By Dennis McCaslin, Editor and Publisher – Today in Fort Smith
In the world of grassroots activism and community-led investigations, credibility and responsibility are the cornerstones of effective and ethical work.
Recently, serious concerns have surfaced regarding the actions of Patti Rush, a founder of the nonprofit organization REVAMP – Remember Every Victim and Missing Person. Allegations of reckless decision-making and unprofessional conduct have sparked outrage within the community and among those involved in the search for missing individuals.
A recent Facebook post made by Sean Buckner has cast a shadow over Rush’s involvement in an unsanctioned search effort for missing man Justin Baker. According to Buckner, Rush’s handling of the search was not only chaotic but also life-threatening.
In his post, Buckner directly called out Rush, stating, “It’s people like you that make law enforcement turn blind eyes to people in need. You have to be the dumbest person on earth to organize a cluster (word omitted) like you did yesterday, nearly killing your so-called diver.”
Sources indicate that Rush allegedly authorized a diver without the necessary skills or proper licensing to conduct the search. If true, this decision posed a serious danger not only to the diver but also to the integrity of the search effort itself.
Buckner continued his criticism, writing, “(Name redacted) was beyond stupid for even attempting to get in that water. You should quit while you are ahead before you kill someone. I’m going to have my research team open up your life history. It’s people like you that endanger life, crime scenes, and time. It’s people like you that make law enforcement turn blind eyes. Your credibility is nothing more than a pile of wet dog s*** at this point.”
The concerns raised by Buckner are not isolated. Today in Fort Smith has had prior experience with Rush and has encountered similar issues with her injecting herself into and possibly muddying the waters in several active investigations.
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Additionally, Rush was dismissed from her position as an unpaid contributor to this publication after she attempted to access case files from local law enforcement offices by misrepresenting herself with an unauthorized press pass purportedly linked to Today in Fort Smith.
Beyond these professional concerns, community members have also accused Rush of harassment. Allegations suggest that she has engaged in behavior that has not only disrupted investigations but has also alienated those genuinely working to bring justice and resolution to missing persons cases.
The case of Justin Baker is a sensitive one, as is any missing person case, and reckless actions can have dire consequences. When searches are conducted without proper coordination, training, or authorization, they risk compromising both the safety of those involved and the integrity of potential evidence.
As the controversy continues to unfold, one thing remains clear: the pursuit of justice for victims and their families must be conducted with the utmost professionalism, ethics, and respect.
Today in Fort Smith will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as new information comes to light.
