East St. Louis City Council meeting concerning layoffs gets nasty

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http://www.bnd.com/2010/12/31/1533920/16-east-st-louis-cops-to-lose.html

Friday, Dec. 31, 2010

16 East St. Louis cops to lose jobs; council OKs layoffs effective Saturday

BY CAROLYN P. SMITH - News-Democrat

EAST ST. LOUIS -- The City Council unanimously voted Thursday to accept the city's budget that includes laying off 16 police officers, some telecommunicators, a jailer and public works employees. snip

Before the vote was taken, City Councilman Roy Mosley revealed that City Council members have discussed in past closed sessions how police lieutenants and captains are not doing anything, but in 2011 that must change, particularly with the layoffs. snip

Mosley went to get water and take a bathroom break, and he hurriedly returned to the meeting saying, "a white shirt wanted to jump on me for saying what I said in this meeting."

"(Councilman Delbert Marion) had to pull him off of me. You can't say nothing because the police will want to jump on you. I am nervous. You can't say what you need to because a white shirt will get offended," Mosley said. snip

Mosley, who did not name the officer who threatened him, told council members he was leaving the meeting. After asking a police commissioner to call the Illinois State Police to take him home, Mosley allowed Assistant Police Chief Aubrey Keller to drive him home and he left before the budget vote.