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HomeMy WebLinkAbout97-6PCRBPUBLICREPORTTOTHECITYCOUNCILReInvestigationofComplaintPCRB976ThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardsreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB976BOARDSRESPONSIBIIITYUnderOrdinance887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewtheChiefsReportoftheinvestigationofthecomplaintTheOrdinancerequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheChiefsReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseOrdinance887B2WhiletheOrdinancedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthatwerecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawOrdinance887B2abcBOARDSPROCEDUREOnDecember11997thisComplaintwasreceivedattheOfficeoftheCityClerkPursuanttoOrdinance973792theOrdinance885theComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationThePoliceChiefpreparedaReporttotheBoardtheChiefsReportwhichwascompletedandsubmittedonDecember231997TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithOrdinance887B1eTheBoardmetonJanuary7823291998andFebruary5and91998toconsidertheChiefsReportFINDINGSOFFACTThisComplaintarisesoutofthesamesituationthatgaverisetoComplaint974InNovember1997policeofficersinseveralpoliceearscametothecomplainantshometoarrestherhusbandWhenthecomplainantopenedherdoorinresponsetoanofficersknockthepoliceofficerswereusingavideocameratovideotapeherandsheclaimsoneofherchildrenaswellHerhusbandwasnothomeandtheofficersdepartedAftertheofficersleftthecomplainantlocatedherhusbandandaccompaniedhimtotheIowaCityPoliceDepartmentShe waitedthereformorethananhourShecomplainsthatshewasvideotapedwhileatthepolicedepartmentandattheJohnsonCountyJailandasshewasleavingthejailinhercarThecomplainantallegesthatthevideotapingwasdoneinretaliationbecauseapriorchargeagainstherhusbandwasunsuccessfulShealsocontendsthatthearrestofherhusbandwasnotlegitimateTheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefwhoorderedaninvestigationoftheComplaintTheinvestigatorinterviewedseveralwitnessesincludingtheofficerwhodidthevideotapinganotherofficerpresentatthetimetheJohnsonCountydeputiespresentatthetimethejailcontroloperatorandthecomplainantshusbandTheBoardinadditiontoreviewingtheChiefsReporthasreviewedthevideotapeThereisminordisputeaboutthefactshereThecomplainantallegesthatoneofherchildrenwasvideotapedtheReportindicatesthatnochildwasvideotapedThecomplainantallegesthatshewasvideotapeddrivingawayinhercartheofficerdeniesthatthefamilywasvideotapedleavingthejailNeithermatterhasanybearingonthesubstanceoftheComplaintCONCIUSIONSTheChiefsReportconcludedthatthevideotapewaspreparedbecausebasedonpriorexperiencewiththecomplainantshusbandtheofficerwasconcernedthatallegationsofmisconductwerelikelytobemadeagainsthimatterthearrestandtheofficerwantedtodocumentthecircumstancesofthearrestTheReportconcludedthatthepurposeofvideotapingthecomplainantbrieflywastoshowthatshewasnotupsetordistraughtThisconclusionisconsistentwiththecontentsofthevideotapeviewedbytheBoardissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotarbitraryorcapriciousTheChiefsReportfurtherconcludedbasedonamemopreparedbytheCityAttorneysofficethatvideotapingthecomplainantinapublicplacewasnotaviolationofthecomplainantscivilrightsTheChiefsconclusionthatthevideotapingdidnotviolatethelawwhichwasbasedonthismemoisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapricious 3TheChiefsReportalsoaddressedtheallegationthatthechargeagainstthecomplainantshusbandforwhichhewasarrestedinNovember1997wasnotlegitimateTheChiefsReportnotedthattheinformationleadingtothechargewasreviewedbyanAssistantCountyAttorneywhoadvisedthatthechargewasappropriatebeforethecomplainantshusbandwasarrestedTheReportsconclusionbasedonthisinformationthattheComplaintwaslegitimateandnotbasedonanofficersmalicetowardsthecomplainantshusbandissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotarbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglytheComplaintisNOTSUSTAINEDCOMMENTSAsnotedinthereportonPCRB974theDepartmentmaywishtoconsiderthepreparationofaguidelineorpolicyclarifyingunderwhatcircumstancesvideotapingisnecessaryorappropriateDATEDFebruary91998