Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 August 2002 — Page 1

Preparing a conscious community today and beyond

RELIGION Eye on Gospel

PEOPLE * TRENDS City's oldest Black social club turns 100

BUSINESS Who's who in Black business

VOLUME 107 ■ NUMBER 31 ■ FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2002 ■ PHONE 317/924-5143 ■ www.indianapollsrecorder.com ■ 754

No holds barred Controversial comic Martin Lawrence gives his side of his escapades in a new movie. Turn to The Recorder’s Arts and Entertainment pages to read how Lawrence finds humor on the wild side. Staff and Wire reports Democrat Women picnic Saturday The Marion County Women’s Democrat Club will have its annual fund-raising picnic in Garfield Park Aug. 3 from 1-3 p.m. It will be close to the park’s pool near the playground area. Cheryl Kern, candidate for Warren Township assessor, will cater the picnic. Cost is $7 per person; $12 a couple; children under 12 are free. IHA will host two landlord fairs The Indianapolis Housing Agency (IHA) will host landlord fairs Aug. 3 and Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both days. The fairs will be held at IHA’s offices, 1927 N. Meridian St. The event is open to Marion County landlords who are interested in housing opportunities within the Section 8 program. In addition to a program overview, landlords will learn how to market their apartments and houses to new Section 8 applicants. Landlords should bring the following items to the fairs: Applications, marketing materials, pictures of the rental property and display boards. Anyone interested in participating should call (317) 261-7289 to reserve a seat. For more information about landlord fairs, call Ronnetta Slaughter at (317) 261-7264. Indiana Alumni celebration in Evansville What is being called the largest African-American event in Southwestern Indiana will be Aug. 9-11 in Evansville. It’s the 74th Anniversary Celebration o( the Lincoln/Clark/ Douglass reunion hosted by the Evansville Indiana Alumni Chapter. Reunion headquarters will be the downtown Executive Inn Hotel. An estimated 1,200 persons will take part in See BRIEFS, Page A3

SBSSS

RECMKR EXCLUSIVE

Mayor speaks out about I PD, Expo fiasco

Mayor Peterson

By Anarf V. Holmes Recorder Editor Mayor Bart Peterson ended several days of silence on the issue of alleged verbal abuse, harassment and all out disrespect many people said they received by Indianapolis Police officers during Indiana Black Expo's Summer

Celebration.

“The situation itself is something that I deeply regret,” said Mayor Peterson who returned to the city

Tuesday after leaving July 21, the last day of Summer Celebration, to go on a family vacation outside of the

country.

“But from all that I have learned, there has been enough smoke that I believe there is certainly a fire and something definitely went wrong." The problem In an effort to figure out just what went wrong Mayor Peterson said he has plans to meet with IBE President Rev. Charles Williams, Public Safety Director Robert Turner and IPD Chief Jetty Barker next week. The Mayor will also attend a portion of a special town hall meeting Wednesday at the Omega Conference Center, sponsored by WTLC-AM. “Any level of mistreatment of people is not the Indianapolis way or the IPD way and it will not be tolerated," he said. “Any officers founft guilty of such Activities will be properly disciplined.” Many expo guests called into local Black media outlets

“There Is enough smoke that I believe there is certainly a fire...any level off mistreatment of people will not be tolerated.’’ —Mayor Bart Peterson such as The Recorder, WTLC-AM and FM stations to express their displeasure with the manner IPD officials implemented security plans during the annual Expo. The department issued more than 1,500traffic citations and parking tickets during the event’s three day weekend. It is unclear if IPD issued more tickets this year than in years past or if those figures differ from other major events and holidays such as the NCAA Final Four Championship games. Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. Further, while many people called in to complain about alleged police wrong doing, only three formal complaints have been filed with the Citizens Police Complaint Review Board, according to agency staff. Still, many in the community have a perception that racism is at the core of the alleged IPD mistreatment. IBE President Rev. Williams has publicly made comments that although he does not believe there is a concerted effort on the part of IPD leadership to be racist, he does think there are racist individuals who serve on the IPD force and that they contribute to the problem. Public Safety Director Robert Turner acknowledges that the police department is a reflection of the broader society and that IPD is not immune from racism, but said the relationship between community and police is a two way street and that many officers complained that this year’s crowd was one of the most unruly. “Someone punched an officer’s horse, now was the horse racist?” said Turner. “And there were other things See EXPO FIASCO. Pag* A4

