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98-2
PCRBPUBLICREPORTTOTHECITYCOUNCILThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardtheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB982theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyiftheyareunmpportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorcontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections887B2abandcBOARDSPROCEDUREOnFebruary21998thisComplaintwasreceivedttheofficeoftheCityClerkAsrequiredbySeetrion885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationTheChiefcompletedhisReportandsubmittedittotheBoardonFebruary271998TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1awhichmeansthatitchosetoreviewthematterontherecordbeforeitwithoutadditionalinvestigationbytheBoardTheBoardmetonMarch4andMarch1119911toconsidertheReportFINDINGSOFFACTThisComplaintisoneoffivefiledin1997and1998bythiscomplainantOnJanuary251998thecomplainantwasdrivingdownthestreetHeobservedapoliceofficerparkedonthestreettalkingtoaneighborofthecomplainantTheofficer followedthecomplainantpulledhiscaroverandwrotehimaticketfordrivingwithanexpireddriverslicenseTheofficerreportedthathebelievedthatthecomplainantwasdrivingwithaninvaliddriverslicenseThecirmmmancesthatcausedtheofficertolearnthisinformationaboutthecomplainantacitizenhedidnotknowarenotclearlysetoutintheReportWhenthecomplainantdrovebytheneighboridentifiedthecomplainanttotheofficerTheofficergotintohissquadcarandcheckedthecomplainantinthecomputerfollowingthecomplainantwhileheawaitedaresponseWhentheofficerreceivedinformationthatthecomplainantsdriverslicensewasinfactexpiredhepulledthecomplainantoverandwrotehimatrafficticketTheofficerthenallowedthecomplainanttodrivehiscarhomeThecomplainantclaimsthatthestopofhisvehiclewaswithoutprobablecausethathewassubjectedtounreasonablesearchandseiztweandthatheisbeingharassedbythepoliceTheChiefsinvestigationevidentlyincludedreviewofasupplementalreportpreparedbytheofficerinquestionandareviewoftheticketwrittenbytheofficerCONCLUSIONAllegation1and2ThecomplainantallegesthatthestopofhisvehiclewaswithoutprobablecauseandfurtherthathewassubjectedtoanunreasonablesearchandseizureWeviewtheseasclaimsthatstoppinghisvehiclewasunlawfulandinviolationofhisrightsundertheConstitutionandwetreatthemtogetherDrivingwithanexpireddriverslicenseisunlawfulAnofficerwhohasreliablecurrentinformationthatindicatesthatanindividualisdrivingwithanexpireddriverslicensehasprobablecausetobelievethatthatindividualhasviolatedthelawThisprobablecausegivestheofficeralegitimatereasontostopthatindividualwhenheisdrivingavehicleandtowriteacitationforthatviolationTheofficerinthiscasebelievedthatthecomplainantwasdrivingwithanexpireddriverslicenseHecheckedthecomplainantsnameonthedataterminalinhiscarrightbeforemakingthestopHealsobelievedthatitwasthecomplainantdrivingthecarbecausetheneighbortoldhimsoThisinfomariongavetheofficerprobablecauseto stopthecomplainamsvehicleThemethodstheofficerusedtodeterminethatthecomplainantwasviolatingthelawcheckingthestatusofthecomplainantsdriverslicenseonthecomputerterminalandobtaininginformationfromtheneighboraboutthecomplainantsidentitydidnotviolatethecomplainantsconstitutionalrightsTheBoardfindsthattheconclusionsintheReportconcerningAllegations1and2thatthecomplainantsconstitutionalrightswerenotviolatedduringthisstoparesupportedbysubstantialevidenceandarenotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglytheseallegationsareNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation3ThecomplainantallegesthatthisincidentconstitutedpoliceharassmentTheReportconcludesthatbecausethestopwaslegitimatethecomplaintofpoliceharassmentiswithoutmeritWhilewedonotagreethatalawfulstopcanneverbethebasisofaclaimofharassmentthepoliceconductcomplainedofdoesnotseemtotheBoardtoconstituteharassmentTheofficerallowedthecomplainanttodrivehisownvehiclehomeeventhoughttheofficercouldhaveandaccordingtotheReportthepolicedepartmentordinarilywouldhaverequiredhimtostopdrivingthecarandhaveittowedThisdecisionbytheofficeravoidedexpenseandinconveniencetothecomplainantInadditionthecomplainantslicensehadbeenexpiredforoverfourmonthsatthetimeofthisincidentInlightofthesefactstheBoardfindsthattheconclusionintheReportregardingAllegation3thatthestopdidnotconstituteharassmentissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyAllegation3oftheComplaintisNOTSUSTAINEDDATEDMarch111998