Alfred_Dunhill
12-10-2005, 11:02 PM
Report finds no evidence of racial slurs on pirate radio station
November 29, 2005, 1:39 PM EST
BRISTOL, Conn. -- An investigation into allegations of racism has determined that several off-duty Bristol police officers made off-color and sometimes vulgar radio transmissions, but there is no evidence they broadcast racial slurs.
The 25-page report by a Hartford consulting firm hired by the city also found that police did not conduct racial profiling or harass black motorists outside a nightclub.
The firm interviewed 27 officers, three retired officers and 13 city workers. Also interviewed were neighbors of Sgt. Richard Valentine, who broadcast from a studio in the basement of his home, pirating an FM frequency for brief, unscheduled broadcasts.
Valentine took immediate retirement in September after the NAACP accused him and others of broadcasting racial slurs and sought a federal investigation.
The two-month probe by the city-hired firm said at least six police officers and two civilians took part in the broadcasts, but found no evidence that any of the officers acted with bias while on duty, according to the report.
"We have not found any evidence that identified incidents or allegations of on-duty racist behavior or racial intolerance on the part of the Bristol police, particularly those officers identified as taking part in the radio broadcasts," the report said.
The Connecticut chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and state Rep. Roger Michele, D-Bristol, went public with the allegation. Scot X. Esdaile, president of the NAACP's Connecticut chapter, said Tuesday that members declined to participate in the Bristol investigation because Bristol paid for it and they did not expect it to be fair.
"We didn't want to be part of giving this investigation any type of credibility or integrity, because we knew what the game plan was behind it," Esdaile said. "We knew that if we were going to get any type of justice, we would have to get it from the federal government. We knew that Bristol was not going to investigate this fairly."
Michele and the NAACP have said they had cooperated fully with a separate probe by Chief State's Attorney Christopher Morano. Esdaile said his group also requested a federal investigation but has not heard whether one will be conducted.
Officer Ken Gallup, president of the police union, said he would wait to comment until Morano issues his conclusions.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--pirateradio1129nov29,0,108267.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut
November 29, 2005, 1:39 PM EST
BRISTOL, Conn. -- An investigation into allegations of racism has determined that several off-duty Bristol police officers made off-color and sometimes vulgar radio transmissions, but there is no evidence they broadcast racial slurs.
The 25-page report by a Hartford consulting firm hired by the city also found that police did not conduct racial profiling or harass black motorists outside a nightclub.
The firm interviewed 27 officers, three retired officers and 13 city workers. Also interviewed were neighbors of Sgt. Richard Valentine, who broadcast from a studio in the basement of his home, pirating an FM frequency for brief, unscheduled broadcasts.
Valentine took immediate retirement in September after the NAACP accused him and others of broadcasting racial slurs and sought a federal investigation.
The two-month probe by the city-hired firm said at least six police officers and two civilians took part in the broadcasts, but found no evidence that any of the officers acted with bias while on duty, according to the report.
"We have not found any evidence that identified incidents or allegations of on-duty racist behavior or racial intolerance on the part of the Bristol police, particularly those officers identified as taking part in the radio broadcasts," the report said.
The Connecticut chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and state Rep. Roger Michele, D-Bristol, went public with the allegation. Scot X. Esdaile, president of the NAACP's Connecticut chapter, said Tuesday that members declined to participate in the Bristol investigation because Bristol paid for it and they did not expect it to be fair.
"We didn't want to be part of giving this investigation any type of credibility or integrity, because we knew what the game plan was behind it," Esdaile said. "We knew that if we were going to get any type of justice, we would have to get it from the federal government. We knew that Bristol was not going to investigate this fairly."
Michele and the NAACP have said they had cooperated fully with a separate probe by Chief State's Attorney Christopher Morano. Esdaile said his group also requested a federal investigation but has not heard whether one will be conducted.
Officer Ken Gallup, president of the police union, said he would wait to comment until Morano issues his conclusions.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--pirateradio1129nov29,0,108267.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut