Mayor Gets Unwelcome Guest at Picnic
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Updated: 7:22 PM Jul 9, 2009
Mayor Gets Unwelcome Guest at Picnic
A suspect in a fatal shooting comes across Bernero's neighborhood meeting in Moores Park.
Posted: 6:21 PM Jul 9, 2009
Reporter: Liam Martin
Email Address: liam.martin@wilx.com
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"It was an interesting way to punctuate a neighborhood picnic," said Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, sitting comfortably in his office Thursday.

The picnic was Wednesday night. The neighborhood: Moores Park -- right in the thick of the Lansing Police Department's pursuit of two suspects -- the men from Wednesday's fatal shooting in west Lansing.

"We heard a siren," the mayor said. "And it seemed to be getting closer and closer, and it turned out it was a Lansing police car."

The mayor was at the pavilion in Moores Park for a neighborhood association gathering, when one of those suspects came running through a nearby parking lot. The police caught up to him and arrested him at about 8:15 p.m.

"By the time I realized what was happening, really, the officer was wrestling him to the ground, getting his handcuffs on," Bernero said.

Then, the mayor says, some of the picnic-goers showed their true colors -- as they took off running after the second suspect.

"An old man came by with a dog and a cane over his shoulder. So he was out joining the search," said Bernero.

No, they didn't catch the suspect. The Lansing police did that early Thursday morning. And they say the community effort helped.

"It's very helpful for us to people get involved in trying to help solve crime," said Lt. Judy Horning of the Lansing Police Department. "To the extent that they are not injuring themselves."

A sentiment that Bernero echoes.

"The police alone can not make our neighborhoods safe," he said. "It is about things like neighborhood watch, and neighborhood association, and getting involved, and knowing your neighbors."

No normal picnic. And no normal picnic-goers.


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  • Posted By: Sandito all of you who voted for Virg. Well most of the jobs went to out of town workers, like the guys who did the streets, from OHIO!, the workers down town who are from all over but Lansing. The people who have tried to work with him in neighborhoods know that its either his way or his way. He does not care what was told or promised to you, he makes sure it's his way. If you don't like it TOO BAD FOR YOU!! If you opossed him on something gee something is not right in you neighborhood and it is not the citys fault. You and your neighbors are doing something ilegal. How do I know? I have one of the letters they sent to my neighborhood. Good Luck Lansing
  • Posted By: Congradulations to the City of Lansing! You re-elected someone who is totally beyond belief. A man who thinks if your a developer your the best thing to happen to the city, even it your less than honest. But if your a home owner who lives here... So you wanted him and we are now stuck with him for another 4 years. A man who went into QD for donuts, and had to have the clerk put them in a box for him because he did not know how. What a great guy for the mayor. Most of you have never had to try to deal with him, for fight him and his people for what was promised to them and then changed. You wait your turns are comming.
  • Posted By: BradBOY THATS JUST GREAT. I GUESS I'LL NEVER WORK IN LANSING THE NEXT FOR YEARS,BUTIM SURE VIRG WILL HIRE THE SCABS FROM GRAND RAPIDS AND HEAR HOW GREAT THE CITY IS DOING. THANKS VIRG FOR YOUR GREATGUIDENCE AND FABULOUS LIESD
  • Posted By: kI think you people are neglecting the real culprit for Lansing's troubles as well as the state of Michigan.Look who we have in the capitol sitting there in her office,telling us all a bunch of lies and making promises that she knows she can't keep. Don't be so hard on our Mayor when it's our governor who needs to be scrutinized.
  • Posted By: BillMy condolances to the residents of Lansing. You had your chance to rid yourself of your major embarrasment but chose not to. I hope it does not come back to haunt you in the next 4 loooooong years.
  • Posted By: BillGREAT! ! ! Michigan is still going to end up downhill. Why dont we just re-elect Granholm for Governor? Better off, why not elect Jim carry for president?, since this all seems to be such a comical situation... GO MICHIGAN! ! ! Move here!, NO JOBS! but it is such a pretty state.. Keep up the good work VIRG! ! Why cant you people making thousands take a cut? I personally think because taking from the middle class and the poor puts so much more in your pockets 2 thumbs down for you and our Govenor. Best wishes on continuing to bring down our state.
  • Posted By: BillThank GOD that Carol Wood did not win! Anyone who thinks that neighborhoods generate revenue needs to get their head out of the clouds and take an introductory economics course. Jobs come BEFORE better neighborhoods, not the other way around.
  • Posted By: Shocked...Congrats Virg...and I mean that with the utmost sarcarism...I do not live within the city of Lansing, thus could not vote but had I been able to I would not have voted for him. I am a city of Lansing employee and Virg has done NOTHING for the cities employees but cut jobs, benefits...take take take. Nor for the city in general...His motto in the last election was "Lansing Works" ironic that ALL of the construction on Michigan ave was done by scab's from Grand Rapids, and let's mention all the mums he planted along that road to the tune of $30,000.00 that only lasted one year and then died because they were not properly winterized, so the next spring they all got dug up, thrown away and more were planted to the tune of another $30,000.00. Tax payers money hard at work there. City employees have been working without a contract for nearly three years, no raises in site but his staff got a 20% increase last year alone...WAY to GO Virg...shame on you and your corrupt misguided politics...
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