THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602240299
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Virginia State Police investigators confirmed Friday that they had received a formal request from the Chesapeake City Council for an independent review of the city's police department.
``We are evaluating that request,'' said Col. Wayne Garrett, head of the state police criminal investigation unit in Richmond. He declined to say anything more.
Last Tuesday, after a 2 1/2 hour meeting behind closed doors, Chesapeake Mayor William E. Ward said the council had reached ``a consensus'' to direct the city attorney to ask state police to conduct ``an independent review of the recent issues involving the city's police.''
No vote was taken. City officials said Friday that there was some dissent by council members over calling in the state police.
The state police will be brought in to review how police handled cases that ultimately led to the arrests of the sons of three prominent Chesapeake officials - a City Councilman, a sheriffs captain and a police captain.
Alan Keith Butt, the 27-year-old son of Chesapeake Councilman John W. Butt; and William Jeremy Brickhouse, the 20-year-old son of sheriffs Capt. William Brickhouse, are both charged with receiving stolen property allegedly taken during a burglary of $160,000 in merchandise from Givens Honda in October 1994.
William Lawrence Spruill Jr., the 23-year-old son of police Capt. William L. Spruill, was charged with breaking and entering and grand larceny in the theft of an all-terrain vehicle from the home of Vice Mayor Robert T. Nance Jr. in November 1994.
The council decided to ask for state police help when they still had unanswered questions following two long, closed meetings and a confidential written report by police Chief Ian M. Shipley Jr.
Five officers have been disciplined for their roles in the investigations, city officials said, including Capt. Spruill, who is Chief Shipley's administrative aide.
The chief has reported that there was no evidence that the officers had intentionally delayed or hampered the investigations.
Council members were also concerned that the offense report from the Nance theft case is missing, city officials have confirmed. by CNB