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03-02
FILEDPOUCECITZENSREVIEWBOARDABoardoftheCityofIowaCity00SFp0A958410EastWashingtonStreetIowaCityIA522401826CiTYCL3193565041CRIOWATOCityCouncilComplainantStephenAtkinsCityManagerRJWinkelhakeChiefofPoliceOfficersinvolvedincomplaintFROMPoliceCitizensReviewBoardREInvestigationofPCRBComplaint0302DATE9September2003ThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardstheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB0302theComplaintBoardsResponsibilityUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887B2theBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetothereportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthesefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorLocalLawSections887B2abandcBoardsProcedureTheComplaintwasreceivedattheOfficeoftheCityClerkon02April2003AsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtotheChiefofPoliceforinvestigationTheChiefsReportwasdueon01July2003andwasfiledwiththeCityClerkon30June2003TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1aontherecordwithnoadditionalinvestigation887B1binterviewmeetwithcomplainantand887B1eperformancebytheBoardofitsownadditionalinvestigationPCRB0302 AdditionalevidencethatwasreviewedincludeinterviewsfromtheinvolvedofficersandthosewhorespondedtothescenerecordingofthedispatchtransmissionphotographsofthescenethetrainingrecordsofOfficersAandBandaninterviewwithaJCPDsDefensiveTacticsTraininginstructorTheBoardmettoconsidertheReportonthefollowingdates3July2003and12August200314August2003and9September2003FINDINGSOFFACTOnFebruary122003OfficerArespondedtoacomplaintofloudmusicinanapartmentat2100BroadwayStreetOfficerAknockedonthedoorandaftersometimepassedtheComplainantansweredthedoorOfficerAplacedhisfootinthethresholdtokeepthedooropenastheComplainantattemptedtostepoutsidetheapartmentandclosethedoorAnaltercationthenensuedthatresultedinOfficerAarrestingtheComplainantforDisorderlyHouseInterferencewithOfficialActsandAssaultonaPeaceOfficerCausingInjuryOfficerAwasstruckintheheadhisleftringfingerwasjammedsprainedandthebackofhisneckwasscratchedTheComplainantsustainedacontusionandasubstantialblowtoherlefteyeAfterthecomplainantwashandcuffedandtakentoapatrolcarfortransportsheconversedwithOfficerBOfficerBmadecommentsthatoffendedtheComplainantbysuggestingshemovebacktoChicagoandliveoffofsomeoneelsestaxdollarandbystatingthathethoughtsheprobablydidntpayrenthereTheComplainantwastransportedtotheUniversityofIowaHospitalsandClinicswhereshewastreatedforherinjurieswhichwerediagnosedasperiorbitalhematomasofttissueonlyOtherpersonswerepresentintheapartmentduringthealtercationbuttheexactnumberisnotknownestimatesfromvarioussourcesrangefrom5to25OfficersarrivingatthescenenotedevidencethatindividualshadfledfromtheapartmentfromboththefrontdoorandtherearbedroomwindowThepoliceinvestigationwashamperedbythelackofcooperationofpotentialwitnessesOnlyonepersonwhowasattheapartmentthatnightwasinterviewedThatinterviewwasconductedoverthetelephoneandrecordedastheintervieehareturnedtoherhomeinChicagoCONCLUSIONoTIAlleqationIExcessiveUseofForceThereisnodoubtthatforcewasusedinthispolicecitizeninteractionrOissuesarewhetherforcewasnecessaryandwhetherthelevelofforcewasappropriateTheComplainantstatesthatwhensheansweredthedoortotheofficersheattemptedtostepoutsidetheapartmentandclosethedoorbehindherOfficerAshestatespushedatherwithhischestandattemptedtoentertheapartmentTheComplainantindicatedtheofficerthenslippedbackonthethresholdandcamebackwitharighthooktomylefteyeShestatesWePCRB03022 