There is an article about Matt Gordon and his new position in the West Pikeland Police Department. "Ex-Coatesville cop takes on new role in West Pikeland":
http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/08/19/news/srv0000006155363.txt
First off let me explain that, I don't think that Richard Legree was directly involved with drug trafficking, let's just say I think he "called some of the shots".
District Attorney Joe Carroll said that Lt. Matt Gordon is one of the most knowledgeable investigators of drug trafficking and the individuals involved in Chester County. I believe that when Walker and Matthews took him out of operation it was a cause for celebration among Chester County drug traffickers.
At the about same time Matthews proposed laying off at least 6 officers, eliminating the Detective Division and Narcotics Division. After the police began leaving the Coatesville PD there was an almost immediate reaction by the local drug traffickers; gunshots were heard here almost every day. I received word that drug dealers from Philly moved into Coatesville. The word was “business is good again in C’ville”.
I believe that plans to eliminate Lieutenant Gordon were in operation well before Matthews started in Coatesville. I think that Richard Legree planned to step into the Coatesville PD as a Lieutenant and considering Gordon's importance in the prosecution of drug trafficking I think it was killing two birds with one stone. I think the plan was; after Legree was a police Lieutenant for some time Matthews would retire and Legree would be Chief of the Coatesville PD. I believe that a plan B was for Legree to run for Coatesville District Court.
This is part of one of the news records concerning the hiring of Matthews:
From the Daily Local News Friday, October 3, 2008:
“The motivation behind Matthews' decision to place Gordon on inactive duty becomes murkier when applying information from a Philadelphia police officer who competed with Matthews for the Coatesville chief position.
Following the appointment of Matthews, Philadelphia Lt. Joel Fitzgerald said the city offered him the chief position and the city drafted a contract.
During the interview process, Fitzgerald said City Manager Harry Walker and prominent resident Richard Legree informed him that, as chief, he would need to fire one of the city's two lieutenants. Fitzgerald never identified the lieutenant.
Fitzgerald said that when he made clear he wanted complete control over department staffing, the city passed on Fitzgerald and instead hired Matthews.
The city has denied any wrongdoing.”
The full article is here:
http://www.dailylocal.com/article/DL/20081003/TMP01/310039976
I think this is not over and we may be hearing much more about it.
Live recordings from the Coatesville City Council February 22, 2007 Two hundred police officers and police officials attended that meeting.
“I need Matt Gordon back” DA Joe Carroll
Joe was responding to Coatesville City Councilperson Kurt Schenk. Joe Carroll is a very easy going person. Joe’s hands were shaking as he said this. I have never before or since seen Chester County Joe Carroll as angry as he was that evening.
Ed Simpson going head to head with Harry Walker at the Coatesville City Council meeting
Ed Simpson, “People are getting hurt in this community and it’s because we don’t have enough police officers and it’s time for it to stop. Harry Walker’s response was, “we had no intention to let police go in the City of Coatesville, it was said publicly it was said privately it was said thorough the Daily Local there are no plans to let police go in the City of Coatesville.
16 minutes 47 seconds
Listen here:
I believe Walker was lying.
There is proof in writing in a letter from Chief Matthews to District Attorney Joe Carroll dated May 18, 2007 William H Matthews Chief of Police City of Coatesville, ”I have been told that personnel reductions in the police department must be made. I am confident that the City Council is aware of this situation…Because of the lay-off we will lose six (6) patrol officers.”
This is what Joe Carroll reacted to; Kurt Scheck:
“Mr. Matthews, if nobody elsein this room supports you I will support you…Our department before you came here was a mess…For too long the old boy network has been going on here… soon as you were hired I can’t tell me how many people come up to me and said, your police department is not going to work for a black chief… well our City is 70% black and if they are not willing to work for a black chief then they need to go someplace else; because they’re working in the wrong community. They need go someplace else.”
4 minutes, 6 seconds
Listen here:
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