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Session 1092, Minutes Page 6 <br />January 6, 1975 <br />be composed of two members of the Council and two citizens of University <br />City who would agree on three other members to be set up as a fact finding <br />Commission. They felt that while such an investigation is being conducted, <br />Patrolman Robert Conley should be suspended from further service. They did <br />not believe that a Grand Jury investigation accomplishes anything in cases <br />of Police incidents involving citizens. <br />At this juncture, Mayor Kaufman again explained what the Council has done, <br />and said that the Council does not intend to abdicate its function; the <br />Council is elected by the citizens of this community and has the obligation <br />to do any examination. He said the Council has done that; it has looked at <br />the essential question, which is whether or not a suspension is justified. <br />Based upon all of the evidence that the Council reviewed, including the tape <br />recording taken by a KSD-TV reporter,it appeared that one of the subjects <br />was on the back of the policeman, another subject was scuffling with the <br />policeman -- which is testimony given by eye witnesses, not an interrogation <br />by a reporter from KSD-TV. The 11ayor told those present that if they have <br />any evidence they would like to present, the Council will be glad to listen <br />to the evidence and to transmit it to the appropriate authorities. <br />Mayor Kaufman assured the people in the audience that the Council manifestly <br />is concerned and has spent a considerable amount of time reviewing the <br />records which were available to the members of the Council. He said a special <br />effort was made to obtain the taping so that they would have the objective <br />interrogation by individuals associated with an independent agency - KSD-TV- <br />and testimony of witnesses apparently on the scene merely confirmed the <br />testimony of other witnesses - information which was given to the University <br />City Police Department - information which was obtained by the County Medical <br />Examiner - he had an investigator go out to conduct an investigation. The <br />Mayor said the Council has the obligation as citizen representatives (the <br />members of the Council are not appointed to office, they are elected by the <br />people) and they are interested in coming to proper determinations. He <br />said that all he can suggest is that if anyone has any evidence and wants to <br />present it to the Council, the Council members will be prepared to consider <br />this at an open session, but based on the evidence which he has seen, based <br />on the evidence which members of the Council have seen, there was no basis <br />at all for suspending the officer. <br />The following people were heard: <br />llr. Daniel Lane <br />I -Is. Betty Jones <br />IIs. Lorene Shelton <br />11s. Mary Gay <br />Mr. John Yates, Sr. <br />lis. Marge iuehnle <br />Iir. I:ichael Atkins <br />Hr. . Edwin Allen <br />i1r. Herbert Bland <br />1r. A. Boyd <br />Mr. R. Stephenson <br />lis. i3etty Hamilton <br />Mr. Eugene Jones <br />Iir. Jeff Ashed <br />Mr. Paul Gomberg <br />Iir. Garland E. Allen <br />lir. Alphonso Jackson <br />731 Limit <br />1303 Mendell <br />7447 Wayne <br />7562 Melrose <br />1265 Pennsylvania <br />1523 Collins (Richmond heights) <br />6515 San Francisco (St. Louis) <br />1389 Hamilton (St. Louis) <br />8948 Kingshighway (St. Louis) <br />4407 Heptune (St. Louis) <br />4446 Farlin (St. Louis) <br />7156 Amherst <br />7131 Tulane <br />7265 Creveling Drive <br />7507 Milan <br />8103 Teasdale <br />7806 Delmar <br />Continued, next page <br />