DETROIT – Former Detroit Police Officer Harold Nelthrope and former Deputy Chief Gary Brown are arguably the most famous whistle-blowers in the city?s history.
They said they were demoted and fired, respectively, for investigating a rumored party with exotic dancers, which is said to have taken place at the Manoogian Mansion, the mayor?s official residence.
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The rumor, which has been called urban legend, is that dancers who performed at the party were assaulted by the former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick?s wife, Carlita.
Months after that party is said to have taken place, Tamara Greene, who is said to have danced at the party was killed in a drive-by shooting. Her case has never been solved.
In the aftermath of Nelthrope and Brown?s lawsuit and nearly $9 million settlement, damning text messages between former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and chief of staff Christine Beatty were uncovered and showed they lied during the trial; ultimately, those messages led to their downfalls.
But Nelthrope and Brown are not the only ones who believe they were punished for investigating the long-rumored party.
In fact, there?s a long list of people who believe they were penalized, even threatened, for what they know.
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Thursday, another former DPD employee came forward and filed suit against the city.
In court documents, former homicide Detective Odell Godbold claims he too was demoted for investigating Greene?s murder.
Godbold said, he was told ?not to let anyone see the Greene file? and not ?to talk about it.?
And in addition to Godbold, Nelthrope and Brown former homicide Detective Lieutenant Alvin Bowman also sued the city and former Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings.
Bowman?s won his suit in 2005.
Also on Thursday, Local 4 Defenders revealed that several police officers from an elite federal task force testified Detroit Police upper-brass shut down the investigation into admitted hit man, Vincent Smothers, when they wanted to pursue a lead that could link Smothers and Kilpatrick to the Greene case.
The investigators had information from Kentucky police that one of Smothers? close friends, James Davis, bragged about being a close friend of Kilpatrick?s.
The task force wanted to go down to Kentucky to talk to Davis but the investigation was stalled.
When an officer pressed police supervisors, he was told ?this (the case) is bigger than me, bigger than you, bigger than both of us.?
Smothers admitted to killing 11 people and is in prison for the murder of a Detroit Police Officer?s wife.
The task force officers said Smothers was going to confess to other murders but a police boss barged into the interview room and ended the interrogation.
From then on, officers said they were told not to investigate the Greene or Smothers cases.
Aside from police officers, other city workers have said they were punished for speaking out on the rumored party.
Cenobio Chapa, a city EMT, came forward with his recollection of seeing a woman that matched the description of Greene at a local hospital the night of the alleged party.
Michael Kearns, city EMT, said he saw Greene at a Detroit Shell gas station with a swollen left eye.
Doug Bayer, city EMT, said he saw Greene at Detroit Receiving Hospital and was told by a fellow EMT Kilpatrick?s wife, Carlita, had assaulted her.
Joyce Rogers was a clerk at DPD Headquarters when she says she saw a report about how the mayor?s wife, Carlita, assaulted Greene.
Local 4 Defenders spoke to members of Greene?s family Friday. The Greene family is also suing the city, charging it did not fully investigate her killing.
In light of all the people who?ve come forward the family has high hopes for her case.
?With new leads coming in everyday, this should be active. I feel this case should be actively worked on everyday,? said Ernest Flagg, Greene?s former partner and the father of her son.