South Bend council urged to stop seeking police recordings

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Two of the four South Bend police officers whose telephone recordings are at the center of a police wiretapping case want city council members to end their pursuit of those recordings.

Officer Tim Corbett urged the Common Council Monday to stop seeking the recordings. He said any claims about their content are unproven.

Lt. David Wells urged the council in a statement to end its efforts and not to “prolong this drama.”

The South Bend Tribune reports the Common Council has issued two subpoenas seeking the release of the recordings. The subpoenas remain the subject of ongoing litigation.

The case stems from allegations that accidental recordings of a police department phone line may have captured high-ranking officers making racist comments about the police chief and discussing breaking the law.