Harvey approves over half-a-million dollar police settlement over wrongful death claims

Harvey City Council meeting date

August 14, 2023

Roll call

Mayor Chris Clark: Present

Alderwoman Shirley Drewinski (1st): Absent

Alderwoman Colby Chapman (2nd): Present

Alderwoman Telanee Smith (3rd): Present

Alderman Tracy Key (4th): Present

Alderman Dominique Randle-El (5th): Present

Alderman Tyrone Rogers (6th): Present

The big picture

The City Council approved two settlements, including one over claims that Harvey police officers’ actions led to the death of Sinica Price. 

That comes as Illinois State Police will help standardize policies and optimize patrol allocation. That includes evaluating the department’s crime scene investigation techniques and evidence storage, developing a uniform policy, reviewing supervision, and designing a system to track department purchases.

Harvey Police Department is in shambles, currently a free-for-all.

On May 18, 2021, two men threatened Price after he refused to move his vehicle upon their request. They saw Price out with his son later that day, threatening him again. Later that day, they shot at Price multiple times but missed.

Price reported the incident to Harvey Police Department. Officers identified the suspects, apprehended them hours later, bringing them to Price’s home so he could identify them. There they learned of Price’s address and his cooperation with police.

They murdered Price at his home a month later.

According to the lawsuit, filed by an administrator of Price’s estate, by bringing suspects to Price’s home instead of to police headquarters where he could identify them in a lineup, officers put Price in a danger that wouldn’t have otherwise occurred. 

City attorneys unsuccessfully attempted to have the case dismissed.

Presentations

Harvey police and the Illinois State Police

Harvey Police Chief Cameron Biddings presented a proposal emphasizing collaborative efforts to improve policies, training, personnel, and service delivery. The agreement is effective for one year.

Council decisions

Job training, critical response teams, and infrastructure

The City Council unanimously approved and authorized new collaborations providing free workforce development and job training through the South Suburban American Job Center. The Public Works Department can now collaborate with Chicago Heights-based Bethel Family Resource Center to develop a pre-apprenticeship program. Participants will shadow city workers and be paid $15 per hour to graduates aged 16 to 24 by the BFRC.

The South Suburban Emergency Task Force, an obscure critical response team, received approval to work with Harvey police with critical incidents, such as barricades or hostage situations, upon request. SSERT already works with several other south suburban municipalities.

The Illinois Department of Transportation will modernize signals along 147th Street.

Notable public comment

Pushback to Harvey Flood Relief Project

Four residents of 153rd Street and Myrtle Avenue shared their concern over potential displacement due to a forthcoming stormwater management project. 

“The city should clean up first and finish projects that have been started before they add on to something they will have to maintain,” Kayla Johnson said. 

“I’d like for everyone to understand that the meeting that we have here is not a town hall meeting—it is a business meeting; we’re trying to take care of the business of the city,” Clark responded toward the meeting’s end. “I’ve never promised anyone perfection, and I’ve always promised progress.”

For context: The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District will acquire and demolish homes on 153rd Street and Myrtle Avenue to construct a water retention basin. They are bankrolling the $9.85 million effort, in part from federal funding. Harvey isn’t providing any financing. However, the project is designed to dovetail with the city’s vision to build open space, dubbed “Central Park,” on the southeast corner of the basin.

Allegations Mayor Chris Clark ignoring a Black investor

Ryan Sinwelski, planning commission member and founder of Harvey Pride and the Harvey Historical Society, played a voice message from a local Black businessman and investor interested in developing abandoned properties. 

According to Sinwelski, Clark has ignored them. They have been awaiting a response from the city since June 12, when Sinwelski alerted the mayor of a potential investor interested in revitalizing abandoned properties downtown. 

“This is about doing your job to improve Harvey without unnecessary delays, fees or red tape for those who are working to bring good things to the city,” Sinwelski said. “I see very little urgency from elected officials to make living and working in Harvey easier and more pleasant. It’s just more of the status quo and that needs to change. ”

City council meeting time interferes with committees

A Harvey resident expressed concern on behalf of other citizens, urging the city to avoid scheduling committee meetings on the same day or evening as the City Council meetings.

For context: For years, alderpersons failed to hold committee meetings. That was a flashpoint in a larger criticism that they were lame ducks while gun violence flared and COVID-19 raged.