Harvey, Illinois - State, Cook County officials raid Harvey police department
Journal Gazette Times Courier (on-line)
Associated Press - 01/25/07
Harvey, Ill. - State and Cook County officials have raided the police department of south suburban Harvey, armed with a subpoena to confiscate certain records.
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Unit, Cook County sheriff's police and Cook County state's attorney's office participated in Wednesday's raid, authorities said. Officials did not specify what they confiscated.
In a written statement, Mayor Eric Kellogg acknowledged that investigators had been to the police station, and he vowed they would receive "full cooperation."
"As I've always stated, if there is any findings of misconduct of any of our officers or employees, I will push for the immediate termination of the individual or individuals involved," Kellogg wrote.
The raid comes months after a Harvey police detective was charged with official misconduct for allegedly smuggling a gun involved in a murder investigation out of the police department. That detective has since been fired.
After the allegations against the detective surfaced, the Harvey City Council passed a resolution seeking an investigation of the police department.
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who also called for an investigation, applauded the raid.
"It's a sad day when police departments have to police other police departments, but in this case, I embrace and welcome it," Jackson in a statement. "The law-abiding citizens and officers who honor the badge need to be protected, while the officers who fail to honor it need to be exposed and prosecuted."
Retrieved January 25, 2007 from http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2007/01/25/ap-state-il/d8msckt84.prt