FW: THE DEATH OF MENARD PRISONER WILLIAM L. BUHRMESTER B67426

[Dazzler]

Here's a list of Illinois' US Congressmen and their District.  They all should have offices in Washington D.C.  I'd start with Jesse Jackson Jr, Danny Davis and Bobby Rush.  They've all participated in legislation to help inmates.



Illinois


Bean, Melissa L., Illinois, 8th
Biggert, Judy, Illinois, 13th
Costello, Jerry, Illinois, 12th
Davis, Danny K., Illinois, 7th
Emanuel, Rahm, Illinois, 5th - Vacancy
Gutierrez, Luis, Illinois, 4th
Foster, Bill, Illinois, 14th
Hare, Phil, Illinois, 17th
Halvorson, Deborah "Debbie", Illinois, 11th
Jackson Jr., Jesse L., Illinois, 2nd
Johnson, Timothy V., Illinois, 15th
Kirk, Mark, Illinois, 10th
Lipinski, Daniel, Illinois, 3rd
Manzullo, Donald, Illinois, 16th
Roskam, Peter J., Illinois, 6th
Rush, Bobby L., Illinois, 1st
Schakowsky, Jan, Illinois, 9th
Schock, Aaron, Illinois, 18th
Shimkus, John, Illinois, 19th

[Terry Buhrmester]

                                          http://www.quinnforillinois.com/


                                                       To the People of Illinois:


A few weeks ago, when I took the Oath of Office as Governor, I swore to uphold the Constitution  of our state and to be responsible for the faithful execution of our laws. But even more important,I made a solemn covenant with everyone in Illinois that I will do my best to put our state government back on the right track.

[Jims]

Here's a real non-article. I guess the Southern Illinoisan doesn't do investigative journalistm:

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2009/04/20/breaking_news/doc49ecc705a9e89273363955.txt



Menard inmate's death probed by officials
BY BECKY MALKOVICH, The Southern
Monday, April 20, 2009 2:03 PM CDT
CHESTER -- The death of a Menard Correctional Center inmate earlier this month is under investigation.

The Randolph County Coroner's office and the external investigation unit of the Illinois Department of Corrections are looking into the death of inmate William Buhrmester.

Buhrmester, 36, was pronounced dead at 10:40 a.m., April 2 in the center's health care unit, coroner Randy W. Dudenbostel said.

Because of issues relating to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA), IDOC spokesman Derek Schnapp said he could not provide much information about Buhrmester's death.

"We are concerned any time there is a death and we understand the concerns of the family," he said. "We have a procedure to follow and the death is being investigated by the external investigations unit."

Dudenbostel said an autopsy was performed and an inquest could be scheduled depending on those results.

"It really depends on the findings of the autopsy and toxicology reports," he said. "If the cause is natural, we wouldn't schedule an inquest, but if the cause is something else, we would, of course, have an inquest."

Buhrmester was a recent transfer to Menard from Robinson Correctional Center, where he was serving a sentence for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and two drug-related offenses, Schnapp said. Buhrmester was charged with the offenses in Vermillion and Iroquois counties.

[irish45mj]

If you die from cancer, because nobody treated it, that's considered death by "natural causes" isn't it?  Sounds like there won't be an inquest, if that's the case.  External Investigations unit...but still under the IDOC umbrella, right?   

[Dazzler]

What external investigations unit?  What a crock...it's been 20 days now....

BTW...even this reporter uses "HIPPA", instead of HIPAA.  Is there something wrong with my eyes or do the initials spells out HIPAA....because everyone on here, except me, calls it the HIPPA act....LOL....I've given up correcting everyone's posts...

[JDsMom]

I want to thank everyone for their support and all the information that you have passed along. I have sent a letter along with what Uncle Terry wrote to Dr. Phil, WGN News in Chicago, NBC News, Rep. Timothy Johnson, Dan Rutherford, Shane Cultra, and few rep. from my area. Also sent one to Richard Durbin and Roland Burris. I have sent a few more to 20/20, Primetime, and Nightline. I spoke with an editor at my local paper and they are thinking about doing a story. I am waiting to hear back. Also, I sent an email to Oprah (couldn't find an address to send something), CNN, and to WCCU Fox News. I hope that we can find someone to do the story to get the word out to more people. I have a few more news stations that I will be sending information to on Monday.

This should never have happened and to think that there are so many people in this world without compassion. Many people could have done something but didn't. I just hope that we are able to find some justice within all of this for Billy as he deserves that much. Billy was the type of person to do anything for his friends or family. He was always smiling and was good at playing jokes on people. He will be greatly missed by many people and we won't stop until something is done.

Montell Jordan is another one to contact .........he has a website as well........very sympathetic man.

[JDsMom]

Here is a website with several video's about medical negligence to Illinois prisoners: scroll down and click on them, they are numbered...........

http://www.illinoislegaladvocate.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.showPracticeArea

[Dazzler]

JDS I scrolled down over 50 entries and didn't see anything...could you possibly list the numbers here...this is a very confusing website....

I agree with Jims that the Southern did a very generic non-story about Bill's death...HOWEVER, they had a section for reader comments and I think we should provide them with some.  Jims gives the link to the on-line story and reader comment section in her post above.

[jlnjy]

DHR, we've discussed holding a demonstration at the Governor's office but it wouldn't be effective unless it were during the week.  Most people are working and won't take off work to attend this.  Unless we could get dozens of people to show up it wouldn't get any attention from anyone.  The press avoids reporting these kinds of stories....they've always shied away from covering anything that involves inmates...as if they are second class citizens and unworthy of receiving humane treatment.  It's just how it is....sad, but true.

