Officer Violating Department Policy

Here an officer is smoking a cigarette which is a violation of Granite City Police Policies and Procedures.

Due to state laws which prohibit the recording of audio of the police without their consent during the course of their public duties makes it difficult to show some of the other surrounding circumstances and greatly hampers the ability to show all aspects of the incident.

Conduct Unbecoming an Officer?

Here is a Observation of Officer Klump not stopping at a stop sign which is a violation of the law. There were no lights or sirens to indicate the need to respond to a call. I continued to record the entire interaction. So what happened when this was brought to Chief Millers attention? I was told they were looking into weather or not I violated the law for making the recording from the original audio.
Although consent was present, most of what was said could not be heard. Is this conduct unbecoming an officer? Why should this officer not be cited for what anyone else would be cited for?

From the Granite City Police Policy and Procedure Manual

3.300 General Rules of Conduct
E. INTEGRITY
2. Members shall obey all federal, state and municipal laws. Failure of such is conduct unbecoming an officer.

In case this is not enough there is another section that affirms the officers of the Granite City Police Deptartment must obey the laws.

4.030
IV. PATROL VEHICLES
3. When an officer is not on an emergency call, all normal safe driving practices, obedience to all traffic laws, and basic rules of courtesy shall be observed.

Public Records Online

Announcing the launch of Granite City Public Records a branch of Granite City Free Press. Here you will find various public records made available for easy viewing online. This is one of the improvements we hope you will like. Enjoy.

http://gcpublicrecords.co.cc

Granite City Fire Department Training

Thursday, February 26, 2010

Today many people have probably seen the wreck of a mess of cars in the parking lot of the Downtown Granite City Fire Department. That's because the department was conducting a training and practice exercise in auto extrication, or as many refer to using the jaws of life. This is an important and effective tool for saving the lives of people who become involved in an auto accident and can not get out of their vehicle. Time is crucial in such instances of injury. Training in auto extrication is imperative in reducing the time it takes for the EMT to administer medical needs for saving lives.

*Granite City Free Press would like to extend a big thank you to the members of the Granite City Fire Department for all your hard work.

Harshany Terminated As An Administrator

After over 2 hours of closed session, the verdict is in. The Board voted to terminate Brian Harshany as a school administrator, with a meeting to determine his termination as a tenured teacher on the horizon. The Board Meeting room was full of supporters and opposition of Harshany, with mixed opinions on what Harshany's future should hold in the school district. It was not clear what type of salary Harshany would recieve over the next week as he is no longer in an administration position and it was not discussed during closed session. The board voted to hold a hearing for his full termination with one board member voting no to such a hearing. Many people are tired of this issue dragging on and wish they would just get it done and move pass the issue.

Some showed up with signs to voice their opposition to Harshanys continued employement.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ONLY WANTS TO HEAR YOUR SUPPORT FOR HEALTHCARE REFORM

With Health Care Reform being a big debate as of lately and a vote in the house expected soon while many people still oppose Healthcare reform. What are they basing their idea of the majority wanting this reform some may wonder. Well one basis for their belief that most americans want this might be found at www.healthreform.gov The site is an official U.S. Government Web site managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services as it states at the bottom of their page. Looking around it wouldn't take long for anyone to see they don't want to hear about people who oppose the health care reform with their well to see button that offers you to state your support for health reform on their main page to the contact page that only asks you to send in messages of your support and send in your stories and send in ideas about why we need health reform this year. Why do we have a government that seems to be making it clear that if we don't like what they do, then we need not bother contacting them. If it's not fitting to their plans then we the people have no say in what they do. What will it take to change that mindset of those in government that We the People are still the masters and government is servant and bound by the US Constitution whether they like it or not. If you owned a business and hired a few people to work for you, would you want your employee's whom you pay telling you what you will and won't do with your business? Then all of the sudden those employee's decide they want you to still pay them and do what they tell you to do. I wonder what would happen to those employee's anywhere else.

Train Derailment Closes Missouri Avenue

At Approximately 11pm Sept 21, 2009 A train that was crossing Missouri Avenue derailed closing the street. An officer confirmed the train derailment and that there were no injuries reported. The cause of the derailment is not yet known at this time. Officers stated the road would be closed all night and it would take several hours for crews to get their equipment in to get it cleared. There were supposedly no chemicals or hazardous materials spilled that should be cause for alarm to area residents.