Former Lieutenant Phil Yerington has decided to fight the good fight in district court in hopes of overturning the Davenport Police Department's (DPD) decision to terminate his employment as a police officer after 32 years of public service.
This article is part two of an in-depth look at the Davenport Civil Rights Commission's (DCRC) complaint process through the case of Inglore Nabb versus David Botsko. (See "Prosecutor, Judge, & Jury," Issue 503, November 17-23, 2004.
Nearly two weeks ago Davenport city officials received the Isle of Capri/Rhythm City Casino (IOC) draft development agreement for a hotel facility on downtown Davenport's riverfront. The controversial project has now moved from the "concept" stage to a draft proposal stage.
When David Botsko received a letter from the Davenport Civil Rights Commission (DCRC) dated March 16, 2000, notifying him that a former employee was suing him for discrimination and harassment, he could not have predicted that, nearly five years and approximately $40,000 later, he would still be defending his claim of innocence against a system that appears to simultaneously endow the DCRC with the powers and authority of a prosecutor, judge, and jury.
Last week, the Channel 6 newscast managed perhaps one of the most irresponsible pieces of local journalism this editor has witnessed to date. The news item dealt with ex-police officer Phil Yerington and the "uncovering of his record" relative to his being fired several weeks prior.
Now that the election is over, citizens can re-focus on the more immediate local issues that require their attention. Most important is the looming yet-to-be-officially-proposed-but-secretly-discussed-with-elected-officials "concept" of an 11-story casino hotel on downtown Davenport's limited riverfront.
Our 500th issue! No question about it, it has been a labor of love from the beginning. A love of what? It might sound trite to say, but "truth" would be our faithful answer. To a person, the staff at the River Cities' Reader reflects an inherent goodness, a sense of fair play, and a commitment to the truth, individual as it may be, that binds us together in this endeavor to publish a paper that has substance and relevance.
This year's general election includes the race between incumbent Dennis Conard and former Davenport mayor Phil Yerington for Scott County sheriff. Both candidates boast long-term careers in criminal justice. The sheriff's office has four primary areas of responsibility: jail management, courthouse security, service of all court orders, and rural-community policing.
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It confounds me that many city leaders are framing the issue of a new casino hotel on Davenport's downtown riverfront as a remedy for the current riverboat casino facility, specifically the porte cochere that connects to the boat.

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