Friday, June 20, 2008

Cop arrested

Coatesville police officer Claude J. Simpkins was arrested for allegedly assaulting a 17-year-old boy whom he believed had been selling drugs near the cop's Westtown home.

Click here for the story. To check out a copy of criminal complaint, visit Jennifer Miller's Chester County Cops blog.

Labels:

21 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Isn't this great! One of Bills first hires for the new and compassionate police force is arrested for assaulting a minor. This is another example of the lack of experience and utter lack of judgement that Matthews brings to Coatesville.

June 20, 2008 5:58 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Too bad he isn't beating the drug dealers in Coatesville....Maybe then we could less about getting shot in our homes.

June 21, 2008 5:08 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Too bad he doesn't live in Coatesville. That's part of the problem. It's just a job for most of them. If police and city officials were actually required to live in the city they would have a vested interest in keeping the city safe.

That's the difference between the old Coatesville that was a decent town and the Coatesville of today. Back then police officers lived within the city limits. They not only made the city safe for the residents but also for their own families. Now it's just a job and that's why you can see Coatesville police cars sitting at places outside the city limits practically anytime of the night or day. All the while drugs and crime run rampant throughout the city.

June 21, 2008 12:19 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How many of you that post here are police officers? I'm not but I know many of them and have some knowledge of the criminal system, it just isn't that easy. Putting the street dealers away only does so much, I agree that something needs to be done but I don't see how a residency requirement is the answer. I could be wrong but I think it's kind of offensive to say that the officers in the Police Department don't care about their jobs and treat it as such. The Police Department is out manned, out gunned, and with the current chief they are mismanaged!

June 21, 2008 6:17 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

6:17
You are right. The police dept. is out manned and out gunned, and will probably remain so until they are managed by someone other than Matthews. Coatesville needs a real cop as chief of police.

June 22, 2008 7:52 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Once again here we go with the residency mandate. I am not a police officer but know many of them. The veteran police officers that the city has now of had in the past were more involved in the city and youth outside of their regular shifts. Many could be seen coaching football or baseball among other activities. You like this residency requirement and Matthews lives in the city but could probably pack, move , and break his month to month lease and be out of town in a matter of hours. Other real cops have roots in the Coatesville area and many have grown up here. Interesting how Matthews was supposed to bring community policing to the city and the cops are so under staffed that they do none of that because of staffing issues. But hey, Shenck says he is great, I don't see it moron.

June 22, 2008 10:08 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everybody make sure that you don't jaywalk on Lincoln hwy. It's now illegal! that means all you folks that are carrying drugs or guns or have a warrant out for yourself better cross the street at the corner to avoid getting busted for something. I love it!

June 22, 2008 7:48 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jay Walking has always been illegal, just never enforced.
As for living in the City, that is ridiculous. I would not want to be a Police officer who just arrested gang members or drug dealers, to have there buddies to come to my house for who knows what with my family there. And when I leave my job to go home I liked to try not to think about work as much as possible, they would have neighbors constantly harrasing them off duty about petty things.
Think about it.

June 22, 2008 8:21 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So much for the emergency hires! This is what happens when you circumvent the civil service process. I'll bet this guy would not have made the list. Way to go Chief Mathews, and the "new civil service commission", Kevin Gill, Linda Lavender and all the idiots on Council that allowed this to happen. Go Coatesville!!! Sure makes me proud!!

June 23, 2008 4:49 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Coatesville, what a joke! You do not need compassionate police in Coatesville, what you need to do is get rid of these animals that live ther

June 23, 2008 10:27 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well I applaud the officer. I think anyone of you would do the same to protect your home and family. I would. As for the police force in Coatesville they have a very hard job and since I live in "da hood" I have met many of them and they have all been very nice and very competent. My best to them.

June 24, 2008 4:53 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why is it it that this officer is already perceived as being guilty. The facts of the case have not even been heard. Right now it is only an allegation and a one sided story and the truth WILL come out. Give the guy a break, put yourself in his shoes for one moment. If the people of Coatesville would take his stance about the illegal activity that is around thier homes maybe Coatesville would not be such a drug infested dump.

If this was a local drug dealer people would be saying that it is a setup and the cops planted drugs on him.

The truth will come soon, and when it does I hope you negative posters recind your comments.
In talking to several people the whole investigation was shottie at best.
The best criminal lawyers in the county are already talking about this case.

Ofc Simkins if you read this dont give up the fight, I have met you and this is totally wrong.

June 24, 2008 10:43 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Any officer knows that you don't take the law into your own hands. There are proper channels that everyone should follow. Lt. Gordon was suspended by Matthews for speaking up to him, and I want to see how he handles one of his new hires who has done what everyone knows is wrong. It all comes down to judgement and I feel good judgement is something Matthews is lacking.

June 24, 2008 8:16 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yea speaking of Lt.Gordon going to be a year in july and he is still off work getting paid. I hope he has a big SURPRISE coming for Mr. Matthews. Who was totally WRONG. Can't wait to see how that pans out. Hope you are enjoying you long vacation with your new addition Lt. Gordon. Best of luck keeping my fingers crossed for you.

June 25, 2008 9:53 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

8:16 you are speaking without knowing all the facts. Why dont you just wait till it all comes out then pass judgement! I think you will be surprised.

June 25, 2008 2:21 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey 8.16 What do you mean every officer knows that you dont take the law in your hands? Police officers are just that police officers, 24-7 on duty and off duty. A crime was committed in the presence of this officer and this officer took police action, just as every offcer better do, they took an oath do to that.
Failure to take action in a police matter would be more detrimental to the officer and would open the door for a law suit!!!

June 25, 2008 2:27 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To 2:21 & 2:27

Both of you should read the " Affidavit of probable cause" filed by the arresting officer. No where did Officer Simpkins state that he witnessed a crime. Nowhere did he say that he ID-ed himself as a police officer. He was acting as a private citizen and it is a crime to assault anyone. PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!

June 25, 2008 2:52 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

to 2:52

your an idiot.

June 30, 2008 10:18 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To 10:18 PM

I can see how intelligent you are, you spelled two of your three words correctly. It should be YOU'RE not YOUR But that's okay you probably went to Coatesville schools.

July 1, 2008 2:42 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I heard that the new cop that got charged and now was forced to quit by Matthews was a decent guy, he just doesn't take any crap. I also heard that one of the other new hires has several complaints against him (already) for trying to pick up young girls, but they just blew that off as hogwash! you figure it out!

July 1, 2008 5:42 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To 2:42, I resent the comment about Coatesville schools. I went to school in C'ville all my 12 years, and am very well educated, as are most of the people in C'ville.

August 25, 2008 5:45 AM 

Post a Comment

<< Home