Latest news with #KristinePhillips
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Here are 7 things you need to know about the 'Lawless' investigation by IndyStar
"Lawless," a new IndyStar investigation by reporter Kristine Phillips and visual journalist Mykal McEldowney, pulled back the curtain on decades-old police misconduct in Elkhart and the lingering impact on the department and the city's Black community. Here are seven things you need to know about the investigation. Wolverines was a nickname taken by a group of young, aggressive, White police officers who worked in Elkhart in the 1980s and 1990s. There was no official roster or membership list, but Phillips and McEldowney identified at least eight former offices — all with histories of misconduct — including one who went on to become the northern Indiana community's police chief. Some regarded them as the "future of the department," a former police captain said. Another described them as a "gang in blue" that operated like "special ops." The IndyStar investigation revealed they systematically targeted the Black community for harassment and bogus arrests. Former officers said the Wolverines were known for using excessive force — part of a broader culture of brutality that a former police captain said "everybody took pride in." Some espoused racist beliefs and used slurs against people of color. No. Former officers said the police department's management at that time often turned a blind eye on misconduct. A 1994 report by two outside policing experts found that condoning the bad behavior of a few bad apples has become "ingrained" in the agency's culture. The agency also faced dozens of lawsuits and even more citizen complaints alleging use of excessive force by officers — including by those identified as part of the Wolverines. But internal affairs investigations into those complaints often cleared officers of wrongdoing. Lawsuits were often settled: Accusers receive small to modest payouts. Allegations go away. Officers face minor, if any, consequences. None of the eight former officers identified as being affiliated with the Wolverines are with the police force at this time. The city is still paying a heavy price for the unchecked behavior of the small band of officers and the broader culture of misconduct they helped create. Six people have been exonerated in Elkhart, a city of about 53,000 people. The city's liability insurance carriers have so far agreed to pay nearly $27 million to settle allegations that detectives fabricated evidence and used false witnesses to frame people for crimes they did not commit. In at least one of the cases, officers identified as part of the Wolverines were part of the investigation that led to wrongful conviction. Four more wrongful conviction claims are pending in Elkhart County courts. Three are still in prison. Mayor Rod Roberson, speaking on behalf of the city and police department, said he can't answer for decades-old misconduct allegations against officers no longer on the force. Use of excessive force should not be allowed to happen, he said. Racism and bigotry "were wrong then and are wrong today." "Misconduct is not tolerated in today's Elkhart Police Department," said Roberson, who became the city's first Black mayor in 2019. He said officials have worked hard in recent years to build a strong relationship with the community, and to train officers on de-escalation and cultural relations. He added that his administration has held officers accountable for bad behavior. For Black residents, years of abuse and enduring prejudices are hard to forget. "Those people that this happened to 30 years ago, they had kids and grandkids. Those stories have been passed on throughout the community. Our Black community doesn't trust us," said a current Elkhart police officer who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from colleagues. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Here are 7 things to know about the 'Lawless' investigation by IndyStar
Indianapolis Star
30-04-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Here are 7 things you need to know about the 'Lawless' investigation by IndyStar
Show Caption "Lawless," a new IndyStar investigation by reporter Kristine Phillips and visual journalist Mykal McEldowney, pulled back the curtain on decades-old police misconduct in Elkhart and the lingering impact on the department and the city's Black community. Here are seven things you need to know about the investigation. Who are the Wolverines? Wolverines was a nickname taken by a group of young, aggressive, White police officers who worked in Elkhart in the 1980s and 1990s. There was no official roster or membership list, but Phillips and McEldowney identified at least eight former offices — all with histories of misconduct — including one who went on to become the northern Indiana community's police chief. Some regarded them as the " future of the department," a former police captain said. Another described them as a " gang in blue" that operated like "special ops." What did the Wolverines do? The IndyStar investigation revealed they systematically targeted the Black community for harassment and bogus arrests. Former officers said the Wolverines were known for using excessive force — part of a broader culture of brutality that a former police captain said "everybody took pride in." Some espoused racist beliefs and used slurs against people of color. Were any of the officers identified as Wolverines held accountable? No. Former officers said the police department's management at that time often turned a blind eye on misconduct. A 1994 report by two outside policing experts found that condoning the bad behavior of a few bad apples has become "ingrained" in the agency's culture. The agency also faced dozens of lawsuits and even more citizen complaints alleging use of excessive force by officers — including by those identified as part of the Wolverines. But internal affairs investigations into those complaints often cleared officers of wrongdoing. Lawsuits were often settled: Accusers receive small to modest payouts. Allegations go away. Officers face minor, if any, consequences. Are any of the Wolverines still on the police force? None of the eight former officers identified as being affiliated with the Wolverines are with the police force at this time. Why report on this now? The city is still paying a heavy price for the unchecked behavior of the small band of officers and the broader culture of misconduct they helped create. Six people have been exonerated in Elkhart, a city of about 53,000 people. The city's liability insurance carriers have so far agreed to pay nearly $27 million to settle allegations that detectives fabricated evidence and used false witnesses to frame people for crimes they did not commit. In at least one of the cases, officers identified as part of the Wolverines were part of the investigation that led to wrongful conviction. Four more wrongful conviction claims are pending in Elkhart County courts. Three are still in prison. What do Elkhart officials have to say? Mayor Rod Roberson, speaking on behalf of the city and police department, said he can't answer for decades-old misconduct allegations against officers no longer on the force. Use of excessive force should not be allowed to happen, he said. Racism and bigotry "were wrong then and are wrong today." "Misconduct is not tolerated in today's Elkhart Police Department," said Roberson, who became the city's first Black mayor in 2019. He said officials have worked hard in recent years to build a strong relationship with the community, and to train officers on de-escalation and cultural relations. He added that his administration has held officers accountable for bad behavior. Why is the Black community still wary of police? For Black residents, years of abuse and enduring prejudices are hard to forget. "Those people that this happened to 30 years ago, they had kids and grandkids. Those stories have been passed on throughout the community. Our Black community doesn't trust us," said a current Elkhart police officer who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from colleagues.
