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| Did police shield Peterson from abuse charges? - |
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tulsad
 Posted:
Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:04 am |
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Did police shield Peterson from abuse charges?
Cops called to ex-officer's home 18 times by 3rd wife; 4th wife missing
Thurs., Nov. 29, 2007
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. - Eighteen times in two years, Bolingbrook police were called to fellow officer Drew Peterson’s home because of trouble between husband and wife. But Peterson’s wife could never get authorities to arrest him. In fact, she was the only one ever charged.
Now residents of this Chicago suburb are wondering whether police were protecting one of their own — and whether they bear some responsibility for what happened next.
Peterson’s wife at the time of the domestic disturbance calls, Kathleen Savio, was found dead in 2004 under mysterious circumstances. And now his current wife, Stacy, is missing and feared slain.
The way police dealt with Peterson “makes it kind of hard to trust cops,” said Pablo Delira, a 59-year-old construction worker. He said he has no doubt he would have been led away in handcuffs if police had been called to his house 18 times.
Kim Camplin, who works in the clothing business, said the two women might be alive today if Bolingbrook police had taken the domestic disturbance calls more seriously.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a fireman, a policeman or a clergyman — all it should take is one call and it should be taken seriously,” she said. “What faith can we have in the system?”
Peterson, 53, was a police sergeant and 29-year veteran of the force, resigning earlier this month after he came under suspicion in his current wife’s disappearance in October.
In a roughly two-year period beginning in 2002, police responded to 18 domestic disturbance calls at Peterson’s house. Savio accused Peterson of beating her and threatening to kill her, but no charges were ever brought against him.
Instead, Peterson twice persuaded prosecutors to charge Savio with domestic battery. She was acquitted both times.
Official defends response
Police Lt. Ken Teppel said that in all 18 instances, police conducted a thorough investigation. He said a department inquiry found no indication officers did anything wrong or violated procedure.
But Teppel acknowledged the case has damaged the department’s reputation.
“There is a distrust ... that this is going to be covered up,” he said. “It’s so hard to get over that.”
Savio was found dead in her bathtub in 2004, and a coroner’s jury ruled it an accidental drowning. But since Stacy Peterson’s disappearance, investigators have re-examined Savio’s death and exhumed her body, and said they now believe it was a homicide made to look like an accident.
Peterson has not been named a suspect in Savio’s death. But authorities said he is suspected in Stacy Peterson’s disappearance. Peterson has denied any wrongdoing in either case and said he believes his current wife left him for another man and is still alive.
The Bolingbrook department has handed the investigation over to the Illinois State Police — standard practice in criminal cases involving a member of the force.
Resident: Just 'one rogue cop'
Not everyone in the community of about 70,000 blames the department.
“I haven’t lost one iota of trust in the police department,” said Stephen DeFreeuw, a 16-year resident. “One rogue cop.”
Teppel said street cops in the 122-member department are being reminded about the proper way to handle domestic calls and are being told they are expected to adhere to the rules, no matter who answers when they knock on the door.
Teppel said Police Chief Ray McGrury has made it clear: “There are no favorites.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22031405/
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Sparkly Tree
Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 10139
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| all10suspects
Posted:
Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:39 am |
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SOunds like police were protecting thier own. Now they have 2 dead mothers on their hands. Almost sounds like Dutch team #1 in the Natalee. Seems if your part of law enforcement you get away with stuff!
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Joined: 20 Jul 2006
Posts: 6356
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| Obscuregawdess
Posted:
Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:30 pm |
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| all10suspects wrote: | | SOunds like police were protecting thier own. Now they have 2 dead mothers on their hands. Almost sounds like Dutch team #1 in the Natalee. Seems if your part of law enforcement you get away with stuff! |
I agree with everything you have said, other than comparing it to Natalee's case. In Illinois, I have seen it happen often. It happens everywhere, depending on how "tight" you are with the "crowd". Just as any job, there are those with power and pull and those without. It sure seems Drew had influence and friends. It's pretty sad. I can't believe he was there taking Ms. Savio's pulse... Covering his tracks much? 
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"Bratty Mama Leci"
Joined: 02 Aug 2006
Posts: 12374
Location: Kentucky
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| Schmerty
Posted:
Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:05 am |
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Smell like a cover up! You cover it up & the more it smmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllssssss......................................Drewpy??
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Skipping along my own path.
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 3335
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| yankee-in-france
Posted:
Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:41 am |
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| all10suspects wrote: | | SOunds like police were protecting thier own. Now they have 2 dead mothers on their hands. Almost sounds like Dutch team #1 in the Natalee. Seems if your part of law enforcement you get away with stuff! |
-- but we don't really know that there are two dead mothers as the second mother's body has not been found.
Yes, you would think that after sixteen calls that either they would have suggested a mental examination for the wife or realized that their admired colleague may not be on the up-and-up.
As you have probably guessed, I do not like rushing to judgment and convicting anyone without evidence. Sadly, all that we have here is a missing wife.
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YIF
Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Posts: 6999
Location: France
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