About one year ago, outside the Elks Club on Green Street in downtown Ithaca, 22-year-old Jamel Booker allegedly pulled out a long silver revolver as he got to his feet.
The allegations that a high-ranking Ithaca Police Department officer aided drug dealers stem from lawsuits that claim IPD racially discriminates against white officers — a crucial context that defenders of the embattled officer say has been missing from public discussions of the controversy.
A “personnel assessment” of recently maligned Lt. Marlon Byrd determined that the Ithaca Police officer is “fit to continue in his responsibilities” pending further investigation, Mayor Svante Myrick ’09 announced Wednesday. Byrd was placed on administrative leave for one day last week but has since returned to work.
Mayor Svante Myrick ’09 announced Friday that he will personally look into the investigation of Marlon Byrd, a lieutenant in the Ithaca Police Department who faces allegations that he had assisted drug dealers. The accusations arose during the arbitration of another IPD officer in 2010 and 2011.
State Police released the name Tuesday of the man who was shot and killed by Ithaca Police last week. Keith Shumway, a 20-year-old from Ithaca, was killed after he “violently attacked” another officer, police said.
Keri Blakinger ’11 pleaded guilty in February to third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance after admitting possession of more than four ounces of heroin.
The Ithaca Police Department charged and arrested James D. Marshall on Friday for first-degree burglary and first-degree attempted robbery at a Collegetown residence.
Ithaca native Amy Crockford’s police abuse and discrimination case against the Ithaca Police Department has been moved to the U.S. Federal District Court in Syracuse, based on a motion by the City of Ithaca.
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