39-year-old Jason Leavitt was a member of the Park Ridge, Illinois police department for 16 years, when his career came to a screeching halt after (allegedly) brutalizing two teenage boys.
On October 28, 2006, two 15-year-old boys reportedly shot out the window of Leavitt's police car with a slingshot. Leavitt caught one teen trying to jump a fence and hit the boy in the back of the head - knocking him unconscious - and continued to brutalize the defenseless child until police showed up, said investigators.
When the second teenage offender was apprehended, Leavitt (allegedly) kicked the handcuffed teen, who was lying on the ground, in the head several times and even struck the boy in the face, while he was in the back of a squad car.
Leavitt has been slapped with felony charges: aggravated battery and seven counts of official misconduct.
I have one question: why weren't the officers who witnessed this incident, and did nothing to stop it, charged as well?
Lt. Robert France trained Leavitt and Robert Kampwirth. Ray Wolff is a P.R. fireman. The 2009 Park Ridge Police Audit by Terry Ekl names Robert France on pgs. 27-28 as pulling his gun on several teenage boys. The Farleys know the identity of these boys. Jack Hegler was the other boy beaten by Leavitt. These citizens should come forward. France has a record of physical abuse of teenagers and filing false reports. Deputy Chief Tom Swoboda investigated France for harassment and witness intimidation. Anyone wishing to see justice in Park Ridge must look at the record of Robert France. Was he on
ReplyDeleteduty the night of Oct. 27, 2006?
Sounds like a "he said-she said" incident. If this happened in 2006 where are all the picture's of these beaten teen's? What kind of home do they come from that they were out shooting at cars? Seems like there is a real credibility issue? It should be interesting to see where this goes? I don't see much becoming of it except a waste of tax dollars by our States Attorney trying to build a reputation for herself.
ReplyDeletewhat difference does the victims' home life make? whatever is going on in their homes doesn't justify what this cop is accused of doing to them.
ReplyDeleteI know teens that came from great homes, who do delinquent acts like this as a form of fun to them. Doesn't mean they're not to be held responsible for their actions, but by all means should not be beaten for them unless they pose a risk of injury to officers or the public. If a police officer cannot stop and apprehend a 15 year old boy from climbing a fence to get away without blows to the head, maybe that officer is unfit for duty. My opinion is that the lieutenant had let his power within the police force go to his head, had personal vendetta against the two teens and couldn't control his actions. Now I don't know all the facts but I recommend he be treated with a manor like any other public individual unrelated to the police. The last thing I would like to make clear is that I am not against the police, in fact I am in school to be a police officer at this very moment and have been given the assignment of writing a paper on this very case. It's a shame to see officers act in this way, no wonder the public hates cops and don't wanna see them unless they need them. Concerned in Pewaukee, WI
ReplyDeleteWhat is really ashame about this incident, (and many other similar cases), is that news of Officer Leavitt's indictment breaks the media waves and the general public automatically assumes that, "Yep, must be true." (As some of you have even indicated in your comments). What this article fails to mention is that the juveniles were already tried in court and pleaded guilty to their wrongdoing. The case should have ended there, but because one of the juveniles has a relative that works for the States Attorney's office, the SA decided to launch a full investigation.. The investigation went on for 4 years because they could not collect enough evidence to pinpoint any of the officers that were at the scene of the crime. Now, as the timeframe that is allotted for the investigation ran out, the SA decided, last minute, to indict Officer Leavitt on these falsified charges... The family of the juveniles have even commented saying that they didn't want it to go this far, and now, want nothing further with the officers indictment. The States Attorney, on the other hand is the one pursuing these charges, not the families... And the SA has been known, (and it has been documented), to be biased against Police Officers... She hates them! (And will do anything to cause injustice to them.) Sounds to me that because the SA is related to one of the juvenile boys, this might be a personal vendetta against falsely accused Officer Leavitt.. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.. But don't believe everything you hear...
ReplyDelete