New police hires have arrest histories

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill., June 29 (UPI) -- Some of the newest police officers in East St. Louis, Ill., have criminal records, and one of them took his oath having an outstanding warrant, officials said.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Sunday that one of the new recruits -- the son of Police Chief Michael Baxton -- had been released from the U.S. Army for misconduct.

Others have misdemeanor arrests, extensive traffic citations and multiple bankruptcies on their records.

City officials admit they rushed the screening process to try to get as many officers into the police academy as possible by July 1.

The city says it relied on its own investigations instead of waiting for Illinois State Police background checks, which the city received last week.

City Manager Robert Betts said one of the new hires has already been dismissed, and the city will get rid of any other officers during the one-year probation period if troubling information surfaces.

Isadore Chambers, chairman of the city's Police and Fire Board and a former East St. Louis police chief, said the city has learned from some of its mistakes.

"This is only going to help us on the next hiring list," Chambers said.