Group Accuses Councilmen of Tampering with Witness

 

Nowakowski: We told him he did the right thing

Updated: Tuesday, 26 Oct 2010, 11:11 PM MDT
Published : Tuesday, 26 Oct 2010, 11:11 PM MDT

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Police Department is dealing with an officer charged with murder, accused of killing an unarmed man. But the focus right now is not at that officer, but instead on City Hall.

Two city officials are accused of obstructing a criminal investigation and tampering with a witness. They allegedly contacted the witness in that police murder case — Officer Sergio Virgillo, who blew the whistle on Officer Richard Chrisman’s alleged conduct.

A national watchdog group is claiming the councilmen crossed the line, and maybe even broke the law.

via Group Accuses Councilmen of Tampering with Witness.

Valley group reaches out to gang members to stop violence

 

 

PHOENIX – To some gang members, kids in south Phoenix are potential recruits. But to the people behind Project TRUCE, they are the future, and a catalyst for peace in a neighborhood riddled with gun violence.

“It’s probably one of the things that keeps me up at night, when you see a 4-year-old throw up a gang sign,” said Advisory Board Member Deborah Kidd Chapman, who teaches children from her neighborhood to follow a productive path.

“I learned a lot on those streets, and I learned a lot about what it means to make good choices in your life,” said Chapman. “When I was given a do-over, I said I would try to direct children to make positive choices in their lives.”

 

Valley group reaches out to gang members to stop violence

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Phoenix officer charged with murder has mixed past, prior problems

The records show an up-and-down career for the officer, who now faces second-degree murder charges after he shot and killed 29-year-old Daniel Rodriquez during a domestic violence call on October 5.

Rodriquez’s mother called police after an argument. The situation escalated and Chrisman shot him twice. He died shortly later.

Rodriquez was not armed and the killing has ignited the Hispanic community.

Chrisman’s partner also called the incident “the worst day of his life,” arrest records show.

via Phoenix officer charged with murder has mixed past, prior problems.

Phoenix officer facing murder charge has mixed work history

by Lynh Bui – Oct. 19, 2010 12:00 AM

The Arizona Republic

Phoenix police Officer Richard Chrisman, who is facing a second-degree murder charge, had been suspended for misconduct in 2006 and was the subject of several internal investigations related to on-duty traffic incidents, personnel records released Monday show.

Chrisman’s personnel file also show he has received several commendations and positive performance reviews during his nearly 10 years on the force.

Chrisman is accused of fatally shooting 29-year-old Danny Frank Rodriguez while answering a call in south Phoenix on Oct. 5.

He’s scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 21 and is free on $150,000 bail. Chrisman is also accused of one count of aggravated assault and one count of cruelty to animals.

Records show Chrisman was suspended without pay for 10 hours on Jan. 27, 2006. The incident of officer misconduct involved Chrisman slipping his partner drug paraphernalia to plant on a homeless woman as a prank in 2005.

Chrisman admitted the joke was his idea and that his behavior was “way beyond unprofessional,” according to a suspension report in his personnel file.

via Phoenix officer facing murder charge has mixed work history.

Precinct in South Phoenix gets a new commander

Crockett returns to lead South Mountain unit

by Sadie Jo Smokey – Oct. 17, 2010 12:00 AM

A police commander who began his career in south Phoenix is returning to lead the South Mountain Precinct.

Cmdr. Chris Crockett, a 23-year veteran of the department, began his new assignment Oct. 11.

Phoenix Public Safety Manager Jack Harris said the change in leadership was in the works prior to a police-officer shooting of an unarmed man in south Phoenix on Oct. 5.

“There has been criticism of how we react with the community,” said Harris. “There is a perception that we can do things better. (The shooting incident) may have accelerated the implementation, but it wasn’t the motivating factor.”

Crockett said one of his missions is to lower the crime rate.

“When things don’t go right, I’ll be ultimately responsible and I’m going to fix them,” Crockett said. “We want to treat everyone fairly and be held accountable.”

