Community leaders in Champaign-Urbana have been working on the CU Fresh Start approach to gun violence for nearly a year. Thursday marked the program's 'Call-In', giving offenders with a background tied to gun crime a chance to connect to community resources and reform their lives. "We recognize that we can't arrest our way out of this problem," says Urbana Police Chief Pat Connolly.
Authorities are seeking 18-year-old Robbie M. Patton of Champaign in connection with the shooting on E. Green Street in the Campustown neighborhood, that left one person dead and three others injured.
Illinois' Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council says a reported internal investigation involving Champaign Police Officer Matt Rush, the subject of four excessive force lawsuits, is not related to his actions on duty. "It is a direct result of the intense negative publicity and inaccurate public statements stemming from his prior case," said General Counsel Tamara Cummings.
A fourth excessive force lawsuit has been filed against Champaign police officer Matt Rush. The city council has already approved $320,000 in settlements in three other lawsuits filed against the officer, who's reportedly been on unpaid leave since early this month.
This past spring, a Champaign police officer was let back on patrol after nearly being fired for excessive use of force. Eight months later, videos and documents have finally been released showing multiple accounts of the officer using force against civilians.
