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Published:Monday, October 6, 2008
LIBERTY — More than five months worth of investigations into how police responded to calls for help the night 87-year-old Mary Rush died have ended and the verdict is in.
“The evidence gathered by the committee revealed significant errors made by the dispatcher as well as errors in judgment made by the individual officers. More importantly, the exploration of this incident has revealed significant problems with supervision and training within the Liberty Township Police Department,” the report said.
Rush, 87, of Mansell Drive, was found on her front porch, unconscious with severe cuts, just after 7 a.m. April 28. The porch area was covered in blood, and a large rock was found by a nearby broken window.
Her leg was broken and caught in the railing leading to the porch. Township police have since determined that Rush locked herself out and was cut trying to gain entry to the house.
Police checked the area by car twice in the early hours when Rush likely would have been outside, after a neighbor complained of someone crying out outside — but they did not find her.
Township trustees commissioned an independent review of the police department’s response to and investigation of the 911 call before the discovery of Rush.
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.
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This is all that is made public after almost 6 months ? How about the names of the people involved and what their roles were. Moreover, why do I have to go to the administration building to view this report ? This involved a major injustice to a senior citizen of our community. Have we not learned anything ? Many senior citizens who may be interested in viewing this report may be homebound and unable to find a way to the home of the esteemed trustees. How about publishing it in a local newspaper or at least putting it on the internet. Just a thought. Let the entire truth come out no matter who may be offended.
The old lady did not have to die - Liberty should be held financially responsible for her death. The police did NOT do their job. Now the report is in coverup mode.
agreed, the officers responsible, as well as the dispatcher and the township and its police department should all be sued for millions by the family of this woman. A woman died because officers decided it was too cold to get out of their cushy squadcar. What a joke.
I disagree. The article states that the "Police checked the area by car twice in the early hours when Rush likely would have been outside, after a neighbor complained of someone crying out outside — but they did not find her."
Why didn't the person who called get more involved? The problem is this devout belief that the "government" should deliver perfect security and sound solutions to all public problems.
Tugboat, even the government report said that the officers and dispatcher dropped the ball. Why would a private citizen who might fear and not know what is possibly happening with a neighbor moaning outside risk their life to check it out? Don't we pay for protection?
Checking the area by car? Come on, that's pathetic police protection.
Tugboat please, an 87 year old woman whimpering for help. An officer is going to hear that over the engine of the cruiser? The dispatch radio chirping every few seconds? I don't think "perfect" security is even a factor here. The police were sent to investigate, and did a piss poor job of it. While I honor your right to disagree, you couldn't be more dead wrong in my opinion. If it was your grandmother, would you still be defending the police for doing what they did to assist? Or would you be on the evening news chastizing the police for lazily not getting out of their car?
Apollo, whatever happened to Sir Robert Peel's concept of community policing? Furthermore, I am personally aware of cases involving the elderly where they refused services offered by Adult Protective Services which prevents situations from evolving into what happened here. Finally, I thought you were on the fence about 'paying for protection?'
Tugboat would you be singing the same tune, about it if this was your family member? You are being very disrespectful to the lady and her family by what you are saying. Put yourself in the same role with your family. The police did need to get out of their car and go look. This would be the same if a person called said there is a person trying to kick in my front door, the police come, shine the light on my front porch, see noone there and leave. Come on give me a break! This woman did not have to die, and police should be held responsible!
I'd have to agree with Tugboat. Yes, there is always the chance that when you get involved your putting yourself in danger, but a person only gets one life and if I can attempt to save that persons life you better believe that I'm going to go out there and attempt to help.
Tugboat, Liberty IS paying for protection! So IS Boardman. In fact, Boardman IS paying much more than Liberty for protection.
But, at 3am, I doubt many residents would go out and check on a moaning noise. But, at least the resident called police (twice) who are paid to investigate such "noises". Riding around in the car and claiming all to be safe, is pathetic at best and criminal at worst. The final report speaks for itself. If this is the best police protection we are paying for, then we are paying way too much!
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