04262011 - Email To: Portage Mayor Velazquez, Portage Police Chief Becker - Unlawful police entry - Destruction of tape of my call to 911 -- Porter County Indiana -- Cause No. 64D01-0708-DR-7804





From:Renee' <sur5er1998@aol.com>
To:OVelazquez <OVelazquez@portage-in.com>; mbecker <mbecker@portage-in.com>
Subject:Re: Renee' Harrington= meeting
Date:Tue, Apr 26, 2011 3:16 pm






Mayor Velazquez
Chief Becker

I just spoke with [Ret] Deputy XXXX [via phone]. I read him this email, regarding your claim that he had difficulty recalling what he overheard on the police scanner on October 7th. He informed me that during his phone conversation with you yesterday, that he told you exactly what he overheard in regards to the officers' conversation regarding my ex having a large amount of money in a 401k Officer XXX stated: "there was more than enough money for him to pay you your settlement".

In regards to you questioning Deputy xxxx about my ex's abuse of my dogs: may I suggest that you talk with my daughter,  as they witnessed my ex's abuse and neglect of the dogs.

I told the officers who were on the scene on October 7th, that there was an audio tape at the Portage Prosecutor's office, of one of my ex's assaults against me and my dogs [May 2007]. I have a copy of that tape, that I can provide you.

But we are getting away from the issues here [by focusing on my ex's abuse of the dogs].

The issues are: what and who gave the Portage Police Department the right to ignore a criminal PPO against my ex [who also had a criminal conviction against him for violating the PPO/ threatening to kill me]; what and who gave the Portage PD the right to enforce a civil order as a criminal matter [which allowed my ex with the PD to enter my home and take my dogs]; what and who gave the Portage PD the right to ignore the September order for my ex to immediately pay me my property settlement, when they knew he had the funds available to him?

The Portage City Attorney knew about the October 7th incident. All six county judges knew about the October 7th incident. And somehow, before I contacted you, everyone is claiming that they knew nothing about this.

Now, after talking with Detective Vaughn, I have been informed that the tape of my 911 call on October 7th, may have been destroyed. It's as if anyone's recollection  or any record of what I endured on October 7th doesn't exist.

Renee' Harrington


04252011 - Email from Portage Mayor Olga Velazquez - RE: Contact with Attorney John Rhame, who spoke with officers involved in unlawful police entry -- Porter County Indiana -- Cause No. 64D01-0708-DR-7804




From:Olga Velazquez <OVelazquez@portage-in.com>
To:sur5er1998 <sur5er1998@aol.com>
Cc:Mark Becker <MBecker@portage-in.com>
Subject:Rhame contact
Date:Mon, Apr 25, 2011 11:29 am






I was able to speak with secretary instead of voice mail and learned that Mr. Rhame is on vacation will return tomorrow.  It explains why we haven’t heard from him.  We will be in touch with him tomorrow when he returns messages.

Olga Velazquez
Mayor



04252011 - Email From: Portage Mayor Velazquez - Investigation of unlawful police entry - Velazquez claims sheriff deputy who overheard police radio conversation on day of unlawful entry, now has memory problems -- Porter County Indiana -- Cause No. 64D01-0708-DR-7804


From:Olga Velazquez <OVelazquez@portage-in.com>
To:sur5er1998 <sur5er1998@aol.com>
Cc:Mark Becker <MBecker@portage-in.com>
Subject:FW: Renee' Harrington= meeting
Date:Mon, Apr 25, 2011 11:26 am






Dear Renee
I apologize if you thought I was not attending to your request.  As you can see from the e-mail change below, I forwarded your e-mail to the police chief for inquiry as soon as I read it on Monday morning.  He began to work on the issue.  He called Mr. Schick who had some difficulty remembering details of the case but stated that he did not believe the officers acted unprofessionally by what he recalled hearing on the scanner.  I am attempting to reach attorney John Rhame to see  if there is anything further he can add to this situation.  I will call you this afternoon to speak with you personally.

Sincerely,
Olga Velazquez
Mayor




04222011 - Email To: Portage Police Chief Becker - RE: Unlawful police entry -- Porter County Indiana -- Cause No. 64D01-0708-DR-7804

From: Renee' <sur5er1998@aol.com>
To: MBecker <MBecker@portage-in.com>
Subject: Fwd: Renee' Harrington= October 7th, 2010 police call
Date: Fri, Apr 22, 2011 9:34 am

Chief Becker,
Enclosed is an email that I sent Mayor Velazquez on Monday [April 18th]. I also faxed this email to the Mayor's office on Tuesday [April 19th]. And I called the Mayor's office on Thursday [April 21st]. 

