Minister Wants Sheriff's "Victims" To Testify

Minister Wants Sheriff’s ‘Victims’ To Testify

A plea that any investigation of Sheriff Douglas J. Harvey's conduct in office include testimony from his "victims” was made to the County Board of Supervisors yesterday by a local Unitarian minister.

The Rev. Erwin A. Gaede, who previously tangled with the sheriff over the use of the jail's incorrigible cell, asked to address the supervisors to “speak in favor of a grand jury

investigation of the sheriff and his conduct."

Although board leaders, Chairman Robert M. Harrison and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Fred Lunde, both commented that the circuit judges were more appropriate to address the subject of a pending petition for a grand jury, the supervisors voted 17 to 12 to listen to Gaede.

After reading The News' report that the supervisors had voted in the morning to interrogate Harvey in several areas as recommended by state Attorney General Frank J. Kelley, Gaede commended the county board.

Gaede said the dispute over the use of the incorrigible cell had been over an issue. He said he and the other involved had hoped that things would "quiet down" after that, but that "it is

appalling to realize what has been happening.” He referred to Harvey’s relationship with his deputies as well as to criticisms from outside the department.

The minister said the critics in the cell dispute had "tried to stay above personal attacks, but now the sheriff’s personality is the issue.”

He said he appeared before the board at the request of a

woman who called him in the morning about alleged mistreatment of her nephew in the jail. Gaede said he seeks an "opportunity for persons who have been victims of the sheriff to testify. People who have been in jail should have the right to tell what has been happening,” he said.

Gaede also called on the community and the sheriff to “raise their sights as to what is the purpose of a jail.” He cited programs in the Genesee County Jail where inmates can finish high school, have group therapy and learn trades such as drafting.

"We should try to view a

prisoner as a person, a person who needs help, and not just to cast around in society."

Harrison responded, "It will be necessary for people to

make specific charges and to be able to prove them. They should take their information to the circuit judges, particularly the presiding judge, James R. Breakey Jr. We hope that if there are things that should be known, people will come forward.”

The judges still have before them the petition for a grand jury which was filed by former deputy Carl Koch, and the eventual decision on whether to hold one will be made by them. Attorney General Kelley, who investigated at the judges’ request, has recommended not calling one and also suggested the interrogation by the supervisors.