ICommi I loner calls for grand jury pro e 0 police Corruponden! On numerou occas·on Commi ioner George Wysinger has criticised the Benton Harbor Police Department, and once again, he ha c lied for grand jury inve tigation of the department. At the Monday, Novem­ ber 5, Benton' Harbor City Commission meeting, Wysinger said he has "serious problems" with the police department. He ccused the depart­ ment of keeping drugs and money seized in raids in locked desk drawers and not locked up in an evidence lockers until the I point and time the dealer ha to appear in court. City Manager Steve Man­ ning assured him thi t the drug money and drugs are kept safe an locked up by a court officer. "If it's been tagged as evidence and is go' ng to be used in court and has been sealed, there is a chain of custody that has to be maintained," Man­ ning said. . "I DO 'T THI K all the evidence is making it to the court house", Wysinger said. "I have a serious problem with our police depart­ ment", he said. "We have had 10 homicides already this year .... we arc firing police officers like they are dropping out of the sky.· Wysinger also s id he has been hearing rumors on the street about police officers giving ·shakedowns." He said officers are pulling people over .and frisking them and taking the drugs out of their pockets and then letting them go. "Whet! I start hearing this, I get concerned about it," he said. I "How in the hell can we stop drug traffic out here, when we got police officers in our community doing this type of thing," said, Wysinger. "It's bad. I don't like it and 1 said it once before and I'm going to say it again, we need a grand jury investigation just in our police department alone." . "Too many things are happening in the Benton Harbor Police Department that even the commission haven't gotten no answers to," said Wysinger. Wysinger also said that an officer had been fired and another one is bein threatened for filing a grievance against the department. MAYOR WILLIAM WOLF asked Wysinger if he had gotten names and dales, but Manning informed Wolf that that was their job, not Wysinger's. "That's the problem I got, 'S Barber Shop 926-9674 74 WALL STREET . Benton Harbor I 41022 CHlLDREN'S HAIR CUT - MEN & WOMEN'S HAIR CUT AU. STYlES PERM - CURL - WASH & SET - WOMEN'S EYEBROWS,ARCHED ClR.S BY APPOINTMENT ROBERT BELL CO TRACTOR R EU GSTATE UCENSED . G DECORATI G G...,LE·MAIlBLE Wedding - Anniversari Family Fun - All Oeca WILUA S & WILLIA VIDEO PRODUCTIO GRAYUNG L WlLLlA S Video Technici n (618) 925-2418 no consrstency," said , Wysinger. "Our police department, there's no con­ sistency. Certain people are getting kic ed in their tail in the police department be­ ca use they do not play games. They are rubbing against the ystem." "The system is, do your job, turn your head and don't ask no questions and you will surviv your retire- 0 ment time," he said. "Everybody is shaking be­ cause we're going to be sued " said Wysinger, and "we are going to be sued." "It is a whole lot going on in our police dep rtment. We got one of the most cor­ rupted, crookede t police department in the "'irDuth­ west lower Michigan," Wysinger added. Manning denied all the accusations, saying, "That' not true. We have one of the best departments in the southwest lower Michigan." A FEW MO THS AGO Wysinger had called for a grand jury investigation, but later gave an open apology for his accusations. In other business the commussion voted to ap­ prove: - Changing the next City Commission meeting from Monday, November 12 to Tuesday, November 13, with pre-meeting at 7 p.m. and the regular meeting at 8 p.m., due to Monday being 'Veterans Day and all c ty hall offices ill be clo ed for the observation of thi holiday. Entering' into Revolving Loan with J�e Jackson, owner of J 0 's Barber and Beauty for t e amount of S2S,OOO. The c ty previously pa sed a reso u­ tion approving the loan as soon as funds became av il­ able, now the funds a e - available. Jackson said e will be adding 10 mo e operators, giving him a to al ' of 12. ' - Approved two phas s of Revolving Loan Funds totalling $ 120,000, to Carlton Cunningham, D.B.A. Chadwick & Cun­ ningham. For Phase I, S60,000 at 8 percent interest over seven years to be dis­ tributed in fiscal vear 1991, as long as Cunningham com­ mits to hiring at least eight (8) low/moderate income city residents. In Phase II, an additional $60,000 at 8 percen interest Home, Benton Harbor. . over seven years to be dis- - Mr. Jones. was b.orn �n tributed in fiscal year 1992 �a!ch,. 1922, ID. Sardis, Mls­ a long as Cunningham com- srssrppi and resided here for mits to hiring an additional 35 year�. . . ix low/moderate income Survivor I.ncl ude. °l id ts daughter, Bonnie Br wn of CI reSl en . During citizens com- Gary, Ind.; three. brot�ers. ment Ms. haerron Week, Audley of Sa�dls, MISS., organizer of the Lula B. Lee Rufus of Detrol��nd Sam of Scholar hip, informed the �enton Harbor, and two public that the Lula B. Lee Sisters,. Verta Mae Web.b of holarship drive for next De t r o it and. M tl�da year will be tarting soon Thomas of Batesville, MIs. and their Black History Month program wiU be held ag in in February. She also informed the public that they will be having their second year of Benton Harbor's Hall of Fame' and are asking for nominees. If anyone has names for the Hall of Fame they should give them to Com­ missioner Steve Wooden, she said. JA ES EAflL JO ES bblng vtctlm James Earl Jones, 68, of Benton Harbor, was found stabbed in his Fair Avenue apartment Saturd y, November 3. The funeral for Mr. J ones, was held Frid y, November 9, at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Benton Harbor. Burial was in North hore Memory Gardens. Arrangements was made by Robbins Bro.thers Funeral WIL IE ICKJtAM Come on down to: JOE'S & lily 927-2181 161 P on For the BEST hairc� .. Mon& T ue &6IThur-Sat &6 Oosed Wednetday ClR.SPECW. WI l-IE'S APPLIA OWDU CES DICKEY REALTY GROUA' LEASI G-, Ju e Boxe • POol � • Cranes in Video Games ATTORNEY I K. �d COU SELOR AT LAW ORRISGAV A for II e . R id ntlal *Renta Commercial Lo pownpayment' Inv tment *FHA-VA S . r t Our p,;J:;ionaJ Staff Is Expecting Your Call (616\ 926-7271 108 Cotfax Benton Harbor 149022 Cannady Amusement, Co 2819 D'etrolt Rd., Nil s, Michigan 616-683-5913 GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW Call 616/926-7143 - 1 HO� �E TIL NOON - - SAME OA SERVICE DAILY - EXPERT SILK CLEAN I G - SHfRT �ERVICE EXPERT LEATHER & DAAPERES ...... , .