Meeting on Chester police urges officer's suspension

Chester residents met with community and local legislative leaders last night to let them know how they felt about their police department - the good and the bad.

The meeting at St. Luke Community Christian Church, hosted by the Chester chapter of the NAACP, was called to address recent alleged incidents of police misconduct. It also was held to ask that one officer facing three federal lawsuits be suspended pending the outcome of an independent investigation. About 40 people attended.

Darrell Jones, host and president of the Chester NAACP, asked for a civilian review board.

"We can no longer let the police police themselves," he said. "It is not working."

Officer Joshua Dewees, the subject of the lawsuits alleging misconduct, is on active duty but not on the street, according to city officials.

"Every now and then you get a bad element," Pastor Charles Weatherly of Grace Church of God said. "That is what we are dealing with tonight."

Weatherly went on to praise the department, with the exception of Dewees.

In December 2007, Weatherly watched as Dewees arrested Gerald Turner, 52, of Bear, Del., a member of the pastor's congregation, who later filed one of the lawsuits. Weatherly also was threatened with arrest that day.

"The remarks I got and the disrespect I got were uncalled for," he said.

Mayor Wendell Butler told the group that while he would not comment on existing litigation, he would not tolerate any violations of department policy. He said every member of the police force was required to attend sensitivity training.

Police Chief Floyd Lewis said his department would look into any complaint that came to the police's attention.

Yesterday afternoon, two small groups protested in front of the police headquarters. One group was there to ask that Dewees be immediately suspended; members of the other held signs reading, "Support Officer Dewees."

Dewees, who was at the gathering wearing a white medical knee brace, had no comment about the lawsuits.

"I personally feel this is shenanigans against an officer of good moral fiber," said George Oronzio, a member of the Bullets Motorcycle Club from Philadelphia.