I can actually get to Springfield and I wouldn't mind taking off from my job to do it so long as I have some time to plan for the day off. I create my schedule a month in advance but I can reschedule things so long as I have enough time to make contacts to appointments I've already scheduled. So, if this suggestion converts to a plan of action - let me know.

[Jims]

I think this is probably an indication of the kind of media interest this case will receive. It just is not a story of general interest and won't sell papers or get online readers. Why don't you post your editorial in the comments section, Daz? That gives a much better synopsis of what happened than her itty bitty non-story.

[Dazzler]

   Actually I did post a scathing commentary...but when I attempted to post I was waaayyyy over on the word count....I tried three times to cut it down and finally the page went blank and lost my comments. I need to start all over....Maybe I should post the link to the story.  Yeah, that's the ticket...LOL

[Jims]

Even though our members are very willing to call, email, and even send letters to officials, in the past, few have been willing to physically gather in protest. And like Daz stated earlier, we would need to have hundreds at least, thousands preferably, before anyone would take notice. Otherwise it would do more harm than good. The message would be, "Look, the sponsoring organization doesn't even care enough to come out and protest." People work, they have children/grandchildren with activities on weekends (and heaven forbid you'd have to tell them they couldn't attend one week), spouses who are not supportive. I really think it would be a fiasco. And the thing is, it's a lot of work to mount a real protest. You have to have permits, signs have to be certain sizes - as much as I'd like to think we could attract at least a few hundred members to do this, I am absolutely certain about 15 would show up, and maybe family members of William.

[Dazzler]

I keep trying to post comments on that story at the Southern and it won't take them...keeps telling me I can't use .com in a name or post.  Well, they let me join as illinoisprisontalk.com.  Now I can't get a new screen to reregister....maybe someone else can post the comments.  Unless some controversial comments are posted the IDOC will once again issue it's BS statement from Schnapp and it's business as usual...the public needs to be informed about the suspicious nature of Bill's death....

[Jims]

I did a bit of editing to your editorial, Daz, and posted it. It said it posted. Oh yeah, I just checked and it posted right under Grizbear's.

[Dazzler]

Good job Jims...I looked too...I was going to reregister under a different username but saw you got it up....go get 'em Griz....LOL.

We should get more comments to the story.  All the DOC employees read that paper....I'd love to know who the 'external investigations unit' is...??? 

[griz bear]

 
Jims; I know what you're saying is probably true; but I would hope it is different because if those of us who love the ones behind the wall can't take time to show up then why should we expect the beaurocrats to work this into their busy schedule; they don't have a face, the loving memories of the child before the poor choices put them at risk; why would people who spout "don't do the crime if you can't do the time" care enough to look at the unacceptable conditions that the inmates live with daily.  And then all we are truly doing here is spending some time spouting platitudes to ease our own consciouses.  I for one am out of state and will be til the end of June, but if a date is set; I will book airfare to Springfield; get a taxi to the capital, and carry my sign until night fall...I don't care how much it costs; I can always work more hours and make more money, but I can not replace my son, and no matter what poor choices he has made he does not deserve to die just because I need to work, or whatever else is happening at the time.  I for one cannot just hope for the best here; my son's sentence was 22 yrs and he is only 2.5 yrs into it and already suffering health issues and to live with myself I MUST do all that I can to see that he comes out ALIVE; not dead due to IDOC's lack of conscious........griz PS Jims, I know I'm preaching to the choir but I just had to say this..

[Jims]

I'm with you, Griz. I understand what you're saying but it is just would not be worth it without a firm, and I do mean firm, commitment from a HUGE crowd of members. And I don't see it happening.

[Dazzler]

I reregistered and posted a comment.  I hope the Southern decides to investigate this story....the IDOC says it's being investigated but they never reveal the outcome...they just let it fade away....or they'll claim it's not for public release.

[lvanrs2]

as a nurse, the lack of medical treatment and appointments is in no way a natural cause of death.  His death could have been prevented and the refusal of medications and treatment in my eyes would be negligence.  I cant beleive that IDOC would say anything about natural causes.  As people have stated earlier, IDOC apparently has no concerns about the death so it is up to someone outside of the box to get the ball rolling in the right direction for the family.  Lets flood the office again tomorrow and put pressure on Quinn to do something about corruption, cover ups etc within the State of Illinois

[Terry Buhrmester]

Guys. I may be speaking to soon, and maybe out of turn, and maybe I should let things handle themselves on this web site. But I privately shot an idea to one of the members last week, about possibly hooking up with the A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois.

I had a meeting with the local chapter yesterday. A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois is a non profit organization that promotes freedom to ride their bikes, within the laws, but they fight for their right not to wear helmets if they wish. and several other issues concerning bike riding.  They do strongly urge people to ride safely, and legally, but without the laws of Illinois telling them when, or how to do it.  

They are a great bunch of gentlemen with the same concerns for their families, their jobs, and the freedoms for which we fight for.  I can't actually speak for them, and I won't try to explain all they do, but they have a membership of over 11,000 in Illinois alone, and they do wonderful things through out the State for their communities.  This is definitely NOT a bunch of Idiots on motorcycles. They are much like us, but they love their bikes, and who knows they could pick up membership with this act of kindness.

If we can get this organized, it will take time and effort. They can not protest for us as A.B.A.T.E of Illinois, but they are a large group, and they can protest on their own, as a group to possibly help our cause, and I am sure some of them have friends and family members who are in prison, just like ours.

The lady I talked with yesterday is putting her feelers out to her peers in the club, just to find out what the legalities are for them and to see if possibly, someway they might be able to help us with our protest, IF WE DECIDE TO DO THIS.

They do have events scheduled for most of the  summer, but mainly they do their rides, and protesting at the Capitol on the weekends.  But there are enough members that could possibly do it during the week.

Let me work on this and give your comments.  Sorry Daz, if I stepped out of line, but I really am trying to help.