2003-09-29 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 1898 September 29, 2003 complaint against Chief Lee Payne for what he sees as "inflammatory remarks against himself and his family." He also took exception to Chief Payne's assertion that he, Mr. Dockett, was the problem in the neighborhood, a comment made at a meeting of the Third Ward Coalition on August 19, 2003. Mr. Dockett repeated his request from the previous Council meeting, that the City provide him with numbers of people cited for loitering in the street, and reported that he has yet to receive those figures. He called for action against Chief Payne for what he sees as "inflammatory, derogatory character assassination", pointing out that this is a repeat request. Mr. Dockett reported that he sees problems in the neighborhood related to drug activity, stating he witnessed Patrolman Davis throw drug paraphernalia down a sewer. He further complained that when the resident at 6901 Bartmer Avenue telephoned police to complain about Mr. Dockett "stalking" him, seven police vehicles responded, and Mr. Dockett sees that as inequitable. He has reported gang graffiti on Melrose Avenue that has been corrected. Mr. Dockett fails to understand police response to his repeated requests, and he demands the City respond to his charges, with a written apology from Chief Payne to him personally and with a printed statement to appear in the City Scape, Then Ms. Welsch responded that the City Council is listening to Mr. Docket's charges and complaints, and that they are trying to deal with the situation, and she assured him that everyone "up here" is listening. Leroy Laster, 1066 Purcell, came to address the gang issues also, asserting that it is "getting pretty bad." He stated that his two sons, aged 14 and 11, are terrified to attend school, and that one "got jumped" this evening. He asserted that gang members behave on the assumption that nothing will be done to stop them. He reported seeing fifty to sixty youths wearing white tee shirts, and carrying bats and sticks in their hands, chasing his children. He stated that adult intervention was useless; that he did not know what to do. He also regards the situation as "a powder keg" which will result in someone being killed. Gang members become bolder everyday; many of them do not attend school. They demanded $3.00 from his eleven year old son, threatening to "jump him" if he did not give it to them. Mr. Laster has to accompany his son to school because the young man is frightened to go on his own. Mr. Laster questioned why nothing is done when police know who the troublemakers are, especially when the problem, in his opinion, is escalating. He feels the police are too lenient and should not express the opinion, "what can we do?" He said that his children cannot concentrate in school when they are afraid of attacks, and asks the City to do something to change the situation. Ms. Colquitt then asked if the gang members he described were known as "the Iowdowners?" and he said they were. Mr. Laster then made reference to a rude gesture made by the youths, saying "and this is no joke." Mr. Sharpe asked if these events occurred in school as well as on the streets. Mr. Laster said the incident involving his son took place out of school, but also said that "half of them go to U City High School" and to Brittany Woods Middle School. Mr. Ollendorff responded by giving Mr. Laster three guarantees: 1) law enforcement action is underway concerning this particular gang, 2) the police department knows how to deal with gangs and for many Page 7