As an officer, Crockett worked in the South Mountain Precinct under various assignments beginning in 1987.

In 1999, he led 65 officers at the department’s substation at 2330 E. Jones Ave. serving an area between 16th and 48th streets and South Mountain and the Salt River bottom.

South Phoenix community activist Gail Knight said crime rates decreased by 25 percent and community/police relationships improved under Crockett’s leadership. Knight praised Crockett’s return.

“He’s homegrown,” said Knight. “The community is very excited. It’s good to see him back.”

read more at Precinct in South Phoenix gets a new commander.

Phoenix Officer’s Wife Has Criminal Past

Sarah Buduson

Reporter, KPHO.com

POSTED: 8:55 pm MST October 18, 2010

UPDATED: 10:44 pm MST October 18, 2010

PHOENIX — The Phoenix police officer whose account of a domestic violence call led to murder charges against officer Richard Chrisman is married to a convicted felon.

Sergio Virgillo’s wife, Maria, was convicted of illegal control of an enterprise in 2008 and sentenced to three years probation.

Court documents show Maria Virgillo was one of four people indicted in a drug smuggling operation that trafficked in meth and cocaine in July 2008.

She was sentenced to three years probation in November 2008.

During that time, the indictment says Sergio Virgillo was a detective for Phoenix’s drug enforcement bureau and that his wife provied information obtained from him about undercover practices to her brother, who is named as an “intricate member” of the drug trafficking organization.

via Phoenix Officer’s Wife Has Criminal Past – Phoenix News Story – KPHO Phoenix.

PD: Robbers attempt hit on armored car

PHOENIX – Police are investigating after an attempt was made to rob an armored car in south Phoenix Tuesday, according to the Phoenix Police Department. …

PD: Robbers attempt hit on armored car

Sister Defends Officer’s Decision To Speak Out Against Partner

Virgillo arrived to back-up Christman. The two walked into the home after Fernandez gave the officers permission to inside.

“Not even a minute later, we heard the shots because they killed the dog and then they killed my son,” Fernandez said.

“He said a few times, ‘Gina, I was just a foot away. Gina, he was shot right through the chest,” Fast said.

Fast said she’s concerned with comments made against her brother claiming his motivation to speak up was racially motivated.

“My family is Italian, not Hispanic,” Fast said.

via Sister Defends Officer’s Decision To Speak Out Against Partner – Phoenix News Story – KPHO Phoenix.

Man with warrants tries to evade Phoenix officers by hiding in attic

 

Posted: 08/21/2010
By: Deborah Stocks

PHOENIX – Police took a man into custody after a standoff in a south Phoenix neighborhood Saturday.

Phoenix police say officers responded to a report of stolen auto parts found in the bed of a pickup truck near Central Avenue and Baseline Road and when they arrived realized the man they were looking for had numerous outstanding felony arrest warrants.

Sgt. Lisa Gilligan said when officers attempted to contact the man he tried to escape out a back door but was stopped and barricaded himself inside.

The suspect was eventually found in the attic by a K-9 officer and taken into custody.

via Man with warrants tries to evade Phoenix officers by hiding in attic.

Cop, 2 suspects die during drug raid shootout

 PHOENIX, Ariz. — At least one police officer and two suspects were killed Wednesday when a gunbattle erupted during an undercover drug operation in Phoenix, police said.

The shootout left two other officers wounded and two other suspects hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries, said Sgt. Steve Martos, a Phoenix police spokesman.

Two more suspects were detained and being questioned, Martos said. A seventh was being sought.

All three officers were from the Chandler Police Department. One was pronounced dead at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, authorities said. One of the wounded officers was in critical condition at the same hospital while the other was in stable condition.

The names of the officers were being withheld until their families were notified, authorities said.

via Cop, 2 suspects die during drug raid shootout – U.S. news – Crime & courts – msnbc.com.