Dekalb/Sycamore Illinois Police Corruption

http://Mediafilter.org/guest/Pages/June.12.2001.02.47.28

Register your Page.


  • This Event Happened in Dekalb, IL and Sycamore, IL
    spider-mtc-ta082.proxy.aol.com.


  • I admit this is not as big a deal as some other corruption stories, but when it hits at home, corruption is a big deal. Here is my story: On the evening of June 10, 2001, at approx. 10:00 PM I entered the Dekalb, Illinois Police Department to request a complaint form to report a Dekalb Police Officer for misconduct. I entered the department with witness Grant Berg. I approached the front desk/dispatch room and was asked "can I help you" by Juanita L. Burke, the uniformed dispatcher on duty. I informed Ms. Burke that I wished to receive a complaint form for the purpose of reporting a complaint against a Dekalb Police officer for misconduct. I was told I could not file a complaint, but that I could speak with an officer regarding the incident. I replied that I did not wish to speak with an officer, but would like to receive a complaint form with which I could write out my complaint and forward it to the appropriate agencies. I was again told that I could not file a complaint against an officer, but I could speak with an officer regarding my complaint. I then produced a digital voice recorder from my front right pocket and asked Ms. Burke if I could document via recording her refusal to allow me to receive a complaint form. Ms. Burke then became irate and told me to leave or I would be arrested. I promptly left the Dekalb Police Department. At no time was the recorder activated or any recording made. Ms. Burke then dispatched a report of a "suspicious subject" along with the description of myself, my vehicle and the last known direction of travel. I listened to this dispatch on a scanning receiver, on the frequency 155.2500 MHz and also on the frequency of 155.6400 MHz. At approx. 10:30 PM of the same evening, (06-10-01) I entered the Sycamore, Illinois Police Department located in Sycamore, Illinois. I approached the main desk/dispatch room and asked the female who appeared to be working at the desk that I would like to receive a complaint form for the purpose of reporting a Sycamore, Illinois Police Officer for misconduct. I was told this form was not available to me, as Department policy was that I must first speak to an Officer or Sergeant and describe the incident and the Officer would then decide if the complaint was worthy of a report. I advised the desk employee that I did not wish to speak to an officer, but that I would like a complaint form that I could document my complaint and forward it to the appropriate agencies. Again I was told this was not possible and was against department policy. I was then advised that Sergeant Keith D. Snyder would be called so he could get me the appropriate forms. I waited in the lobby for Sgt. Keith D. Snyder to arrive. At approx. 11:00 PM, Sgt. Keith D. Snyder arrived and approached me in the lobby asking what the problem was. I advised him that I wished to obtain a complaint form for the purpose of reporting a Sycamore Police officer for misconduct. Sgt. Snyder informed me that this was not possible, and that first I must describe the incident and give him the names of any Officers I wished to report. I declined to speak about my complaint with him, but again asked for a complaint form so that I could document my complaint and forward it to the appropriate agencies. I was told this violated department procedures, and that I could not receive any forms for the purpose of reporting police misconduct without first detailing the incident with him. I then produced a digital recorder from my right front pocket and requested if I could document via audio record his refusal to allow me to obtain a complaint form and was promptly told to turn around, as I was being arrested for felony eavesdropping. At no time was the recorder activated or any recording made. I gave the recorder to Sgt. Snyder and showed him that there was no recording made, as his permission to be recorded had not been obtained. Sgt. Snyder advised me that the Dekalb Police also wished to charge me with Eavesdropping. Sgt. Snyder then advised me I was under arrest. I was handcuffed me with my hands behind my back and taken into custody. I was transported to the Dekalb Police Department booking room where I was handcuffed to a wooden bench and asked if I would like to write a statement about my actions that evening. I advised officers I wished to remain silent, and was then told that the Dekalb County Assistant States Attorney on call was being contacted to see if charges would be authorized against me. Later I was told by Dekalb Officers that the States Attorneys office had authorized the charge of attempted eavesdropping, a class A misdemeanor, instead of the class 4 felony charge of eavesdropping. I was then booked and held on $1000.00 bond with 10% to apply. A $100.00 cash bond (USC) was then posted and I was informed I would be held for the Sycamore Police, as their department also wished to file charges for attempted eavesdropping. At approx. 1:00 AM, I was again handcuffed with my hands behind my back and placed in the back seat of a Police vehicle to be transferred to the Sycamore Police Department Upon arrival I was informed I was under arrest for the charge of attempted eavesdropping, and would be held on $1000.00 bond, 10% to apply. I was seated in an interrogation room where I waited for and bail money to arrive. A $100.00 cash Bond (USC) was then posted and I was released from custody at approx. 2:15 AM on June 11, 2001. This was my second attempt to file my misconduct report against the officers for my original complaint. My first attemp was refused. My second attempt landed me in jail. To this date (o6-11-01) I have still been denied my right to file a report. ~Al Shemonia GC505xxx@aol.com


    Your FeedBack is appreciated


    My favorite Link:

    CopWatch !


    Sponsored by MediaFilter

    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack


    FeedBack