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98-11
PCRBPUBLICREPORTTOTHECITYCOUNCILThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardtheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB9811theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections887B2abandcBOARDSPROCEDUREOnMay281998thisComplaintwasreceivedattheofficeoftheCityClerkAsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationOnJune251998theChiefrequesteda45dayextensiontocompletehisinvestigationInamemototheChiefonJune261998theBoardagreedtoa30dayextensionOnJuly241998theChiefrequestedasecondextensionoftimeforcompletionofhisreporttoAugust201998TheBoardagreedtothisrequestwithreservationscitinginitsmemototheChiefconcernsabouttheeffectofcontinuingdelaysontheBoardsworkingscheduleand 2onfairnesstothecomplainantTheChiefsReportwasreceivedonAugust201998TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1dandewhichmeansdthattheBoardmayrequestadditionalinvestigationbythePoliceChieforrequestpoliceassistanceintheBoardsownreviewandethattheBoardmayperformitsownadditionalinvestigationTheBoardrequestedadditionalinformationfromtheChiefinaletterdatedAugust271998OnSeptember31998theBoardrequestedfromtheCityCouncila45dayextensiontofileitspublicreportAtitsmeetingonSeptember91998theCityCouncilagreedtothe45odayextensionThefollowinginformationwastransmittedtotheBoardonSeptember281998IdentificationnumbersforthearrestingofficerandbackupofficersInformationaboutpolicepoliciesandproceduresforhandlingreportsoflostunattendedorabandonedchildrenCopyofthepolicedepartmentincidentreportCopyoftheuseofforcereportCopyofthecomplaintformfiledbythearrestingofficerCopyofthereporttotheDepartmentofHumanServicesTranscriptsofinterviewsthedepartmentconductedwiththefollowingPersonwhotookcontrolofthechildandinitiatedtherequestsforpoliceassistanceThispersonsspousePersonwhomadethecallsforpoliceassistanceWitnesswhoisaresidentoftheareawherethearresttookplaceOfficer790206dispatchedasbackuptothearrestingofficerComplainantandcomplainantscounselAlsoNotesonatelephoneconversationwithasisterofthecomplainantNotesonaninterviewwiththesecondbackupofficer970106Notesonanarrativeprovidedbyawomanwhoattendedthebabyshower 3ThefirstassistantcityattorneyexplainedinhertransmittallettertotheBoardthatsincethestatementoftheofficerwhoisthesubjectofthiscomplaintwascompelledduringtheinternalaffairsinvestigationthetranscriptcannotbereleasedwithoutauthorizationandtheofficerdeclinedtoauthorizefurtherreleaseBecausetheBoardwasawaitingthisinformationonSeptember31998itrequesteda45dayextensiontofileitspublicreportfromtheCityCouncilTheBoardmetonJune25July28August25September1and22andOctober61320and291998toconsidertheComplaintFINDINGSOFFACTOnApril51998Officer950831wasdispatchedtothe11O0blockofOakcrestStreettoinvestigateareportofapossiblelostunattendedorabandonedchildThecallhadbeenmadebyanemployeeofOaknollRetirementCenterattherequestofavisitorThevisitorsaidshehadobservedablackchildaboutfouryearsoldcryingandwanderingunattendedforatleastfifteenminutesDespiteconsiderableeffortshewasunabletofindhisguardianslocatehisapartmentorcommunicateverywellwithhimConcernedforhiswelfareparticularlysincehehadbeenheadedtowardabusystreetshetookhiminsidetheOaknollcomplextoawaitthepoliceWhentheofficerfirstarrivedhewasunabletolocateanyoneandlefttheareaTheemployeemadeasecondcallandtheofficerreturnedBythistimethecomplainantwhoitwaslaterdeterminedwasthechildsaunthadarrivedandclaimedthechildandwaswalkingtowardanearbyapartmentcomplexwithhimTheofficerattemptedtoascertainthechildssituationandobtainidentificationfromthecomplainantThecomplainantappearedtoignoretheofficersrepeatedrequeststhatshetalktohimandbegantorunoffTheofficerpursuedandgrabbedherBecause shewasresistinghebentheroveranearbyparkedcarcuffedherandplacedherinhispatrolcarThechildwaspartofalargegroupofAfricanpeoplewhohadgatheredatthe1100OakcrestcomplexforababyshowerforthecomplainantwhowassevenmonthspregnantAtthispointintheunfoldingsituationanumberoftheshowerguestscameoutsidesomeinanagitatedstateTheofficercalledforbackupsupportinamannerthatsuggestedtohisfellowofficersheneededthatsupportnowSimultaneouslythechildsmotherarrivedattheapartmentcomplexparkinglotandwasidentifiedbymembersoftheassembledgroupInadditionthegrouptoldtheofficerthatallofthemandnotjustthecomplainantwereresponsibleforthechildTheyaskedthatthecomplainantbeallowedtogofreeTheofficerinsteadtookthecomplainanttotheJohnsonCountyJailInresponsetoherreportthatshewasinpainduringtransportandprocessinghethentookhertoUniversityHospitalwhereshewasexaminedandreleasedafterabouttwohoursTheofficerreturnedhertothejailShewaschargedwithinterferencewithofficialactsCONCLUSIONSAllegation1ThearrestingofficerwasunprofessionalinhiscontactwiththecomplainantonApril51998AlthoughthesituationtheofficerencounteredmayhaveescalatedunnecessarilybecauseofculturallyrelateddifferencesinperceptionsaboutwhatwashappeningandhowbesttoresolvethemattertheevidencesuggeststhattheofficerdidattempttofollowproceduresappropriateforhandlingareportofalostunattendedorabandonedchildTheseincludedeterminingthechildssituationidentifyingtheappropriatecustodialpartyresolvingthesituationinthechildsfavorandmakingareporttotheDepartmentofHumanServices 