Group calling for change in wake of Manrique incident
Saturday, January 15, 2005 at 02:06AM
TheSpook
Blue Island officials received a blueprint Tuesday outlining what many
citizens say they want from their police department. The October death
of an elderly Hispanic man who was tackled by police officers prompted
community leaders to develop a plan to improve the way police relate to
the city's residents. The proposal asked for, among other things, a
police review board, a way for citizens to lodge complaints against
police, a clear definition of the use of force and when it should be
used, and cultural and sensitivity training for officers. Members of
the predominantly Hispanic community group Citizens in Action Serving
All, and the Blue Island Area Ministerial Association compiled the
nine-part proposal that was presented to Blue Island Mayor Donald
Peloquin and the city council at the Tuesday night meeting. "The whole
community will respond positively if we can cooperate to put into place
a higher level of public accountability for the police force," CASA
president Rene Valenciano said in a letter accompanying the proposal.
The call for police accountability arose when Antonio Manrique, 74, was
tackled by police detectives on Oct. 6, and died from his injuries four
days later. Police maintain the incident was a case of mistaken
identity, and the officers involved have been restricted to desk duty
while the Illinois State Police investigate. City and state officials
said the investigation is being finalized, but results could come as
late as mid-February. The city's Hispanic community was outraged by
Manrique's death, and demanded answers from city officials. [more] and [more]
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