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Soul Music Concert entertainment for all Show will be at State Fairgrounds By SHANNON WILLIAMS Assistant Editor Mix a little of yesterday’s love ballads and funky groove music with some of today’s rap and neo-soul together and what do you get? The answer; “The Soul Music Concert... Then and Now.” On Friday, Aug 9, the Marsh Grandstand at the Indiana State Fairgrounds will certainly be considered “the place to be.” Legendary acts Cameo and Con Funk Shun will be on hand to give See SOUL MUSIC CONCERT, Page A3

Justice for Carol Jenkins, A Human Being Suspect’s health may be a barrier to justice

Carol Jenkins (Third in a series) By SHARON JENKINS For The Recorder In Birmingham, Ala., four little girls murdered by Ku Klux Klansmen in 1968 at the 16th Street Baptist

Church got justice after 39 years with he didn’t know who I was or why he the conviction of the last of their mur- was in jail.” In documents filed with derers on May 22, of an unrepentant the court, Litz referenced other asBobby Frank Cherry by a racially di- pects of his client’s mental and physiverse jury. cal health and added that he believes In Martinsville, Ind., Kenneth C. Richmopd is unable to assist in his Richmond appears to be an infirm, 70- own defense, year-old former Ku Klux Klan mem- In response to this information, ber who may escape his date with Judge Burnham ordered Richmond to justice for the murder of 21-year-old be examined by court-appointed psyCarol Jenkins 33 years ago, in 1968, chiatrists with the goal of helping to because of his health. determine his fitness to stand trial, While his defense attorney and the currently scheduled for Oct. 1. Morgan County prosecutor battle in A week later, on July 16, Burnham court over access to Richmond’s psy- heard attorneys’ arguments over chiatric evaluations and medical whether Prosecutor Steve Sonnega can records, the victim’s family and an access records of Richmond’s psychientire community anxiously wait. atric treatment spanning the past 40 On July 11, Richmond, garbed in an years. A decision on the merits of orange prison jumpsuit, was wheeled these arguments will be made in the into Morgan County Superior Court coming weeks. Judge Christopher Burnham’s court- At issue is a bevy of medical room. There his court-appointed at- records, some of which were obtained torney, Steven Litz, said his client by State Police investigators as they suffers from bladder cancer, grand mal followed the trail of evidence that led seizures, hepatitis and hallucinations, to Richmond’s arrest, on May 8, for Litz told the judge, “The last time I the murder of 21-year-old Jenkins on went to jail to talk to Mr. Richmond, a dark, rainy Martinsville street in

1968. Sonnega is asking the court for access to hundreds of pages of confidential mental health records which he believes may shed light on Richmond’s true mental state. He also believes the documents may contain the name of Richmond’s accomplice, the unknown second man who, according to Richmond’s daughter Shirley Richmond McQueen, held Carol Jenkins' arms behind her back while her father stabbed her in the chest with a screwdriver he grabbed from the floor of his car. "The police have looked all over, and they can’t find the second person,” said Sonnega. “Kenneth Richmond may be the only one who knows that name.” On July 23, Richmond’s attorney and his half sister, Linnie Shields, were successful in their efforts to have Richmond moved to a facility they believed would take better care of

See CAROL JENKINS, Page AS

Probation officers provide valuable service to the community

Qotahotnawstlp? Want to b« heard?

Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Officers’ Week was recently observed nationally. It is a time to reflect upon the significant accomplishments of these invaluable public servants. These line officers are at the heart of the probation and parole profession. supervising and monitoring offenders to ensure a safe community. At the end of2001, the number of adults sentenced to probation in Marion County alone was nearly 11,000. For over 100 years, probation officers have dedicated their lives tocreating safer communities. The programs active today are part of the rich legacy established by the industrious Boston shoemaker, John

For over 100 years, probation officers have dedicated their lives to creating safer communities. Augustus, known as the “Father of Probation.” Unlike Augustus’ world, today’s offenders are more violent and problematic and in greater need of rehabilitative direction and assistance. Within the criminal justice system, probation officers all too often work in environments where caseloads are high, pay is low, and resources are scarce and overburdened. The challenge these officers

face is to oversee the rehabilitation of offenders, and to support and protect crime victims. They also are sensitive to victims concerns; including the collection of restitution. Probation officers conduct home visits and administer drug tests. These officers must become experts in areas such as drug abuse, sex offenders, domestic violence, gangs, mental health and field officer safety. These dedicated individuals work hand in hand with community groups and collateral social service agencies to provide offenders and victims with the support they need. They maintain active, important partnerships with law enforcement agencies so that both

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(Left to right) Kavonna Heater received the “Rookie of the Year” award and both Carmen Mitchell and Fred Martin were reciplenta of the “Probation Officer of the Year” award. All awards were received during Probation, Parol* and Community Supervlaion Officers' Week.

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