Battle Creek Police Chief Jackie Hampton said Thursday he is seeking an FBI probe of his department in light of allegations of wrongdoing made by a city commissioner. Commissioner Jeffrey Domenico formally requested an investigation of corruption in the department by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette; when the request was denied, Domenico went to Michigan State Police, who have not responded to his complaint.
In a split vote, the Battle Creek City Commission has given its final approval to new ward lines that will be in effect for the city election later this year. The vote Tuesday was 7-2 with most commissioners supporting a map presented by city staff that made two significant changes to account for populations shifts recorded in the 2010 census.
For more than two hours Monday the Battle Creek City Commission and 100 residents talked about crime and the police department. "I think we got a lot of issues on the table and sometimes you have to do that," Mayor Susan Baldwin said after adjournment. "We heard different sides and concerns."
The city of Battle Creek could take on $16 million in new debt to pay for a wide range of projects around downtown, in various parks and at other sites.
Crime - real or imagined - is on the table at a Battle Creek city commission workshop Monday. The commission will discuss not just crime in the city but the perception of crime in the city, according to City Manager Ken Tsuchiyama. "The plan is to talk about some of the rankings like from Forbes and NeighborhoodScout."
