Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

Lawsuit: East St. Louis mayor, city manager refused to hire white police chief

EAST ST. LOUIS -- Two former police commissioners are accusing the mayor and city manager of refusing to hire a former state police commander as police chief because he is white.

The Rev. Johnny Scott, head of the East St. Louis chapter of the NAACP, is calling for a federal investigation in the wake of the lawsuit filed by former commissioners Wyatt Frazer and Della Murphy. Officials named in the suit are Mayor Alvin L. Parks Jr. and City Manager Robert Betts.

"Because of pending litigation, I won't be able to comment," Parks said. Betts did not return repeated phone calls.

The lawsuit alleges that in 2007, when city leaders were looking to replace then Chief James Mister, Parks discriminated based on race against the former Illinois State Police commander, who also had served as director of the Florida State Highway Patrol, and was highly qualified.

Attorney Thomas Kennedy III, who represents Frazer and Murphy, confirmed the job candidate was Ronald Grimming. The lawsuit does not name Grimming, and he is not a party. He could not be reached for comment.

Kennedy said Mayor Alvin L. Parks Jr. told Frazer and Murphy that "the city was not ready to hire a white police chief."

The lawsuit alleges that shortly after Parks became mayor, "Frazer became aware of Parks' bias against hiring white persons."

The lawsuit also alleges that Parks told Frazer he would not recommend the board's candidate because he was white.

Both Frazer and Murphy also declined comment, citing pending litigation.

Parks said at the time that the city was conducting a national search for a police chief. From the pool of applicants, Parks chose Michael Baxton, a former Centreville homicide detective who also worked as police chief for the Brooklyn Police Department. The lawsuit calls Baxton a lesser qualified candidate.

Baxton resigned Feb. 13 after criticism about how homicide investigations were handled under his administration and about the credibility of some officers.

The lawsuit alleges that all of the candidates hired by Frazer and Murphy were let go, and that several new police officers and employees were hired based on their racial and political beliefs.

It alleges also that Parks and Betts repeatedly questioned Frazer and Murphy after they hired two white police applicants as probationary police officers.

The pair is asking for relief from retaliation against their free speech rights. Their lawsuit does not seek a specific amount in monetary damages.

Scott said discrimination against any race is wrong.

"I feel we need to have an appropriate investigation to make sure there is no racial discrimination or impropriety on the part of our city officials," he said. "We will wait for the findings of the investigation before we make any statements."

Former Mayor Carl Officer, who is a board member for School District 189, said of former commissioner Della Murphy, "She served for 38 years or more in the East St. Louis Police Department. She lives in East St. Louis, pays taxes, is active in the church and civic community. More importantly, she understands fairness and equality."