thenbeganfightingIwasfightingformylifeatthispointbecauseIthoughtIwasbeingattackedWefoughtforthreeminutesbeforeIgaveuponthegroundoutsideofmyhousewithhiskneeinmybackOfficerAsaccountwhichissimilarinoutlinediffersinsomeimportantdetailsHestatesthattheComplainantattemptedtopushpasthimandshutthedoorHethentookholdofherrightarmtopreventtheComplainantfrompushinghimfurtherTheComplainantstruggledtobreakfreeandtheytussledinthedoorwayOfficerAradioedforassistanceashecontinuedtostrugglewiththeComplainantHeinformedherthatshewasunderarrestforkeepingaDisorderlyHouseThisupsettheComplainantmoreandshethreatenedtohittheofficerinthefaceOfficerAstatesthathetoldtheComplainanttostopresistingandthatheappliedcontroltechniquestokeepherfacingawayfromhimHefurtherstatesthattheComplainantfreedherarmandlungedathimscratchingthebackofhisneckOfficerAstatesthatheattemptedtopushherbackandtoadministeranothercontroltechniqueatwhichtimeshestruckmeinthefacecausingsomerednessIthenstruckinthefacewithareactionarystrikeandtookhertothegroundoutsidetheapartmentOfficerAnotedthatashewaitedforbackupseveralsubjectsexitedtheapartmentandfledonfootHetoldtheremainingpeopletostayintheapartmentbutallleftexceptoneTheChiefsreportstatesthatthepoliceradiotransmissionfromOfficerAsupportsthesequenceofeventsdescribedbyOfficerAandisnotinconsistentwiththesequenceofeventatdescribedbytheComplainantTheinjuriessustainedbybothOfficerAandtheComplainantcouldbeconsistentwiththesequenceofeventsasdescribedbybothTheChiefsreportconcludedthatOfficerAstrucktheComplainantinresponsetotheComplainantsactionsagainsthimTheWitnesssdescriptionofeventsismoreconsistentwithOfficerAsasbothrefertoaconsiderableamountofstrugglingbetweentheComplainantandOfficerAbeforetheblowthatcausedtheinjurytohereyeTheComplainantindicatesthatOfficerAstruckherintheeyeearlyintheconfrontationafterheslippedbackwardsThisisnotconsistentwiththepiaccountsofOfficerAortheWitnessTheWitnessstatesthattheGemtbeganscreamingaboutOfficerApunchingheraftershewasonthegrooutsidetheapartmentTheChiefsreportconcludesafterevaluatingthsncdentastrelatesIowaCityPoliceDepartmentPolicyandOperatingProceduresManualresistancedirectedtowardOfficerAwasclearlyperceivedtobeLevelForCategoryinwhichtheperceptionisthesubjectisassaultiveandlikelytocausebodilyinjuryOfficerAsresponsetothelevelfourthreatwaswithintheparametersofappropriateresponsesasoutlinedintheuseofforcemodellevelfourePS03TheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionsaresupportedbysubstantialevidenceandarenotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1ofthecomplaintisnotsustainedPCRB03023 Alleqation2InappropriateConversationorCommentsTheComplainantallegedthatafterherarrestanofficerunknowntoherlaterdeterminedtobeOfficerBsaidineffecttoheryouneedtomovebacktoChicagoandliveoffsomeoneelsestaxdollarsIbetyoudontevenpayrentTheIowaCityPoliceDepartmentsinvestigationfoundthatOfficerCreportedhearinganOfficertalkingwiththeComplaintaboutChicagotaxesandrentHecouldnotidentifytheOfficerOfficerCdescribedtheComplainantasbeingangrywithOfficerBasOfficerBplacedherinapatrolcarOfficerDrecalledOfficerBtalkingtotheComplainantalongthelineforhertogobacktoChicagoandstoplivingoffourtaxdollarsinIowaCityOfficerBaccordingtotheChiefsreportadmittedengaginginaconversationwiththeComplainantconsistentwiththosestatementsTheChiefsreportconcludedthatOfficerBmadeinappropriatecommentsOfficerBsactionswereinviolationofthePolicyManualoftheIowaCityPoliceDepartmentSection209OfficerContactswiththePublicAlthoughOfficerBindicatedthathefelthiscommentdidnotescalatethesituationastheComplainantwasalreadyinahighlyagitatedstateitdidnothelpdeescalatethesituationFurtherthecontextofthecommentisnotconsistentwiththeDepartmentalVerbalJudoTrainingthatOfficerBhasrecentlyreceivedTheChiefsreportconcludesthatAllegation2wasSUSTAINEDTheBoardagreesTheChiefsconclusionissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation2ofthecomplaintissustainedCOMMENTNonePCRB03024