Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
00-03
POLICECITIZENSREVIEWBOARDABoardoftheCityofIowaCity410EastWashingtonStreetIowaCityIA5224018263193565413TOCityCouncilFROMPoliceCitizensReviewBoardREReportofPCRBComplaint0003DATEOctober102000CCComplainantSteveAtkinsCityManagerRJWinkelhakeChiefofPoliceOfficersinvolvedinComplaintThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardstheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofPCRBComplaint0003theComplainantBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887B2theBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetothereportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthesefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorLocalLawSections887B2abandcPCRB0003Page1 BOARDSPROCEDURETheComplaintwasreceivedattheOfficeoftheCityClerkonMay302000AsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationTheChiefcompletedhisReportandsubmittedittotheBoardonAugust232000ThefollowingdocumentswereincludedwiththeReportsynopsisofinterviewwithcomplainantandcomplainantsattorneycopyofICPDTrainingBulletin0104regardingTurnInAgreementsTheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1awhichmeanstheBoardwillreviewthecomplaintontherecordwithoutrequestingadditionalinformationTheBoardscheduledanameclearinghearingbutwasinformedbytheChiefthattheofficewouldnotattendTheBoardmetonSeptember12and26andOctober102000toconsiderthisComplaintFINDINGSOFFACTInFebruary2000OfficerAandOfficerBwereprovidedinformationfromanotherofficerthatdrugswerebeingusedorsoldatthecomplainantsaddressIntheireffortstocontactthecomplainantOfficersAandBdrovebytheaddressonanumberofoccasionsuntiltheyobservedlightsonintheresidencelateoneeveningTheofficersproceededwithaknockandtalkinterviewduringwhichthecomplainantallowedtheofficersintoherresidenceTheofficersinformedthecomplainantofthereasonsfortheirvisitThecomplainantdeniedusingorsellingdrugsintheapartmentandsaidshehadonlylivedtherefortwomonthsWhenaskedifshehadeveruseddrugsthecomplainantsaidshehadWhentheofficersaskedthecomplainantifshehaddrugsordrugparaphernaliaintheresidenceshehesitatedTheofficerspressedthepointandthecomplainanteventuallyproducedasmallamountofmarijuanaandapipeThecomplainantconsentedtoasearchoftheresidencewhichdidnotrevealanyadditionalevidencePCRB0003Page TheofficersaskedthecomplainanttorevealhersourceforthedrugssuggestingthatchargescouldbereducedordismissedifshecooperatedThecomplainantdeclinedtorevealhersourceOfficerAinformedthecomplainantthattheevidencewouldbesenttothelaboratoryfortestingandthatifchargesweretobefiledhewouldcallhersothatshecouldturnherselfinratherthanbearrestedonawarrantInearlyMarch2000thecomplainantsattorneyrequestedbyletterthatOfficerAnotifyhimintheeventchargesarefiledsothathecouldarrangeforthecomplainanttoturnherselfinHealsorequestedthatallcontactandquestionsforthecomplainantbedirectedtohimAchargeofPossessionofaScheduleIControlledSubstancewasfiledbyOfficerAinlateMarch2000andanarrestwarrantwasissuedInMay2000OfficerCwhohadnotpreviouslybeeninvolvedintheincidentleadingtothiscomplaintwasassignedtocontactbytelephonepersonswhowerethesubjectofarrestwarrantsThecomplainantwascontactedandturnedherselfinimmediatelyOnMay302000thecomplainantfiledPCRBComplaint0003withthefollowingallegationsAlleqation1Thepoliceshouldnotbefollowinguponcomplaintsofpersonaluseofmarijuanabyconfrontingsinglewomenaloneintheirapartmentat1030pmThisisamisallocationofpoliceresourcesandtimeAlleqation2OfficerAwasdeceptiveastowhyhewishedtoenterherapartmentreferringtoaneventintheneighborhoodwhichtheywishedtodiscusswithherAlleqation3OfficerAsquestioningwasaccusatorylackedareasonablebasisinfactinvadedherpersonalspaceandwasfrighteningtoheratthathourandunderthosecircuinstanceAlleqation4ThecomplainantshouldhavebeennotifiedofawarrantforherarrestasOfficerAhadadvisedherthathewoulddoSheshouldhavebeenprovidedtheopportunitytoturnherselfinratherthanwaiting38daysaftertheissuanceofthewarrantbeforenotificationofthewarrantSuchalapseoftimemayhavecausedunnecessaryembarrassmentandinconveniencehadshebeenstoppedforatrafficPCRB0003Page3 