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WebLinkAbout03-04FILEDPOLICECITIZENSREVIEWBOARDABoardoftheCityoflowaCity2003SEP10H958410EastWashingtonStreetIowaCityIA522401826CITYRK3193565041IOWACIIOWATOCityCouncilComplainantStephenAtkinsCityManagerRJWinkelhakeChiefofPoliceOfficersinvolvedincomplaintFROMPoliceCitizensReviewBoardREInvestigationofPCRBComplaint0304DATE9September2003ThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardstheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB0304theComplaintBoardsResponsibilityUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887B2theBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetothereportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthesefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorLocalLawSections887B2abandcBoardsProcedureTheComplaintwasreceivedattheOfficeoftheCityClerkon07May2003AsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtotheChiefofPoliceforinvestigationTheChiefsReportwasdueon05August2003andwasfiledwiththeCityClerkon29July2003TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1aontherecordwithnoadditionalinvestigationPCRBComplaint0304Page1 TheBoardmettoconsidertheReportonthefollowingdates14August2003and9September2003FINDINGSOFFACTOnApril262003IowaCitypoliceofficersrespondedtoacivildisturbanceonHollywoodCourtwherethreefemalesandamalewereinvolvedinaconfrontationTheComplainantandhercousinwerefightingwiththeComplainantshusbandandhisgirlfriendThehusbandsgirlfriendhaddrivenhervantotheComplainantshousetopickupherboyfriendtheComplainantshusbandandwasconfrontedbytheComplainantandhercousinInthealtercationhairwaspulledfromthegirlfriendandthecomplainantandhercousinwereinjuredbythecomplainantshusbandAfterinvestigatingthesituationtheofficersconcludedthattheComplainantshusbandshouldbearrestedforAssaultCausingInjuryandPublicIntoxicationThefemaleswereadvisedthatnoneofthemwouldbechargedatthattimebuttheycouldbeafterfurtherinvestigationwascompletedTheComplainantwasoutspokeninherdesiretohaveherhusbandsgirlfriendarrestedforassaultingherAftertheofficershadfurtherinvestigatedthesituationtheyaddedDomesticAssaulttothehusbandschargeandchargedtheComplainantwithFirstDegreeBurglaryforenteringherhusbandsgirlfriendsvantocommitanAssaultCausingInjuryHercousinwaschargedwithDisorderlyConductCONCLUSIONScAllegationhTheComplainantwasunlawfullyarrestedTheComplainantwasdissatisfiedthatherhusbandsgirlfriendwasnotarresteatthesceneThewomenandtheComplainantshusbandwereinvolvedinaphysicalaltercationwhichtheComplainantstatedwasinitiatedbyherhusbandsgirlfriendThegirlfriendclaimedtheComplainantstuckthefirstblowandthenrequestedhercousinsassistanceinassaultingherthegirlfriendTheComplainantshusbandjoinedthefighttoassisthisgirlfriendandassaultedbothhisestrangedwifeandhercousinTherewereanumberofresidentsintheneighborhoodwhowitnessedthefightbutnonewereabletoprovideusefulinformationregardingwhoinitiateditOfficersonthescenedecidednottochargeanyofthewomenAfterfurtherinvestigationincludingconversationwiththeComplainantbyphoneandinpersonOfficerDinconsultationwithOfficerAdecideditwasappropriatetochargetheComplainantwithFirstDegreeBurglaryasitwasdecidedshehadasallegedenteredthevanofherhusbandsgirlfriendtocommitassaultTheofficersdecidednottochargethehusbandsgirlfriendsinceitwasbelievedthattheComplainantandhercousinhadstartedthealtercationandthehusbandsgirlfriendsactionsweredefensivePCRBComplaint0304Page2 TheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1ofthecomplaintisNotSustainedAlleqation2OfficerCOfficerBandOfficerDenqaqedinimproperconductbibeinqmeanrudeandnotcarinqcausinqtheComplainanttofeelviolateddiscriminatedintimidatedandscaredOfficerCwasthesecondofficeronthesceneandisallegedbytheComplainanttohavetoldhertoshutupanddontmoveyoumustofstartedthefightbecauseImhiswifesicOfficerBstayedwiththeComplainantandhercousinwhiletheyweretreatedforinjuriesandthenlatertoseparatethemfromtheotherparticipantswhileofficersfurtherinvestigatedtheincidentBothdefendantsbecameloudandantagonisticduringthelaterperioddirectingtheircommentstowardtheComplainantshusbandsgirlfriendOfficerBdirectedthemtoshushtoquietthemandmaintainorderTheComplainanttookoffenseattheofficerscommentOfficerBdirectedhertogotoOfficerDwithhercomplaintsifshefeltbeingtoldtoshushwasinappropriateOfficerDindicatedthatatfirsthewasnotawarethattheComplainanthadbeenassaultedbyherhusbandandhadtriedtogivehermoreattentiononcehelearnedofhervictimstatusAnumberofneighborswereinterviewedregardingtheincidentTheyreportedthattheybelievedtheofficersinvolvedhandledthesituationappropriatelyandindicatedtheyheardnoinappropriatestatementsfromthepoliceofficersatthesceneOfficersatthescenereportedtheybelievedOfficerBandOfficerDactedappropriatelyandnotednothingthatwouldgivevaliditytoComplainantsallegationsTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation2oftheComplaintisNotSustainedCOMMENTNone0rPCRBComplaint0304Page3