HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-09-1998 Articles Racism
after traffic
R id ay Walker, who lives in the were not ablack family that
es ents S Broadway Street neighborhood, ffled pened to be in the vicinity of the,
harassment a com0, t, th po,, B way
merit following what she said was a this have heppened?
"harsh and vicious" June 6 mdtic The complaint is under invast~-
basedcolor stop as she ove o.be. tm be to
on and Stevens Drive. Alan in the car Ponce Citizens' Review Board,
were her nephew and two sons, ages Winkelhake said. ·
By Bdan Sharp 14 and 15, passing a 2-inch crucifix Speaking in general of the harass-
The Press-Citizen over the seat and talking, merit allegations, Winkelhake said
WhenlowaCityPoliccChiefR.J. Police stopped Walker, after there are a number of POSSable expla:
Winkelhake ordered increased allegedly tailing her for about a mile, nations. Police may stop people
patrols of Iowa City's southeast side for failing to stop at a stop sign. because, at the time. something else is
lastmonth, itwasawelcomereliefto Walker's attorney, David Walker, no happening and ~hey want to closely
many neighbors, relation, gives the following account: monitor people in the area.
I nareasing tensions- marked by Police went immediately to the Officers also may have informa-
large groups of youth with baseball passenger door and demanded the lion that the individual is involved in
bats shouting in the streets and the object, while ordering and physically the local drug trade. The slightest
gang-related shoot- removing her nephew from the car. violation gives an officer reason to
~'~'T~'~ ing of a 17-year-old The family protested. The child has stop the person and, sometimes, that
~ boy -- already had had three open-heart surgeries and leads to a search of the vehicle where
made police a regu- continues to suffer from a serious drags are found.
[V~t[kerx are ri lar neighborhood heart condition· Beyond that, Winkelhake said, it
God-fearing presence. Faith Walker's 15-year-old son is difficolt to cormanent on general
At'.er several grabbed the officer's hand -- later allegations without investigating.
family that weeks of increased resulting in charges of assault and "We look at behavior," he said, "If
were abused trait stops in and interfering with official acts. Four there is a violation, we address it:
[)'Otll ~F,¥[ around the area, officers took him to the ground, firmly, assertively, and politely."
· , however, some resi- None ol' the children have cr/mi- Besides Walker, police had one
('Oll[(.IC[." dents speak not of nal records or pending charges other informal complaint about a traf-
waning tolerance fi~r against them, David Walker said. so tic stop· The individual agreed his
I}a~tigl ~al~l' the troublemakers, them was no legitimate reason for behavior had been suspicious, though
but fi)r the men and police to single them out. not illegal, and complained that offi-
women in uniform. Officers marched the vehicle, but cers did not thank him properly.
,~-ea residents found nothing. "That incident was used toi
Faith Walker, Natasha Pickens and "The Walkers are a G0d-fearing, remind officers to be courteous an,d,
Melvin Gaddy all have stories to tell innocent thmily that were abused thank people lbr their cooperation,
aboul x~ hal they say were unlhir stops tFom first contact, called "Mother- Winkelhake said·
ol thcln~cl~,c~, fi-iemls ()r relatives· F--ers" by a pablic servant or' this Police want to hear Ii'om people
x. lncricans that include lengthy vehi- a June 13 letter to Police Chief impolite behavior by officers will not
cie searches yielding re)thing. Winkelhake. "Ask yourself, if this be tolerated, Winkelhake said.
The Police Citizens
Board re~heduled ~
tY forum for July 14.
The forum was
Monday but, was
police politic, to 9 p.~
practiCes from ~
Mcet/ng Room A of the Iowa
City Public Library, 123 S. Linn
St.
Public comments and sug-
gestions will be used as the City
Council-appointed PCRB
determines the focus and direc-
lion for its assigned :~view of
the department. Board recom-
mendations then will be for-
warded to the council.
Advance sign-up is available
for people wanting to address to
the board during the first 90
minutes of the forum, Call 356-
5041 to register.
Speakers are l/m/ted to five
minutes.
Written comments received
prior to Thursday at the city
clerk'~ office, 410 E.
Washing~n St., will be for-
warded to the board.
The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Fri,, July 3~ 1998 3B ·
Storm-canceled forum
rescheduled for July 14
· IOWA CITY -- A community forum
hosted by the Police Citizen Review
Board has been rescheduled for July
14 at 7 p.m. in Room A of the Iowa
City P~blic Library.
The forum originally was scheduled
for Monday but was canceled because
of the storm.
People attending may give their
suggestions about police policies and
procedures.
Board members plan to use the
suggestions to help guide the direction