5TheChiefsconclusionthattheofficeractedinaprofessionalmannerandfollowedthestepshewasobligedtoissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegation1isNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation2TheofficerusedexcessiveforceduringthecontactTheofficerrequestedthatthecomplainantwhohadtakenthechildbythehandandwasleadinghimtowardanapartmentbuildingshowhimsomeidentificationHemadethisrequesttwicebutthecomplainantappearedtobeignoringhimTheofficermadeathirdrequesttellingthecomplainantthatshewouldbearrestedifshedidnotcomplyAtthisshebegantorunfromhimTheofficerpursuedandgrabbedherBecauseshewasvigorouslyresistinghimhebentheroverthehoodofanearbycarputhandcuffsonherandplacedherinhispolicecarWitnessesconfirmthatthecomplainantwasloudagitatedanduncooperativeduringthistimeandthatsheattemptedtopushandkicktheofficerAfterthecomplainantwhowassevenmonthspregnantatthetimesaidshewasinpainwhilebeingtakentotheJohnsonCountyJailandduringprocessingtheretheofficertransportedhertoUniversityHospitalShewasexaminedandobservedforseveralhoursNoevidenceofanyinjurytoherorcompromisetoherpregnancywasidentifiedShewasreleasedfromthehospitalandtakenbacktojailbytheofficerTheChiefsconclusionthattheofficerdidnotuseexcessiveforceduringhiscontactwiththecomplainantissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegation2isNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation3TheofficersconductwasnotcivilizedwhilehandlingtheincidentItisclearfromtheinformationprovidedbyavarietyofwitnessesthatthesituationinwhichtheofficerbecameinvolvedescalatedquicklyatleastinpartbecauseofculturallybaseddifferencesin 6perceptionsofwhatwashappeningandhowitoughttoberesolvedTheevidencedoesindicatehoweverthattheofficerattemptedtopursuealegitimatecourseofconductandwhenthecomplainantresisteddidnotapplyexcessiveforceinrestrainingandsubduingthecomplainantTheChiefsconclusionthattheofficerwasdirectandtothepointinhisinquiriesexplainedhisintentionandthecomplainantsoptionsanddidnotengageininappropriateactionoruseinappropriatelanguageissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegation3isNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation4TherewasastrongelementofracialdiscriminationintheofficershandlingofthesituationTheofficermaynothavebeensensitivetotheinfluencethatbehaviorsandperceptionsofpeopleofaculturedifferentfromthatofmainstreammidwestAmericawerehavingonthesituationhewasdispatchedtoinvestigateButtheChiefconcludedandtherecordsupportsthattherewasnoevidenceofracistremarkshavingbeenmadeoranyactivitythatindicatedbiasorracialattitudeWhileraciallydisparagingtreatmentcouldexistevenabsentsuchexpressevidenceofracialanimustheChiefsconclusionthatitdidnothereissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegation4isNOTSUSTAINEDCOMMENTSAlthoughtheBoardisnotsustaininganyoftheallegationsmadeinthisComplaintweareconcernedthatthesituationthatproducedthemescalatedveryrapidlyandperhapsunnecessarilyWhileacknowledgingthatemotionswerealreadyintensifyingatthetimetheofficerarrivedonthescenewebelievethathecouldhavechosenacourseofactionthatwasmoresituationsensitivethantheonehefollowedForexamplehecouldhavechosentocommunicatewiththeassistanceofoneoftheassembled groupwhomighthavebeenabletocalmthesituationHecouldhavechosentointerpretthecomplainantslackofcooperationwithhisordersasbeingtheresultoffearpanicshameorconfusionSinceshewasdressedinamannerthatdidnotsuggestthatshehadidentificationwithherhecouldhaveaccompaniedhertoherapartmentwhereitcouldbepresumedshewouldhaveproduceditInotherwordshemighthaveexercisedmoreflexibilityabouthowtofulfillhisofficialstandardresponsibilitiesinthecontextofaclearlynonstandardsituationonethatincludedalargeandagitatedgroupofpeopleofadifferentculturemanyspeakinganunfamiliarlanguageInsteadthesituationescalatedsoquicklythatitwouldnotbeunreasonableforaloneofficertofeelthreatenedIndeedwhenofficer950831calledforbackupsoonafterarrivingonthesceneofficer970106reporteddetectingtheurgencyinhisvoiceWhileitmaybeunfairtoexpecttheofficertohaveperceivedimmediatelythattheAfricanshewasdealingwithmighthaveadifferentattitudeaboutspecificallywhoamongagroupisresponsibleforthewelfareofachildthisisanissuethatshouldbepartofthetrainingofpoliceinacommunityasdiverseasoursFinallyintheemotionallychargedatmospherethatdevelopedthewelfareofthechildtheissuetheofficerhadbeencalledtoinvestigateinthefirstplaceappearstohaverapidlybecomeaconcernperipheraltothebehaviorofthecomplainantWesupporttheChiefsrecommendationsfordepartmentactionconcerningfurthertraininginawarenessofculturaldiversityDATEDOctober291998