05-29-12 Answers Needed - Laserfiche WebLink

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TR PRESS RELEASE Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 11 a.m. - �x From: 2nd District Council Member Henry Da is, a Contact: 315 -4112 I't District Council Member Tim Scot act: 235 -5980 "ANSWERS NEEDED" In light of the City Council learning, again through the news media, that a South Bend police officer has been allegedly threatened by the Commander of the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit, we and other members of the Council are looking for leadership and answers. To date, the Council has heard absolutely nothing from either Chief Hurley or Mayor Buttigieg about this alleged incident involving one of our police officers who is a city employee being verbally threatened. We will be asking the entire Common Council to take the steps necessary to begin an investigation. We find it most curious that the only quote in the news media was from the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office. Mr. Dvorak is quoted as saying that his office would investigate. We find it even more curious that according to the City's police website it states that the: "...Commander, who is a retired police officer and [is] an employee of the Prosecutor's Office" and therefore by the very fact that he works for the County Prosecutor, how can this not be a conflict of interest? We are questioning the practices of the Prosecutor's Office and believe that a special prosecutor may be more appropriate to assure that there is a fair and independent investigation. We would be much more comfortable if an unbiased, neutral investigation takes place. This is not the first time that the head of Metro Homicide has been accused of making threats. There was a incident back in the Summer of 2006. Allegations were made that the Metro Commander and others traveled to Michigan and allegedly threatened a contractor. The Metro. Commander received at least a day off for taking such inappropriate actions. (See: July. 20, 2006, August 2, 2006-and Aucust 3, 2006 South Bend Tribune articles attached) As elected public officials representing the citizens of South Bend, we cannot tolerate any city employee being threatened. If police officers, who are trained professionals can be threatened without the assurance that they are entitled to neutral and impartial investigations, with appropriate disciplinary