Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
01-04
POLICECITIZENSREVIEWBOARDABoardoftheCityofIowaCity410EastWashingtonStreetIowaCityIA5224018263193565041TOCityCouncilComplainantStephenAtkinsCityManagerRJWinkelhakeChiefofPoliceOfficersinvolvedincomplaintFROMPoliceCitizensReviewBoardREInvestigationofPCRBComplaintDATEFebruary52002ThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardstheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB0104theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections88TB2abandcBOARDSPROCEDURETheComplaintwasreceivedattheofficeoftheCityClerkonSeptember132001AsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationTheChiefsReportwasreceivedonDecember122001TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1awhichmeanstheBoardreviewsthecomplaintonrecordwithoutrequestingadditionalinformationPCRB0104Page1 TheBoardmettoconsidertheReportonthefollowingdatesDece20022001January82002January142002January222002aFcJutZrcJI208LateonemorninginmidSeptemberOfficerAwhileassignedtofootpatrolinthedowntownobservedtheComplainantridingabicyclewestonthenorthsidewalkofWashingtonStreetOfficerAstoppedtheComplainantwiththeintentofissuingacitationforridingabikeonthesidewalkTheComplainantofferedajustificationfortheillegalbehaviorinvolvingconstructiononIowaAvenueandalackofoptionalroutesforbicyclesOfficerAdidnotrespondtotheseremarksandaskedforidentificationTheComplainantinformedOfficerAthatshedidnothaveidentificationwithherHethenaskedfortheComplainantsnameandotheridentifyinginformationthatheprocessedthroughtheEmergencyCommunicationCentersystemwhichfailedtolocatethenameprovidedbythecomplainantTheofficerthenaskedtheComplainantifshehadliedaboutheridentityandtheComplainantacknowledgedthatshehadliedOfficerAthenplacedtheComplainantunderarrestforobstructionofanofficeraviolationofCityCodeSection853cOfficerAcalledforatransportationcarashiscarwasparkedsomedistancefromthelocationofthearrestOfficerAhandcuffedtheComplainantDuringtheprocesshefounditnecessaryaftercuffingonehandtoremovethebackpackthecomplainantwaswearingAsandwichthecomplainantwascarryingforlunchwasdislodgedfromthebackpackduringthisprocessandfelltothegroundwhereitdisintegratedTheComplainantallegesOfficerAdeliberatelythrewthesandwichtothegroundTheofficerclaimsthesandwichfellaccidentallyasthebackpackwasbeingremovedfromthesubjectDuringthehandcuffingprocesswordswereexchangedbetweenOfficerAandtheComplainantTheComplainantallegedtheofficerscreamedhiscommandsOfficerAclaimsheonlyspokeinaloudauthoritativevoiceTheofficerpattedtheComplainantdownpriortotransportandsearchedherbackpackwhereappropriateidentificationwaslocatedThisinformationwasusedtowritethechargesagainsttheComplainantTheComplainantindicatedthatsheperceivedthearrestprocessasbothunnecessarilylongandhumiliatinglypublicTheCADIcgrevealedthatfourminuteselapsedbetweeninitialcontactandIDcheckOneminuteaftertheIDwascheckedOfficerArequestedatransportcarthattookapproximately75minutestoarriveThirteenminutesafterthecardrivenbyOfficerBarriveditdepartedwiththeComplainanttothejailDuringthatperiodtheComplainantwasplacedinthecarthechargeswerewrittenandherbikewasimpoundedAcommunityserviceofficerimpoundedthebicycleTheComplainantwastakentotheJohnsonCountyjailbookedandsignedoutOfficerBprovidedtheComplainantaridetotheimpoundfacilitytoretrieveherbicycleOfficerAandtheComplainantareingeneralagreementregardingtheeventsthatoccurredleadingtoandduringthearrestTheydiffergreatlyhoweverPCRB0104Page2 Flregardinghowtheyinterprettheseeventsparticularlyinregardtomotivesandqdemeanor2FB2Ft208TheComplainantsefidentifiedasastrongadvocateforbkingasantlternatJvemeansoftransportationperceivedridingonthesidewalkasamnllefeltthatgiventheconstrucbondowntownandsafetyconsderabonsndmgonthesidewalkwasdefensibleandthatawarningwasanappropriatesanctionShebelievedtheCityhadanobligationtoprovideanalternativesaferouteforcyclistsTheComplainantsawOfficerAasbeingunsympathetictotheproblemofbikersandoverreactingtothecomplainantsviolatingbehaviorandeffortstoexplainjustifyorexcuseitTheComplainantfeltthatbecauseofthe911tragedytwodaysearlierOfficerAshouldbemoresensitiveandunderstandingofvariantbehaviorTheComplainantaccusedOfficerAofbeingcondescendingandbelittlingengaginginintimidatingandoppressivebehaviorfriskingandsearchinginanexaggerateddramaticfashioninahighlyvisiblelocationTheComplainantstatedthatOfficerAscreamedcommandscalledtheComplainantaliarandappliedthehandcuffsverytightlyOfficerAsassessmentoftheComplainantsconductwasthattheComplainantwasanobviousliararroganttowardshimandbehavedlikeaspoiledbratHeindicatedthattheonlyemotionsheshowedwasangerThreewitnessestotheincidentwereidentifiedbytheComplainantandinterviewedbuttheywerenotsufficientlyclosetotheprincipalstohearanyoftheinteractionsOneofthosewitnessesstatedbothOfficerAandtheComplainantappearedtobeupsetCONCLUSIONTheComplainantbelievesthatsheshouldnothavebeenarrestedforridingonthesidewalkbecauseoftheabsenceofalternativesaferoutestoherdestinationandexpressedtheseconcernstothearrestingofficerwhowasnotresponsiveandthenissuedacitationTheComplainantgavefalseinformationtotheofficerwhomthenarrestedherforinterferenceandhandcuffedherTheComplainantfeltthatshehadnotcommittedacrimecommensuratewithOfficerAsresponseTheComplainantallegedthefollowinginappropriatebehaviorsofOfficerAAllegation1TheofficerenqaqedinexaqqeratedenforcementandaqqressioninhandlinqthecaseOfficerAdeniesthisbehaviorWitnessesdonotconfirmphysicalaggressionbyeithertheofficerorthecomplainantTheallegationcannotbeconfirmedJnpartbecausewhatconstitutesexaggeratedenforcementandverbalaggressionissubjectiveandcontingentoncontextItisundisputedthatOfficerAwasgivenfalseidentificationprovidingOfficerAwithjustificationforarrestingtheComplainantTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionthattheallegationisnotconfirmedissupportedandisnotPCRB0104Page unreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1ofthecomplainantisNOTSUSTAINEDFEB12PI208Alleqation2OffcerAwasverbaycondescendingandbettJcomplainantThisallegationrestslargelyonOfficerAsresponsetComplainantseffortstojustifyridingonthesidewalkthatincludehisobservationthatsheseemedtofeelthatshewasabovethelawandcouldchoosetofollowonlythelawswithwhichsheagreedTheOfficerdeniesthathewascondescendingorthathebelittledtheComplainantandwitnessesarenotabletoconfirmtheallegationTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionthattheallegationcannotbeconfirmedissupportedandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation2ofthecomplainantisNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation3OfficerAscreamedatthecomplainantwhenhearrestedandhandcuffedherTheofficeracknowledgesraisinghisvoiceandspeakinginanauthoritativeandcommandingmannerreflectingtrainingregardingthemaintenanceofcontrolGiventheemotionalcontextofthesituationthecomplainantmayhaveperceivedtheelevatedtoneasascreamWitnessesarenotabletosupporttheallegationTheBoardfindstheChiefsconclusionthattheallegationthatOfficerAscreamedattheComplainantduringthearrestandhandcuffingprocesscannotbeconfirmedissupportedandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation3oftheComplainantisNOTSUSTAINEDAlleqation4OfficerAslammedthebackpackandsandwichtothegrounddestroyingthesandwichOfficerAacknowledgesremovingtheComplainantsbackpackduringtheprocessofhandcuffingherandacknowledgesthesandwichfelltothegroundwhenthepackwastippedduringremovalTheComplainantacknowledgesthatshedidnotobservetheofficerthrowthesandwichonthegroundnordidthewitnessesalthoughonereportedobservingthesandwichhitthegroundTheBoardfindstheChiefsconclusionthattheredoesnotappeartobeevidencetosubstantiatetheallegationthattheofficerdidthiswithintentormaliceissupportedandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation4oftheComplainantisNOTSUSTAINEDAlleqation5OfficerAinappropriatelyhandcuffedtheComplainantsotightlyastoleaveredindentationswhichpersistedforhoursafterthecuffswereremovedRedmarksandindentationsmayresultwhenahandcuffedindividualtwistswithinthecuffsSincemedicalattentionwasnotsoughtitisnotpossibletodiscernwhetherthemarkswerebeyondwhatnormallymightoccurTheBoardfindstheChiefsconclusionthatthereisnoevidencethatthecuffsproducedatypicaldiscomfortorinjuryissupportedandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation5oftheComplainantisNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation6OfficerAintentionallykepttheComplainantonpublicdisplayforaprotractedperiodoftimeTotaltimefrominitialcontactuntilarrivalatthejailwas26minutesSevenandonehalfminutesofthatwasPORB0104Page4 transportationcarresponsetimewhichwasslowerthantypicalAfterthecararrivedtheremainingminuteswereutilizedtowritetwocomplaintsandarrangetheimpoundingofthebicycleWhilethesemayhaveseemedexceedinglylongtotheComplainantbecauseofthesituationitwasnotexcessiveTheBoardfindstheChiefsconclusionthatoncethatcartransportcararrivedthetimeexpendedwasnotinordinateissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation6oftheComplainantisNOTSUSTAINEDAlleqation7OfficerAabusedthepowerassociatedwithhispositionThisallegationseemstoencompasstheallegationcitedaboveandreflectstheComplainantsconcernwithOfficerAsactionincitingandarrestingheraswellashisdemeanorwhiledoingsoThedemeanorissueshavebeendealtwithinallegations123and4TheBoardfindstheChiefsconclusionthatthearrestwaslegallyjustifiedbytheoffendersobstructionandtheneedtodetermineproperidentificationoftheComplainantissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation7oftheComplainantisNOTSUSTAINEDCOMMENTSAlthoughtheofficerwaslegallyjustifiedinchargingtheComplainantwithobstructionandarrestingherforidentificationpurposesandhencedidnotviolatethelawordepartmentalpolicyamoretemperatestylemighthavereducedtheComplainantsoutrageTheBoardsupportstheChiefsdecisiontocounselOfficerAinregardtotheintentofthelawandotherapproachestoeffectiveenforcementoftheCitysordinanceinthedowntownareaPCRB0104Page5