The Mayor did not have the time, during the past week to contact me and let me know that she had received my email or that she was looking into the matter. The Mayor did however, during this same time, have the time to have a press conference regarding her re-election campaign [April 21st].

After what I endured at the hands of your officers on October 7th, it took me great courage to step forward. I did not go to the media...nor did I file a lawsuit. I turned to the city of Portage, hoping this could be worked out so I could get my dogs back and return home to Michigan.

I will add another twist to this: I am the one who blew the whistle on Magistrate Johnson. That investigation and the other complaints I had filed [which the Judiciar Commission was also reviewing], seem to have 'gone away', after this October 7th incident.

Please contact me ASAP. My work number is 219-XXX-XXXX [Portage Marathon].

Thank you for your time,
Renee' Harrington

Silence: the number one killer of victims of officer involved domestic violence.
http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/


-----Original Message-----
From: Renee' <sur5er1998@aol.com>
To: OVelazquez@portage-in.com
Sent: Mon, Apr 18, 2011 7:21 am
Subject: Renee' Harrington= meeting

Mayor Velazquez,

Would it be possible for you to set up a meeting to meet with me this week. I have Tuesday and Wednesday off from work this week.

This is an urgent matter, concerning an incident with your police department on October 07, 2010. City Attorney Rhame may be able to fill you in on this, as he talked to the officers at the scene of the incident and they refused to follow his direction / legal advice.

I did not come forward / file a complaint at the time, because the police had terrified me and I was afraid of what they would do to me if I reported this incident.

Please contact retired sheriff deputy John XXXX., and inquire as to what he overheard your officers discussing on the radio the day of October 7th [219-XXX-XXXX].Then contact attorney Rhame and ask him to check my divorce file and ask him to disclose to you what my ex claimed he had in available funds.

Again, I did not step forward / file a complaint, because I was terrified of what your officers would do to me.

Recently, I discovered that my ex is living in Portage. This terrifies me, as I work and live in Portage...and the October 7th incident with your officers has left me to believe that I have no protection against my ex.

The reason I am contacting you now, is that the Portage PD gave my ex my dogs [the dogs that he had previously abused and threatened to kill]. The officers told me I could not have my dogs and that I could only contact them "if they end up dead". Although I know where the dogs are now located, I do not have the right [per your officers] to obtain my dogs. I am terrified my dogs are being abused and I want to be reunited with my dogs / rescue them from my abusive ex.

Please contact Deputy XXXX. What he overheard your officers discussing on the radio will convince you and Rhame, that they did not have to handle the call the way they did. Your officers withheld information from you and the city attorney.

I would be interested to hear how you intend to correct this matter.

I can be contacted at work today: 219-XXX-XXXX.

Thank you for your time,

Renee' Harrington

04212011 - News Article - Portage candidates tout endorsements



Portage candidates tout endorsements
NWI Times
Apr 21, 2011
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/portage-candidates-tout-endorsements/article_f93551a8-b8cf-5590-a4b8-2990b6ac7030.html
PORTAGE | Two Portage mayoral candidates held press conferences Thursday afternoon touting endorsements.

Incumbent Democrat Mayor Olga Velazquez listed a litany of endorsements she has received from local unions during a brief announcement at the Ironworkers Local 395 offices.

Three hours later, Republican mayoral candidate James Snyder stood outside the Portage Police station accepting the endorsement of Portage Fraternal Order of Police 145.

Velazquez is vying for the Democratic nod May 3 against Clerk-Treasurer Donna Pappas and businessman John Barlow. Neither Pappas nor Barlow have received any endorsements. Snyder is unopposed in the May 3 Republican primary.

Velazquez received endorsements from Boilermakers Local 374, Plumbers Local 210, Bricklayers Local 4, IBEW 531, Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons 692, Indiana/Kentucky Regional Council of Carpenters 1406, Ironworkers 395, Millwright and Machinists Local 1043, Teamsters Local 142, Steelworkers Local 6787, Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council, Northwest Indiana Federation of Labor and Laborers Local 81.