offenseorifitwereservedatanyothertimewhichcouldhavecausedunnecessarydisruptionandbeawasteofofficersresourcesandtimeBasedontheinvestigatingofficersinterviewwiththecomplainantandthecomplainantsattorneythefollowingallegationwasaddedAlleqation5ThecomplainantstatesthatduringthesearchofherresidenceOfficerApulledopenadrawerinthekitchenThisdrawerhadknivesinitandOfficerAmadeastatementtotheeffectthathedidntlikeknivesandthatsheshouldnotmakeanysuddenmovesShefeltthiswasveryintimidatingandfrighteningtoherCONCLUSIONAllegation1Thepoliceshouldnotbefollowinguponcomplaintsofpersonaluseofmariiuanabyconfrontingsinglewomenaloneintheirapartmentat1030pmThisisamisallocationofpoliceresourcesandtimeTheofficerswereinformedthatthesaleofdrugsnotjustusemightbetakingplaceattheresidenceTheofficersstatedthattheyhadattemptedtocontactthecomplainantontwoorthreepreviousoccasionsandthatitappearedthatthecomplainantwasupandaboutatthetimeoftheknockandtalkTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionthatOfficerAandOfficerBactedappropriatelyandincompliancewithdepartmentalpolicyandthelawissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1NOTSUSTAINEDAllegation2OfficerAwasdecel3tiveastowhyhewishedtoenterherapartmentreferrincltoaneventintheneiqhborhoodwhichtheywishedtodiscusswithherAlthoughitdoesnotappearthatOfficerAwasentirelyforthrightaboutthepurposeofthevisitthereisnotagreementonexactlywhatwasstatedTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionthatOfficerAactedappropriatelyissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation2isNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation3OfficerAsquestioninqwasaccusatorylackedareasonablebasisinfactinvadedherpersonalspaceandwasfriqhtenincltoheratthathourandunderthosecircumstanceOfficerAwasconductingaknockandtalkatthecomplainantsresidencebasedoninformationprovidedbyanotherofficerAknockandtalkisanPCRB0003Page assertiveinterviewprocedurewithapurposeofgainingpermissionforasearchThecomplainantinvitedtheofficersintoherresidencerespondedtoquestionsandpermittedthesearchTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionthatOfficerAsactionswerereasonableunderthelawanddepartmentalpolicyandwereconductedappropriatelyissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation3isNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation4ThecomplainantshouldhavebeennotifiedofawarrantforherarrestasOfficerAhadadvisedherthathewoulddoSheshouldhavebeenprovidedtheopportunitytoturnherselfinratherthanwaiting38daysaftertheissuanceofthewarrantbeforenotificationofthewarrantSuchalapseoftimemayhavecausedunnecessaryembarrassmentandinconveniencehadshebeenstoppedforatrafficoffenseorifitwereservedatanyothertimewhichcouldhavecausedunnecessarydisruptionandbeawasteofofficersresourcesandtimeOfficerAfailedtofollowthroughwiththestatementtothecomplainantthatshewouldbecalledintheeventthatchargeswerefiledandalsofailedtocomplywiththeattorneysrequestthathebethecontactforthecomplainantTheBoardconcurswiththeChiefthatOfficerAshouldhavecontactedthecomplainantsattorneytoinformhimofthechargesagainstthecomplainantasaddressedinICPDTrainingBulletin0104Allegation4isSUSTAINEDAllegation5ThecomplainantstatesthatduringthesearchofherresidenceOfficerApulledopenadrawerinthekitchenThisdrawerhadknivesinitandOfficerAmadeastatementtotheeffectthathedidntlikeknivesandthatsheshouldnotmakeanysuddenmovesShefeltthiswasveryintimidatinqandfriqhteninqtoherBothOfficerAandOfficerBdenythatsuchastatementwasmadeTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionthatthereisinsufficientevidencetosupporttheallegationisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation5isNOTSUSTAINEDPCRB0003Page