East St. Louis mayor denies discrimination allegations

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EAST ST. LOUIS -- Mayor Alvin L. Parks Jr. said Thursday a recent lawsuit filed by two former police board commissioners accusing him of discrimination in refusing to hire a white candidate for police chief is ridiculous and unfounded.

Parks said he can not talk specifically about the case because of pending litigation.

Wyatt Frazer and Della Murphy filed a lawsuit Oct. 1 accusing Parks of not hiring Ronald Grimming, former deputy director of the Illinois State police and former director of the Florida State Highway Patrol, because he is white. Parks chose Michael Baxton, a former Centreville homicide detective and a former chief for Brooklyn, who, the lawsuit states, had lesser qualifications.

The former East St. Louis Fire and Police Board Commissioners contend in their lawsuit that Parks did not want to hire any white persons, including two white police officers they hired in 2007. The officers were let go and were replaced by others who had the same racial and political views as Parks and City Manager Robert Betts.

Parks initially declined to comment, citing pending litigation, but said Thursday he wants East St. Louis residents to know, without question, "I am looking forward to going to court."

"The only thing I am not looking forward to is wasting my time and spending the taxpayers money," he said.

For more on this story, read the News-Democrat on Thursday or return Thursday to bnd.com

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