Copyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
By FRANK MAIN and FRAN SPIELMAN
Chicago Sun Times
The head of the Chicago firefighters union is calling for screening buyers of firefighters memorial license plates after learning two felons killed last week by a Chicago Police officer had them on their pickup trucks.
The families of Kenneth Elrod and Demetri Centera would not say why the men — plumbers — had the plates. But some officers speculate the men — reputed gang members with arrest records — thought the plates would discourage police from pulling them over.
Union President John Chwarzynski said anyone can buy the plates, which financially support a memorial in Springfield. “It’s a wonderful cause,” he said. “I’m angry felons would be utilizing the fire department memorial to benefit themselves in some way.”
A total of $27 goes to the memorial for every plate purchased. Chwarzynski said he did not want to deter contributions, “but we don’t want bad people using these plates for improper motives. There should be a screening process, maybe a form. Who is this individual? Do they have a family member who is a firefighter? Are they involved in charitable organizations like the Gold Badge Society?”
NO SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
Elrod had felony burglary and drug convictions. Centera had a felony drug conviction, court records show.
Dave Druker, a spokesman for Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, said, “If anyone has some issues, we would be glad to listen.” He emphasized that the plates do not entitle the user to any special consideration by the police.
In 2001, the secretary of state’s office responded to police complaints that Prevent Violence plates were being used by gang members because the license numbers were smaller than on regular plates, making them harder for police to see. The license numbers were enlarged to the size of those on regular plates, said Beth Kaufman, a spokeswoman for the office.
On Monday, an attorney for the families of Elrod and Centera filed a lawsuit against the city to preserve 911 tapes and other evidence in the case for a possible lawsuit.
Police sources said off-duty officer Edward Yerke shot the men after they pulled up to his Hummer and pointed weapons at him.
Earlier, Yerke was at the Magic Touch bar with other off-duty officers when women who knew they were cops asked them to get Elrod to stop bothering them, sources said. The officers escorted Elrod out of the bar and he vowed to return, the sources said.
Elrod left, picked up Centera and returned in his truck, sources said. Elrod followed Yerke’s car from the bar to a red light at Kilpatrick and Belmont, where Yerke shot the men in self-defense, police said. Police said the shootings followed policy for the use of deadly force.
SEEKING EVIDENCE
The lawsuit, filed by attorney Gregory Kulis, seeks any 911 calls by Yerke, Elrod or Centera for ambulance service.
Kulis claimed police held Elrod’s wife for six hours as a witness and did not tell her she was free to leave. Kulis said he has filed a complaint against a sergeant on duty at the time.
Police insisted Elrod’s wife cooperated willingly with the investigation. She allegedly told a prosecutor that her husband came home and said, “I’m not going to let anyone get away with this,” grabbed two guns, called Centera for help and left, police said.
Kulis said he is checking if a surveillance camera looking from an apartment building onto Kilpatrick and Belmont produced any useful evidence. He also said he has spoken to one witness about the shootings, but Kulis would not disclose the witness’ account.