Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 9, 1992 TAG: 9201090402
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
LAW-ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION URGED
Local businessman James Mensh of Mensh Insurance asked Town Council to help protect Christiansburg citizens from federal and state police by sending a resolution to Richmond lawmakers requesting cooperation with local police.Mensh - who was involved in a 1989 false arrest case with the FBI and state police - said federal and state police should be prohibited from coming into a town to arrest anyone without first notifying local police.
"Local police departments should be told the name of the person who'll be arrested and when they will be arrested," Mensh told council members during Tuesday's citizens hearing. "This will protect citizens. Now, there is a total lack of cooperation between officials."
Mensh filed an $8.3 million suit against the FBI and the state police for mistaking his identity for that of his son, James William Mensh Jr., in a drug arrest at his home. Athorities later ruled that the officers involved were immune from liability.
Mensh said that if the Christiansburg Police Department had been informed, the situation could have been avoided. He has appeared before the Virginia General Assembly's house militia and police committee and met with a member of the council for the congressional subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights in Washington to plead his case.
And although he doesn't have the resources to take his case to the Supreme Court, Mensh said he "will continue to fight. This is a personal battle for me."
Mayor Harold Linkous referred the request to Town Manager John Lemley and Town Attorney W.R.L. Craft Jr. and said a decision on the resolution would be made at council's next meeting.
The mayor said Mensh does not object to drug enforcement, "he's just upset with the way it was handled in his case."
After the meeting, the mayor did say that such cooperation could hinder federal and state police duties "to an extent," but agreed there should be cooperation. And as for leaks coming from local police to citizens, the mayor said "you've gotta trust the police department."
In other action, council voted to transfer ownership of the Montgomery Wayside from the state Department of Transportation to the town and unanimously accepted a donation of land from Councilman Jack Via.
Via donated two parcels - both less than an acre - in the Mount Tabor and Shawsville districts, but requested that the land be used by the fire department.
"This is tangible property that the fire department will be able to use for fund raising" by selling it, Via said.