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03-08 03-09 03-10
POLICECITIZENSREVIEWBOARDABoardoftheCityofIowaCity410EastWashingtonStreetIowaCityIA5224018263193565041TOCityCounciltIComplainantStephenAtkinsCityManagerRJWinkelhakeChiefofPoliceOfficersinvolvedincomplaintFROMPoliceCitizensReviewBoardcoREInvestigationofPCRBComplaint03080309and0310DATE13January2004ThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardstheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB03080309and0310theComplaintBoardsResponsibilityUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887B2theBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferenceStotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthesefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorLocalLawSections887B2aBoardsProcedureTheComplaintswerereceivedattheOfficeoftheCityClerkTwowerefiledonAugust12003andathirdonAugust202003AsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintswerereferredtotheChiefofPoliceforinvestigationTheChiefsReportwasdueonOctober302003AnextensionwasrequestedandgrantedWithanextendedduedateofDecember52003TheChiefsReportwasfiledwiththeCityClerkonDecember32003PCRBfl03080309and0310Page1 TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintsinaccordancewithSection887B1aontherecordwithnoadditionalinvestigationTheBoardmettoconsidertheReportonDecember92003andJanuary132004FindinqsofFactPCRBComplaints0308and0309OnJune112003OfficerAwassummonedtoaconveniencestoreinresponsetoadispatchedfightinprogresscallComplainantsAandBandParticipantCwereallpresentOfficerDrecalledbeingthesecondofficertoarriveatthesceneUponarrivalOfficerDnotedthatComplainantsAandBwerestandingtowardthenorthendofthewestsideofthestorefrontandParticipantCwasatthesouthendofthestoreConflictinginformationobtainedininterviewswithComplainantsAandBParticipantCandClerksABandCmakeitdifficulttodeterminetheexactsequenceofeventswhowasinvolvedinthealtercationwhoremainedinsideandoroutsidethestorewhoplacedthecalltothepoliceandifthealtercationwassimplyverbalorifphysicalcontactoccurredAftertheinitialconfrontationbetweenComplainantsAandBandParticipantCbeganoutsidethestoreClerkBexitedthestoreseparatedthepartiesdirectedComplainantAinsidethestoreandrequestedParticipantCtoleavethepropertyParticipantCrefusedtoleavethepremisesstatinghewantedtowaitforthepolicetoardveItisunclearwhenComplainantsAandBexitedthestoreAllpartiesinterviewedagreedthatonlyOfficerAspokewithComplainantsAandBdudngtheinformationgatheringandresolutionperiodOfficerAdescribedhispersonaldemeanorassternandprojectedwithanelevatedvoiceleveltotheComplainantstoaffirmhisdirectivethattheyneededtoimmediatelyleavetheareaorbearrestedTheComplainantswerealsoinformedbyOfficerAthatchargeswouldnotbefiledagainstParticipantCfortheirallegationthathehadcommittedanassaultComplainantBinformedOfficerAhehadleftpersonalpropertyinsidethestoreandwasunwillingtoleavethepremiseswithoutretrievingitInhisinterviewOfficerAadmittedtotouchingComplainantBontheshouldertodirecthimtospeedilyretrievehispropertyfromthestoreandleavethepremisesWitnessaccountssupportthatOfficerAdidtouchComplainantBsshoulderbutnotinamannertocausepainorinjuryortobeinsultingtoComplainantBInhisinterviewClerkBstatedthatOfficersreturnedinsideandaskedifthesterewantedanytrespasswarningsissuedHesaidtheytoldtheofficerstheywantedParticipantCissuedatrespasswarningAfterdeliveringthemessagetoParticipantCtheofficersandthetwopartiesleftP6InvestigationsectionChiefsReportdated12303WithrespecttoPCRBcomplaint0309interviewswithParticipantCClerksABandCandOfficersABandDaffirmthatOfficerBwasnotpresentatthecallIntheirPCRB03080309and0310Page2 separateinterviewsComplainantsAandBbothindicatedthatwhentheyhadcalledthePoliceDepartmenton61103toaskwhohadrespondedtothealtercationattheconveniencestoretheyhadbeentolditwasOfficerBComplainantBinhisinterviewregardingcomplaint0309saidComplainantAgetsinformationscrambledduetotheamountofmedicationsshesonComplainantBsaidthatthishappenstohimaswellP4InvestigationsectionChiefsReportdated12203InhisinterviewComplainantBsaidthatOfficersBandDlookedsomewhatalikeHedidnotrecallOfficerBrespondingtothecallOfficerBwhenaskedbytheChiefofPoliceandagainbytheofficersinvestigatingthePCRBcomplaintsifherespondedtothisparticularincidentsaidtherewasnodoubtinhismindthathewasnotatthiscallPCRBcomplaint0310involvesasedesofincidentsthroughoutvariouslocationswithintheCityInseparateincidentsbothComplainantsAandBdepartedtheareawheretheyweretomeetofficersbeforetheOfficersarrivedInbothinstancesOfficerCmadeanefforttolocateComplainantsAandBUponlocatingthemcontactwasinitiatedandOfficerCtookappropriateactionasrequestedbyComplainantAietheissuanceofadirectivetoParticipantCtohavenocontactwithComplainantAdrivebysoflocationsofallegedvandalismonpropertyownedbyComplainantAandonpropertynotownedbyherandobtainingacopyofherjournalComplainantAdidnotprovidenamesoftheallegedwitnessestothevandalismsoOfficerCcouldfollowupwiththosepartiesComplainantBdeclinedtotakeanyactionfollowingtheallegedassaultnoristhereanyrecordofhishavingmadearequestforOfficerCtotakeanyfurtheractionatalaterdateConclusionComplaint0308Alieqation1RudenessTheobservationsandstatementsofallwitnessestotheeventofJune112003includingComplainantsAandBParticipantCClerksABandCandOfficersAandDindicateOfficerAhadsolecontactwithComplainantsAandBafterhisarrivalonthesceneOfficerDrecalledComplainantBbecomingbelligerentwithOfficerAspositiononthecallOfficerAindicatedheprojectedhispersonaldemeanorasstemandwithanelevatedvoiceleveltoaffirmhisdirectivetoComplainantsAandBthattheyneededtoleavetheareaorbearrestedafterComplainantBhadbecomeargumentativewithhimStatementsbyClerksAandCindicatesomeconfusionastotheirrecollectionofthisparticulareventduetonumerousprioraltercationsbetweenComplainantsAandBandParticipantCClerkBdeniedanyrudenessonthepartofOfficerAtowardtheComplainantsTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionsaresupportedbysubstantialevidenceandarenotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1ofthePCRB03080309and0310Page3 complaintisnotsustainedAlleqation2AssaultComplainantsallegethatOfficerAcommittedanassaultbyshovingtheshoulderofComplainantBwhenheturnedtowardtheconveniencestoretoretrievehispersonalbelongingswhichwerestillinsidethestoreOfficerAadmittedtotouchingComplainantBwhendirectinghimintothestoretoretrievehispropertyandtobringamorespeedyconclusiontothedisturbanceTheobservationsofOfficerDClerksAandBlendnosupporttothecontentionthatOfficerAsactionsweredonewithanyintenttocausepaininjuryortobeoffensivetoComplainantBTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionsaresupportedbysubstantialevidenceandarenotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation2ofthecomplaintisnotsustainedComplaint0309Alleqation1FailuretoSuperviseTestimonyofrespondingofficersofficernotatthesceneParticipantCandClerksaffirmedthatOfficerBwasnotpresentatthecallAsnotedintheChiefsreportTherewereadditionalconcernsrelatedtotheaccuracyofthecomplainantsaccountsofthismattergiventhefactthatnoonesupportsthecomplainantsassertionatOfficerBwaspresentatthesceneofthefightinprogresscallThisobviousdiscrepancylentitselftoquestionsregardingthecomplainantsrecollectionsabouttheentirematterP2SynopsissectionChiefsReportdated12303ComplainantBalsostatedthatbothheandComplainantAsometimesdonotrecalleventsaccuratelyTheChiefsreportconcludedRegardlessofwhichofficermayhavebeenpresentthereisnoevidencetosuggestthatinterventionwasnecessaryorappropriateandassuchthefailuretosuperviseclaimiswithoutmeritP10ConclusionofFactChiefsReportdated12203TheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionsaresupportedbysubstantialevidenceandarenotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAJlegation1ofthecomplaintisnotsustainedComplaint0310Allegation1FailuretoInvestiqateTheBoardbelievesthatreasonablestepsweretakenbyOfficerCtoaddresstheissuesofcontinuedharassmentandvandalismbyParticipantCagainstComplainantATheBoardalsorecognizesthatOfficerCtookadditionalactionstolocateandinitiatecontactwithComplainantsAandBwhentheyhaddepartedtheareastheyweretohavemethimatpriortohisarrivalOfficerCattherequestofComplainantAlocatedParticipantCandissuedaharassmentwarningandcontinuestoreaffirmthewagingOPCRB03080309andfl0310TIPage4rri withParticipantCeachtimeOfficerCseeshimOfficerCobtainedcopiesofComplainantAsjournalwhichcontainedinformationregardingpriorharassmentincidentsOfficerCinitiateddrivebyvisualverificationsofvandalismtopropertybelongingtoComplainantAandalsotopropertyshereportedasbeingvandalizedbyParticipantCbutnotownedbyherComplainantBonthenighthewasassaulteddeclinedtobeinvolvedintheissuanceofacriminalcomplaintTheChiefsreportstatedthattherewasnoevidencetosupportComplainantBsstatementthathedtoldOfficerCatalatertimethathewantedtopursueacriminalchargeTheBoardwilldefertotheChieFsassessmentIfanyinsufficientactistobeattributedtoOfficerCitisthefactthathedidnotmakeamoreassertiveefforttohaveComplainantAidentifythewitnessessheclaimedtohaveTheBoardfindsthattheChieFsconclusionsaresupportedbysubstantialevidenceandarenotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1ofthecomplaintisnotsustainedCommentNonePCRB03080309and0310cPage5