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WebLinkAbout03-13POLICECITIZENSREVIEWBOARDABoardoftheCityofIowaCity410EastWashingtonStreetIowaCityIA5224018263193565041TOCityCouncilComplainantStephenAtkinsCityManagerRJWinkelhakeChiefofPoliceOfficersinvolvedincomplaintFROMPoliceCitizensReviewBoardREInvestigationofPCRBComplaint0313DATE9March2004ThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardstheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB0313theComplaintBoardsResponsibilityUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887B2theBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetothereportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthesefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorLocalLawSections887B2abandcBoardsProcedureTheComplaintwasreceivedattheOfficeoftheCityClerkonOctober172003AsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforInvestigationTheChiefsReportwasdueJanuary152004andwasfiledwiththeCityClerkJanuary152004PCRB0313Page1 TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection88BbinterviewmeetwithComplainantand887B1eperformancebyBoardOFownadditionalinvestigationqcRepeatedeffortsweremadetocontactwitnesseswhosefullnameswowinosuccessThecomplainantwascontactedbuteffortstomeetforanitervieaLwereunsuccessfulTheBoardmettoconsidertheReportonFebruary112004andagainonMarch92004FindingsofFactOnOctober172003theComplainantfiledacomplaintwiththeICPRBregardingthetreatmenthereceivedwhenarrestedatadowntownbaronAugust292003TheComplainantwaschargedwithassaultonapoliceofficertwocountsofinterferencewithofficialactsanddisorderlyconductFiveallegationsweremadeagainstofficersABCandD1failureofofficerstoidentifythemselvesatinitialcontact2excessiveforcewhilesearchingtheComplainant3ComplainantsprayedwithOCwhileinbackseatofsquadcarwithoutjustification4Complainantstruckinheadwhilesittinghandcuffedinsquadcarand5postindictmentharassmentofComplainantTheincidentbeganwhen4officersassignedtoPAULAenforcementwereapproachedbyanunidentifiedemployeeofthebarwhorequestedtheirassistancewithanindividualtheemployeeclaimedwaspickingfightsinthebarTheofficersweredirectedtothetopfloorofthebarwhereofficersCandDobservedtheComplainantpushanotherindividualunidentifiedTheComplainantwasidentifiedbythebaremployeeasthepersonwhohadbeencausingtroubleOfficerCstatedthatafterobservingtheComplainantpushtheotherindividualheofficerCtookholdoftheComplainantsarmwhileidentifyinghimselfasapoliceofficerOfficerCwasinuniformandinformedtheComplainantthathewasunderarrestTheComplainantreportedthattheofficerdidnotidentifyhimselfOfficerCattemptedtoplacetheComplainantshandsbehindhisbackbuttheComplainantresistedOfficersAandDassistedOfficerCcufftheComplainantwhowasthenescortedoutofthebarandtotheSCATvehiclewherehewassearchedOfficerBdescribedtheComplainantasresistiveduringthesearchTocontroltheComplainantOfficerBgraspedtheComplainantsrightarmandappliedpressuretohisbackwithhistheofficersforearmTheComplainantraisedoneofhislegsseveraltimesineffortsOfficerBperceivedasattemptstokickhimTopreventtheComplainantfromkickinghimOfficerBsteppedonhisfootandtrappeditonthePCRB0313Page2 groundAfterthesearchwascompletedtheComplainantwastakentoOfficerEscartobetransportedtotheJohnsonCountyJailTheComplainantsatontherearseatbutrefusedtoputhislegsandfeetinsidethevehicleWhenOfficerBtriedtogethisfeetintothevehicletheComplainantattemptedtokickhimwhichtheofficeravoidedbybackingupAtthispointOfficerAmovedforwardandexposedtheComplainanttoCCsprayThisresultedintheComplainantmovinghisfeetintothecarAnumberofofficersreportedthattheComplainantwassprayedwithwateatoprderelieffromtheCCNoestimateoftimelapsewasprovidedOfficerEtransportedtheComplainantfirsttotheUniversityTreatmentCerrfedecontaminationandthentotheJohnsonCountyJailConclusion7Allegation1OfficersfailedtoidentifythemselveswhentheyfirstplacedflandsonhimComplainantandarrestedhimThearrestingofficerswereallinuniformOfficersCandAwhotookcontroloftheComplainantsarmsstatedthattheyidentifiedthemselvesaspoliceofficersOfficerDwhohandcuffedtheComplainantindicatedthathedidnotheartheotherofficersstatementsprobablybecauseofthenoiselevelinthebarTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1isNotSustainedAllegation2OfficersusedexcessiveforcewhilepattinghimComplainantdownbyplacinganelbowinhisbackOfficersreportthattheComplainantwasresistivewhilebeingsearchedandattemptedtokickattheofficerpattinghimdownOfficerBstoodontheComplainantsfoottopreventfurtherkicksOfficerscommonlyplaceaforearminthebackofanactivelyresistingsubjecttocontroltheirmovementsanddisrupttheirbalanceTheChiefsreportconcludedthatthiswasreasonableforcetoprotecttheofficerfromnjuryTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation2isNotustainedAllegation3AnofficersprayedhimtheComplainantwithOCfornoreasonafterhewasplacedinthebackofthesquadcarTheComplainantrefusedtoplacehisfeetinthesquadcarandkickedatOfficerBasPCRB0313Page3 heattemptedtoplacetheComplainantsfeetinthecarOfficerBsteppedbacktoavoidgettingkickedandOfficerAafterconfirmingwithOfficerBthattheComplainanthadattemptedtokickhimappliedOCtoinducetheComplainanttogetintothecarwhichhedidTheChiefsreportstatesthattheComplainantwasataLevel4assaultUseofForceandthatOfficerArespondedwithaLevel3UseofForceTheresponsewaswithinthedepartmentspolicyandproceduresTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation3isNotSustainedAllegationfl4AnofficerhithimtheComplainantintheheadwhilehewasinthesquadcarTheComplainantclaimsthatwhilehewasbeingsprayedwithOChewasalsopunchedintheforeheadTheChiefsreportindicatedthatnoneoftheofficersinterviewedsawanyonestriketheComplainantintheheadTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegationfl4isNotSustainedAllegation5PostarrestharassmentAccordingtotheChiefsreporttherewasnoharassmentThereportstatedtheofficersindicatedtheydidnotknowwheretheComplainantresidedTheBoardfindsthattheChiefsconclusionissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation5isNotSustainedCOMMENTNonePCRB0313Page4