COP SHOT

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STORY

Despite only having about 50 members, the Maywood Police

Department also has a history of frequent misconduct and

corruption. In 1997, the entire Maywood Police Department was temporarily disbanded because of claims that officers were selling badges and robbing locals. Despite the temporary disbandment, the restructured Maywood PD was unable to stay out of trouble.

In 2005, then-Officer Arian Wade was caught on tape tipping off a Gangster Disciples leader about an upcoming raid. In 2007, then-Officer Dwayne Wheeler shot and killed an unarmed motorist, claiming that the man was trying to run him down while escaping from a bust. The motorist’s family claimed that Wheeler killed him in cold blood.

In 2010, during an FBI sting, then-Officer Robert Welch was caught stealing money from suspects. Also in 2010, Maywood’s then-deputy police chief, Brian Black, was involved in an off-duty incident in which he allegedly pistol-whipped a teenager who rebuffed his “advances”. From 2005 to 2010, two dozen lawsuits related to Maywood PD misconduct were settled for $1.5 million, collectively.

Maywood is still encountering corruption and mismanagement in 2022. Including federal investigations, police involved shootings, and the arrest of their current mayor.