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HomeMy WebLinkAbout97-4PCRBPUBLICREPORTTOTHECITYCOUNCILIRelnvestigafi0nof0omplaintcRB974ThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardsreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB974BOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUnderOrdinance887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewtheChiefsReportoftheinvestigationofthecomplaintTheOrdinancerequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheChiefsReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseOrdinance887B2WhiletheOrdinancedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthatwerecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceiftheyareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousoriftheyarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawOrdinance887B2aCocBOARDSPROCEDUREOnNovember171997thisComplaintwasreceivedattheOfficeoftheCityClerkPursuanttoOrdinance973792theOrdinance885theComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationThePoliceChiefpreparedaReporttotheBoardtheChiefsReportwhichwascompletedandsubmittedonDecember171997TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithOrdinance887B1eTheBoardmetonDecember231997January7823291998andFebruary591998toconsidertheChiefsReportFINDINGSOFFACTThisComplaintarisesoutofasituationthatalsogaverisetoComplaint976InNovember1997thecomplainantssonwasarrestedandbroughttotheJohnsonCountyJailThecomplainantallegesthatwhileshewaswaitingwithherdaughterinlawforhersontobereleasedonbailtheofficerwhoisthesubjectofthisComplaintvideotapedthecomplainantwhileshewaswaitingandagainasshewasleavinginhercarAllwitnessesagree 2thatSomevideotapingtookplaceThecomplainantclaimsthatthisvideotapingviolatedhercivilrightsthatitwasdoneinanattempttoharassandintimidateherandherfamilyandthatitwasdonetoincitehersonTheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefwhoorderedaninvestigationoftheComplaintTheinvestigatorinterviewedseveralwitnessesincludingtheofficerwhodidthevideotapinganotherofficerpresentatthetimetheJohnsonCountydeputiespresentatthetimeandthejailcontroloperatorThecomplainantssonwasalsointerviewedTheBoardinadditiontoreviewingtheChiefsReporthasreviewedthevideotapeTheBoardalsoreceivedlettersonJanuary141998andJanuary271998fromcomplainantregardinghercomplaintCONCIUSIONSTheChiefsReportconcludedthatthevideotapewaspreparedbecausebasedonpriorexperiencewiththecomplainantssontheofficerwasconcernedthatallegationsofmisconductwerelikelytobemadeagainsthimafterthearrestandtheofficerwantedtodocumentthecircumstancesoftheanestTheReportconcludedthatthepurposeofvideotapingthecomplainantbrieflywastonotethatshewasnottraumatizednottoharassorupsetherortoincitehersonThisconclusionisconsistentwiththecontentsofthevideotapeviewedbytheBoardissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotarbitraryorcapriciousTheChiefsReportfurtherconcludedbasedonamemopreparedbytheCityAttomeysofficethatvideotapingthecomplainantinapublicplacewasnotaviolationofhercivilrightsTheChiefsconclusionthatthevideotapingdidnotviolatethelawwhichwasbasedonthismemoisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglytheComplaintisNOTSUSTAINEDCOMlVlENTSTheDepartmentmaywishtoconsiderthepreparationofaguidelineorpolicyclarifyingunderwhatcircumstancesvideotapingisnecessaryorappropriateDATEDFebruary91998