"I have always respected a worker's right to be represented by a union, and I have embraced that during my time as mayor," she said.

While endorsing City Council candidates, the International Firefighters Association Local 3151 decided not to endorse a mayoral candidate, said political action chairman Tom Colvin. Operating Engineers 150, which represents street, sanitation and some utility department employees, has not announced endorsements.

Sgt. Joe Radic, president of the fraternal police organization, said the majority of the members voted to endorse Snyder.

Snyder criticized Velazquez in his acceptance speech for her decision to consolidate Portage 911 dispatch service into the Porter County service.

Snyder said the decision to consolidate was premature and has caused a series of problems. He said the move "put each resident, business, police officer and firefighter in the city in harm's way" and will not be a cost savings as initially stated.

"We are aware times are tough, but tough times are not the time to make poor decisions," Snyder said.

Velazquez defended her decision to consolidate the dispatch service, saying it was necessary and that Portage has a seat at the table now to improve dispatch services throughout the county.

"Portage residents don't just stay in Portage. Don't we want the same level of service in the county as we do in the city? It is an emotional issue, but I still believe it was the right choice," she said.

04202011 - Email To: Portage Mayor Olga Velazquez - From Portage Police Chief Becker - RE: Unlawful police entry -- Porter County Indiana -- Cause No. 64D01-0708-DR-7804



From: Mark Becker
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 11:49 PM
To: Olga Velazquez
Subject: RE: Renee' Harrington= meeting


 I sent you what Schick told me and Mr. Rhame has failed to return my request for a call  so as to discuss this, so I have nothing else to add--- sorry.

mjb


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








From:
Renee' <sur5er1998@aol.com>
To:
OVelazquez <OVelazquez@portage-in.com>; mbecker <mbecker@portage-in.com>
Subject:
Re: Renee' Harrington= meeting
Date:
Tue, Apr 26, 2011 3:16 pm






Mayor Velazquez
Chief Becker

I just spoke with [Ret] Deputy XXXX [via phone]. I read him this email, regarding your claim that he had difficulty recalling what he overheard on the police scanner on October 7th. He informed me that during his phone conversation with you yesterday, that he told you exactly what he overheard in regards to the officers' conversation regarding my ex having a large amount of money in a 401k Officer XXX stated: "there was more than enough money for him to pay you your settlement". ...





04182011 - Email To: Portage Mayor Olga Velazquez - RE: Unlawful police entry -- Porter County Indiana -- Cause No. 64D01-0708-DR-7804

-----Original Message-----
From: Renee' <sur5er1998@aol.com>
To: OVelazquez@portage-in.com
Sent: Mon, Apr 18, 2011 7:21 am
Subject: Renee' Harrington= meeting

Mayor Velazquez,

Would it be possible for you to set up a meeting to meet with me this week. I have Tuesday and Wednesday off from work this week.

This is an urgent matter, concerning an incident with your police department on October 07, 2010. City Attorney Rhame may be able to fill you in on this, as he talked to the officers at the scene of the incident and they refused to follow his direction / legal advice.

I did not come forward / file a complaint at the time, because the police had terrified me and I was afraid of what they would do to me if I reported this incident.

Please contact retired sheriff deputy John XXXX., and inquire as to what he overheard your officers discussing on the radio the day of October 7th [219-XXX-XXXX].Then contact attorney Rhame and ask him to check my divorce file and ask him to disclose to you what my ex claimed he had in available funds.

Again, I did not step forward / file a complaint, because I was terrified of what your officers would do to me.

Recently, I discovered that my ex is living in Portage. This terrifies me, as I work and live in Portage...and the October 7th incident with your officers has left me to believe that I have no protection against my ex.

The reason I am contacting you now, is that the Portage PD gave my ex my dogs [the dogs that he had previously abused and threatened to kill]. The officers told me I could not have my dogs and that I could only contact them "if they end up dead". Although I know where the dogs are now located, I do not have the right [per your officers] to obtain my dogs. I am terrified my dogs are being abused and I want to be reunited with my dogs / rescue them from my abusive ex.

Please contact Deputy XXXX. What he overheard your officers discussing on the radio will convince you and Rhame, that they did not have to handle the call the way they did. Your officers withheld information from you and the city attorney.

I would be interested to hear how you intend to correct this matter.

I can be contacted at work today: 219-XXX-XXXX.

Thank you for your time,
Renee' Harrington




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