all with Russian domains.  I dared not click on the websites.  However, clearly the texter/caller has found a way (probably on the Dark Web) to send anonymous texts and to make anonymous phone calls that likely will be difficult to trace.  Following are two examples from my Google searches:

These threats of violence to elected officials are a wake-up call to all rational and law-abiding citizens.  Over the past 2 years, Milton has seen the emergence of unchecked extreme political partisanship . . . the effects of which have steadily and dramatically increased for 2+ years . . . to the point where death threats are now being made.  In late May, I became so alarmed by what I was witnessing in Milton that I began using my blog to warn citizens and the Milton’s city government about the clear-and-present dangers that I perceived. (Go to Bits & Pieces for more details about this story and other local government topics.)

The bitter antidote to this partisan venom is for Milton’s city government, Milton’s politicians, and partisan leaders to finally and unequivocally condemn these threats to our fundamental rights and to our democracy . . . threats that have been escalating unchecked for over 2 years.  This will take courage from the Milton city government, Milton’s politicians, and partisan leaders.  Most importantly, it is time for Miltonites from across the political spectrum to unite in opposition to these threats.  We must return to non-partisanship in Milton’s government and elections.

I urge Milton City Council to screw up their courage and to call a special called council session to approve an unambiguous and strong denunciation of political violence and threats of such violence.  Furthermore, the City should adopt strong measures to mitigate the threat.  Half-measures will not suffice.  Right now, courage is much needed in our city government.

I will continue to provide analysis and comments on this troubling turn of events, including the reactions and responses of Milton’s government and Milton’s political class.  Please return to the blog for updates. You can also go to the Bits & Pieces page for a more detailed account of how Milton arrived at this sad state of affairs.

Advocating Against Political Extremism in Milton,

Tim

Note:  I called the mayor upon hearing about the threats to him and his family.  He graciously provided me with the (redacted) police report and the text messages in hopes that the blog’s readers might be helpful in apprehending the perpetrators(s).