Created: 4/9/2009 5:31:24 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Tom Rich says his family has been a member of First Baptist Church in downtown Jacksonville since 1988. "We moved to Jacksonville, from Gainesville, specifically to go to that church." Rich says it was not until the Summer of 2007, months after the church's new pastor, Mac Brunson, arrived that he had some concerns.
So, Rich says he turned to the internet and created a blog to post his thoughts. It was all anonymous, or so he thought, until just a couple of months ago.
Rich says the night before Thanksgiving, he had two members of the church visit his home. "I didn't know until they showed up at the door step...listing sins I have committed as the owner of the blog."
Attached to that letter, Rich says, was a First Baptist trespass warning. An official trespass warning was filed by JSO weeks later. "I don't think it's fair.....maybe they did violate federal privacy rights."
According to police reports, an investigation was started on September 29, 2008, by JSO detective Robert Hinson. The report says the church was concerned about an internet incident.
"Detective Hinson is a long-time member of the church," says Rich. Authorities subpoenaed GOOGLE to find out who the blog belongs to.
Another police report shows the case was closed about six weeks later and no criminal act was found. "Once Hinson found the ID and found no wrongdoing, why did he give my ID to the church?" asks Rich.
This week, Rich filed a complaint on Detective Hinson with the JSO. Rich says he wants to know if Hinson acted properly in the case.
"Everything I know causes me great concern. I am very troubled by what I've seen so far, what actions they have taken."
The church declined an interview. Instead it released a statement saying, "This week the entire Christian world is celebrating God's greatest gift to mankind, Jesus Christ. We pray and deeply desire that these unmerited distractions will be preempted by the Majesty of his sacrificial death and life-giving resurrection."
Sheriff John Rutherford also released a statement saying the officer was acting within his duty. Here is the complete text of Sheriff Rutherford's repsonse:
I would like to clarify some information that has been reported about a recent Intelligence investigation conducted by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, regarding perceived threats against a local religious congregation.
?Our agency is responsible for investigating any perceived threats and possible criminal activity that is reported to us by a citizen. They routinely share what they learn in the course of the investigation with the victim or complainant.
?Suspects would not be made aware of this information, if it is gathered in an effort to determine if a threshold of criminality exists and none is found. In this case, the case was closed 11/13/08 with no further action by JSO warranted when no criminal conduct or significant threat to the church was determined to exist.
?In this case, the information about suspicious behavior directed at Pastor Mac Brunson and his home and family was provided to a detective whose normal duty assignment with the JSO is to investigate possible threats against Jacksonville's religious institutions. He is a member of our Intelligence Unit. He would have investigated this situation had the complaint come from those affiliated with a Mosque, a Synagogue, or any religious organization. This is Detective Hinson's job as the intelligence point person for the religious community, and other designated critical infrastructure sites in Jacksonville.
?All our religious institutions are a major part of Jacksonville's critical infrastructure and we remain vigilant in investigating all perceived threats and security issues associated with those institutions. In light of recent violent incidents that have occurred in churches around the country, I think our vigilance is necessary and most appropriate to ensure public safety.
?Had another officer received a similar threat or tip or raised a similar concern, Detective Hinson would have ultimately been the officer assigned to investigate. I have no issue with his investigation and there is no conflict of interest because he is affiliated with that particular congregation.
?The fact that the medium used to communicate the messages being investigated was the internet is irrelevant. Investigations are conducted into the sources of anonymous letters, phone calls, and in this day and age websites and emails, any time it is deemed appropriate for public safety. We then look at the contents and sources of internet information regularly, as part of our investigations.
I hope this information helps clarify for citizens that this was not about "outing" a blogger, but instead was about public safety.
John H. Rutherford, Sheriff
Jacksonville, FL
