[IL] East St. Louis Police hired officer who has a domestic violence warrant

...THE NEWS-DEMOCRAT REPORTED THAT ONE OF THE 10 NEW OFFICERS SWORN IN LAST WEEK HAD AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT ON A CHARGE OF DOMESTIC BATTERY. [CITY COUNCILMAN DELBERT] MARION SAID SOME OF THE OTHER [JUST-HIRED] RECRUITS HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS OR QUESTIONABLE EMPLOYMENT HISTORIES...

JUNE 17 - JUNE 22:

EAST ST. LOUIS SWEARS IN 10 NEW POLICE OFFICERS HAS ADDED 15 OFFICERS TO THE FORCE
Belleville News Democrat
By Carolyn P. Smith
Jun. 17, 200
EAST ST. LOUIS --
The East St. Louis Police Department has increased its roster by 15. Ten new police officers were sworn in Monday at noon in City Hall... Michael Baxton Jr., Romero S. Davis, Larry Greenlee, Denis Harris, Patrick Jackson, Christine Olsen, Rory S. Stewart, Kristopher Weston, Lawrence Wise II, and Lawrence Wood. Five other officers who were recently hired graduated on Friday from a police academy, bringing the department's personnel increase to 15... Police Chief Michael Baxton Sr. said four of the ten, including his son Michael Baxton Jr., are already certified... City Manager Robert Betts said, "It's a great day for the Police Department in East St. Louis and the citizens who live here"... Betts said he wants to change the negative image that many have of East St. Louis, and he wants "citizens and visitors to know they're safe"... Councilman Delbert Marion said he is not in total agreement with the hirings. Marion said he would not elaborate at this time. [Full article here]

NEW OFFICER ON WANTED LIST
Belleville News Democrat
Jun. 19, 2008
The East St. Louis Police Department earlier this week held a ceremony touting the hiring of 10 new officers. However, it has been determined one of the officers being celebrated has an outstanding warrant for his arrest. According to officials, one of the officers used a false name to apply for the job. The 41-year-old man, who has not been identified, was charged with domestic battery in 1997. Officials did not say if the warrant was issued in connection with that arrest. East St. Louis detectives discovered the warrant while looking into the backgrounds of the new officers. East St. Louis City Manager Robert Betts confirmed an investigation is under way, but he declined to elaborate, saying it's a personnel issue. [Link]

..."AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE IN THIS COMMUNITY, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE CITIZENS AWARE THAT I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE NEW POLICE OFFICER HIRING PROCEDURES ADVOCATED BY THE CITY MANAGER, MAYOR AND THE POLICE AND FIRE BOARD COMMISSIONERS"...

MARION, A FORMER CHIEF, SAYS CREDIBILITY AT RISK
Belleville News Democrat
By Carolyn P. Smith
Jun. 22, 2008
City Councilman Delbert Marion said Saturday he is not happy with the latest group of police recruits hired by East St. Louis and wants a more thorough investigation into their backgrounds. The News-Democrat reported that one of the 10 new officers sworn in last week had an outstanding warrant on a charge of domestic battery. Marion said some of the other recruits have criminal backgrounds or questionable employment histories. "As an elected official and former chief of police in this community, it is my responsibility to make the citizens aware that I do not agree with the new police officer hiring procedures advocated by the city manager, mayor and the police and fire board commissioners." Marion, who did not attend the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, said more thorough background checks should have been performed. He added the credibility of the East St. Louis Police Department is at stake. "Haste in hiring new police officers places the city and the police department at risk of legal liability," Marion said. According to Marion, some recruits did not complete parts of the entry-level physical examination; several were allowed points for military time served, while others were not; some fingerprints were sent off for processing while others were not; some background checks remained incomplete while others were not conducted; and some recruits were disqualified without cause. City Manager Robert Betts said, "Internal background checks were completed. However, we are waiting on state police and FBI background investigations to come back. Once those come back, if there is a negative complaint on any of the officers, they can be released at that time." [Link]