Indianapolis Star
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
IndyStar's May lineup includes major police investigation, Indy 500 exclusives. Subscribe today
It's almost May in Indianapolis, and IndyStar has big plans for one of our busiest months. With Indiana's 2025 legislative session wrapped, it's time to turn our focus to the end of the school year and spring sports, the start of the Indiana Fever's highly anticipated season, the Indianapolis 500 and what we all hope will be a long playoff run by the Indianapolis Pacers. IndyStar will be there for all of it, capturing the highs and lows of spring in Central Indiana. But we'll also publish a number of stories that have been months, and even years, in the making. From a powerful investigation into police misconduct in northern Indiana to the tale of a local folk legend, we'll deliver unparalleled, exclusive storytelling in the month ahead. IndyStar subscribers will have unlimited access to each of these planned stories, videos and photo galleries, along with the rest of our award-winning local journalism. Visit to sign up for unlimited access today. I hope you'll find these examples of our best local journalism as fulfilling to read and watch as we've found them to report. Lawless: A three-year investigation of racism and police brutality in Elkhart Decades after D.C. Stephenson's Ku Klux Klan revived the Horse Thief Detective Agency to enforce its hateful agenda, a rogue band of police officers in Elkhart authored another bleak and costly chapter in Indiana's interconnected history of policing, power and race. These young, White and aggressive officers — they called themselves Wolverines — turned Elkhart's Black neighborhoods into their sadistic playground in the 1980s and '90s. Court records and interviews detail officers competing to see how many arrests they could make during overnight shifts and heading to the neighborhoods with the expressed intent to "kick some ass." Department leadership, officers told IndyStar, too often turned a blind eye to the Wolverines' brutal tactics. To date, Elkhart's liability insurance carriers have paid nearly $27 million to settle allegations of misconduct leading to wrongful imprisonment. A deep distrust of policing remains in the city's Black community. IndyStar investigative reporter Kristine Phillips and visual journalist Mykal McEldowney spent part of three years on Lawless, our multipart series on the damage wrought by these rogue police and the lasting impacts on those they bullied, beat and wrongfully imprisoned. Lawless publishes Tuesday at and in the May 4 print edition. The legend of 'Mr. First in Line', the Arizona junkman who became an Indy 500 icon Penske, Unser, Foyt, Castroneves. Indianapolis 500 fans know the names who made the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" the cultural phenomenon it is today. But how about Chuck Lynn. How about Larry Bisceglia? You might know the latter as "Mr. First in Line." From 1950 to 1987, Bisceglia was the first fan to line up for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway gates to open. IndyStar's McEldowney spent months interviewing those who knew Bisceglia to tell the story of how this "salt of the earth" junkyard worker from Arizona became an Indy 500 icon. IndyStar sports reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow partnered with McEldowney to write the story that accompanies an 11-minute documentary on Bisceglia's unique place in Indy 500 lore. Here's an excerpt: "Every spring as the wildflowers began to sprout, turning the earthy tones of the landscape into bright colorful splendor, Bisceglia would set off in his van and drift far away, a long, 30-hour trek 1,900 miles away, to the place he loved most. And when he would arrive at his beloved Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Bisceglia would transform into an outright superstar." "Mr. First in Line" will publish in early May at Let's talk for a moment about Indy 500 fashion, which tends to be more John Cena than Giorgio Armani. Then you have IMS and IndyCar President Doug Boles, nattily dressed and seemingly everywhere in May. More than once, our news staff has asked, "How many suits must that man have?" Later this May, Hunsinger Benbow will attempt to answer that question in what should be a fun read for any Indy 500 fan. Thanks for letting me give you a taste of what's on deck this May at IndyStar. If you already support our work to keep Indianapolis and Central Indiana informed, thank you. If you'd like to support us and receive unlimited access to these stories and everything we publish, please visit today.
