# Florida agents raid home of fired public health agent who refused to manipulate COVID data **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 8, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523 "2020-12-08T00:47:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/61 "2020-12-09T23:31:53Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Side-note: last year, I Googled the rules of engagement for police in Georgia, and was pleasantly surprised by how specific and cautious they were: police could only draw their weapons under extremely limited circumstances that demonstrated real danger. I linked to those results to show how certain cops had overstepped their authority. > > Someone gently pointed out that I’d found the rules of engagement for the _country_ of Georgia. > > Turns out that ex-Soviet states have way more reasonable rules for their cops than the US does. 😲 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/62 "2020-12-10T00:04:55Z")
I’m not disputing the true part. Cops came to her house, an excessive show of force (how many times have I said that?) and seized her equipment. I never disputed that. They didn’t raid her house (waiting until you are allowed in isn’t a “raid”). Snopes calls that false, in fact that’s what they called out specifically as untrue despite m some claims in this thread that any reasonable person would call it a raid. As far as I know, she didn’t call it a raid, there were news outlets who spun it that way for sensationalism which I don’t blame her for. But that’s some misinformation in this thread I was hoping to correct. She claimed that there was no IP address listed in the affidavit by the FDLE, yet there was an IP address listed, which justified the search warrant. She claimed the video showed things it didn’t, inflammatory claims. We’ve already gone over that. She claims that she was fired because she refused to alter COVID-19 numbers to match what the department wanted. While the DOH states that she was fired because she altered data on a COVID-19 web site, countering the data that epidemiologists and database analysts provided based on her personal preference. That last bit is a she-said, they-said situation and I don’t think there’s enough info to declare who is telling the truth. But apparently the SDMB knows she’s telling the truth because…? That’s what is bugging me. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/63 "2020-12-10T00:14:44Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Shrug. You’re not the first person who’s done that on the board. Nor the first _forumite_ either. Damn _forumites_. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/64 "2020-12-10T00:16:41Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > …While the DOH states that she was fired because she altered data on a COVID-19 web site, countering the data that epidemiologists and database analysts provided based on her personal preference… This could be easily disposed. Simply release all the data (including all underlying methods) and allow an independent comparison. I would think Florida would be eager to do so, to affirm and strengthen public confidence. Have they? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/65 "2020-12-10T00:17:40Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > But apparently the SDMB knows she’s telling the truth because…? For what it’s worth, I don’t know who is right. I would not be surprised if she was right but I don’t have enough information to actually pass judgement. **Joey\_P** and **BigT** seem to have come to the conclusion that she is telling the truth. I think it was an overreaction to respond with the kind of force they deployed, and that does lend _some_ credence that big brother is out to intimidate someone who knows too much. I’m not willing to assume a definitive connection but it isn’t entirely unreasonable to read between the lines. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/66 "2020-12-10T00:23:19Z")
Psst: > [@Florida police raid home of former state Covid-19 data scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-police-raid-home-of-former-state-covid-19-data-scientist/927543): > > This could go in the Virus forum, but it is a mite political. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement executed a search warrant Monday morning at the home of data scientist Rebekah Jones, [who was fired](https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/20/us/florida-georgia-covid-19-test-data/)by the state Department of Health in May. The agency is investigating whether Jones accessed a state government messaging system without authorization to urge employees to speak out about coronavirus deaths, according to an affidavit by an agent working on the case. OK, they need to check up o… ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/67 "2020-12-10T00:24:45Z")
@Max_S Thank you. What you’ve stated is exactly how I feel too. I will say, if she’s proven right in her claims I hope that the powers in Florida are made to pay somehow because if so that’s really fucked up. (Even for Florida.) She should be lauded as a hero if so. And probably will. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/68 "2020-12-10T00:28:03Z")
> [@Florida police raid home of former state Covid-19 data scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-police-raid-home-of-former-state-covid-19-data-scientist/927543/1): > > The agency is investigating whether Jones accessed a state government messaging system without authorization to urge employees to speak out about coronavirus deaths, according to an affidavit by an agent working on the case. Wait a sec. Above, they are saying she altered the data to fit her own biases. But this says it was about her communicating with colleagues and co-workers. Rather different. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/69 "2020-12-10T00:28:04Z")
This thread pre-dates yours, and the conversation is more interesting, so… ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/71 "2020-12-10T00:30:11Z")
She was allegedly fired for altering data (she claims she was fired for refusing to fudge statistics). That was a while back. Just recently, FDLE serviced a search warrant on her house on suspicion of her sending an unauthorized message to political leaders through an emergency network. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/72 "2020-12-10T00:31:29Z")
Maybe in your timezone they both show as Dec 7. If you hover over the timestamp you can see that this topic was created over four hours earlier. This isn’t really a proper Pit topic so feel free to flag it for relocation in P&E or something. Or don’t. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/73 "2020-12-10T00:36:59Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > {…} But this is in the pit, where is will get worse. Thanks for the warning, I almost posted in this thread and I’d hate to think of all the awful things that might occur if I/we start posting in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/74 "2020-12-10T00:57:17Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Thanks for the warning, I almost posted in this thread and I’d hate to think of all the awful things that might occur if I/we start posting in the Pit. Only crazy people post there! ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/75 "2020-12-10T01:00:32Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > This could be easily disposed. Simply release all the data (including all underlying methods) and allow an independent comparison. I would think Florida would be eager to do so, to affirm and strengthen public confidence. > > Have they? I don’t believe so, maybe they’re hiding something, maybe they have policies/laws preventing it. (My own agency has rules for so many things set by state law.) I don’t know. I agree they should if they can. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/76 "2020-12-10T01:45:23Z")
Dunno about you guys, but to me altering important data about a pandemic…something I would view with stern disapproval. If she did it, I want to know about it. If she was telling truth to power, I want to know about it. And see that the appropriate consequences are met. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/77 "2020-12-10T02:13:30Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > This could be easily disposed. Simply release all the data (including all underlying methods) and allow an independent comparison. I would think Florida would be eager to do so, to affirm and strengthen public confidence. > > Have they? [After downplaying the virus since at least July?](https://www.thedailybeast.com/florida-gov-ron-desantis-keeps-finding-new-ways-to-downplay-covid-19-crisis) You must be joking. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/78 "2020-12-10T03:13:37Z")
No, I get it. There’s the cases we know about for sure. But then, there’s some cases we don’t know about. Maybe a lot, probably. Anyway, whatever that number may be, and we may never know, that _unknown_ number subtracted from the _known_ number gives us the _actual_ number. I was always real good with math. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/79 "2020-12-10T05:10:00Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I don’t believe so, maybe they’re hiding something, maybe they have policies/laws preventing it. (My own agency has rules for so many things set by state law.) I don’t know. I agree they should if they can. I don’t know about this exact scenario, but Florida has very strong open-government and public records laws, known as the Sunshine Law. I would be surprised if much of the data couldn’t be released on request. That doesn’t mean they would necessarily comply with the law . . . I think there are multiple accounts out there of Florida downplaying its numbers in various ways that make me skeptical that they would, vs covering up. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/80 "2020-12-10T05:45:21Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > I don’t know about this exact scenario, but Florida has very strong open-government and public records laws, known as the Sunshine Law. Of course Florida would have something called the “Sunshine Law”…, ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523/81 "2020-12-10T06:16:19Z")
Unfortunately Florida’s COVID data was pulled out of a place where the sun never shines. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-agents-raid-home-of-fired-public-health-agent-who-refused-to-manipulate-covid-data/927523.md?page=5)