Gulfport's Coast Guard officer under investigation

[unhappycamper]

Gulfport's Coast Guard officer under investigation
By Michael Newsom | Biloxi Sun-Herald
Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010

GULFPORT — U.S. Coast Guard officials told the Sun Herald the man who had been in charge of Coast Guard Station Gulfport has been temporarily removed and is under investigation.

Chief Warrant Officer Brandt Martin has been “temporarily relieved for cause” after 8th Coast Guard District Commander Rear Adm. Mary E. Landry had “lost confidence in (Martin’s) ability to lead,” Lt. Suzanne Kerver, District 8 public affairs officer, told the Sun Herald. Kerver said the Coast Guard would not release any specifics about what accusations against Martin it was investigating, and it’s unknown how long the probe will take.

“Nothing is being released for the integrity of the investigation,” Kerver said.

Martin is still a member of the Coast Guard, but he’s been transferred, but she was unsure of his location. A Coast Guard official at Base Support Unit New Orleans told the Sun Herald that Martin is now working there, but Martin didn’t return several messages left for him there. Several U.S. phone listings under his name have been disconnected.

Coast Guard Station Gulfport is now being led by 41-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Ponte, who said he took over July 2. Ponte said he didn’t know any specifics about Martin’s case, other than speculation, which he wouldn’t comment on.

[LuvNewcastle]

1. When the oil came to Mississippi shores,

the governor, our Senators, and most of our Congressmen started raising hell, saying that the oil should never have made it to Miss. This was all after Haley Barbour and Gene Taylor had gone on television and said we had nothing to worry about. The officials needed a scapegoat and it looks like Mr. Martin is it.