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Battle Creek City Commissioner Calls For Additional Investigations Of Police Corruption

Posted at 10:59 PM, May 07, 2013
and last updated 2013-05-07 22:59:49-04

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – Allegations of corruption within the police department is creating a divide between some city leaders and the Battle Creek Police Department.

The Calhoun County prosecutor weighed in on the issue and found no criminal activity as a result of the investigation.

One city commissioner, Jeff Domenico, said the argument is not over.

Police Chief Jackie Hampton has demanded an apology.  He said the allegations have affected the morale of his department.

Commissioner Domenico said he has no plans of apologizing to Chief Hampton and said he continues to have people come up to him with stories of corruption within the department.

Despite the findings of the prosecutor, the commissioner said there should be another investigation.

“There is a healing process that needs to happen once the bleeding has stopped,” Domenico said.

For months, allegations have swirled of cover-ups and misconduct within the Battle Creek Police Department.

Allegations that commissioner Jeff Domenico said are still being brought to his attention, “I heard from three different people in the last five days.”

The problem has always come down to specific evidence of corruption.  Domenico said he has heard and seen the evidence but said that is not his fight or story to tell.

“If they decide not to come forward than nothing is ever really going to become of if and that’s too bad,” he said.

Domenico said even if the prosecutor did not find any crime has been committed he said there are questions of ethical behavior.

“I’m not looking to put anyone in jail or anyone to lose their job.  The whole objective is to make it a good place, a solid place for employees to want to come to work,” said Domenico.

At the commission meeting on Tuesday, Domenico called for the investigation to continue through an outside agency.

Chief Hampton was not in at the commission on Tuesday, FOX 17 did speak to him on the phone and he said he expects Domenico not only to apologize to him but to the community for spreading what he calls, rumors about the department.