REP. BOBBY RUSH SENDS LETTER OF INQUIRY TO POLICE CHIEF JODY WEIS IN JAHMESHIA CONNER HOMICIDE

CHICAGO – Today, Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL01) released the following letter to Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis regarding the death investigation of 12-year-old Jahmeshia Conner:

December 2, 2009
Police Superintendent Jody Weis
Chicago Police Department
3510 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653

VIA FACSIMILE: 312-745-6963

Dear Supt. Weis:

I am disturbed by the murder of 12-year-old Jahmeshia Conner. I am even more disturbed by revelations that her family pleaded with officers not to classify her as a runaway when the initial missing persons report was filed on November 15, yet she ended up being classified in this manner anyway. The family and many others believe that had the Chicago Police Department (CPD) made this child’s disappearance a high priority from the beginning that perhaps her life might have been saved. 

Therefore, please consider this a formal inquiry into the matters surrounding the investigation of the disappearance of Jahmeshia Conner. Specifically, I want to know why the CPD labeled Jahmeshia as a runaway, giving the impression that her disappearance was voluntary, rather than issuing an AMBER alert which would have effectively rallied the community and media to help locate this child. I also want to know how many AMBER alerts has CPD initiated in the last five years, who the victims were and what the outcomes were in those cases.

A city can be measured by many things. Most telling among them is how it protects its children. I look forward to your immediate response to this inquiry. Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to call me.  I can be reached in my office at 202-225-4372 or 773-224-6500.

Sincerely,

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