Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
98-14
PCRBPUBLICREPORTTOTHECITYCOUNCILThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardtheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB9814theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections887B2abandcBOARDSPROCEDUREComplaint9814wasreceivedattheofficeoftheCityClerkonJuly231998AsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationBecausethisComplaintandComplaint9816involvethesameincidentcitizensandofficerstheChiefissuedthesameReportforbothTheChiefsubmittedhisReporttotheBoardonAugust211998TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithCityCodeSection887B1dandewhichmeansdthattheBoardmayrequestadditionalinvestigationbythePoliceChieforrequestpoliceassistanceintheBoardsownreviewandethattheBoardmayperformitsownadditionalinvestigation TheBoardrequestedandwasgranteda45dayextensionoftimefromtheCityCouncilTheBoardrequestedadditionalinformationfromtheChiefinaletterdatedAugust271998ThefollowinginformationwastransmittedtotheBoardonSeptember281998CopyofthetrafficcitationforillegalrightturnInformationaboutpolicepoliciesandproceduresregardingtrafficcitationsforanimproperturnCopyofthecomputerprintoutrecordofthetrafficstopIdentificationnumbersfortletwoofficersinvolvedintheincidentTranscriptsofinterviewswiththefollowingpersonsOfficer970103thebackupofficerOfficer950828theofficerwhomadethestopAcivilianridingwithOfficer970103ThecomplainantThecomplainantswifeTheBoardmetonAugust251998September1221998October61320291998andNovember31998toconsidertheComplaintFINDINGSOFFACTAtapproximately1015PMonaSundaynightthecomplainantwhoisblackwasdrivingeastonHighway6withhiswifetheregisteredownerofthevehicleasapassengerHeturnedrightontoSycamoreStreetOfficer950828inplainclothesanddrivinganunmarkedcarstoppedthecomplainantonSycamoreformakinganimproperrightturnTheofficersummonedabackupunitandapproachedthedriversideofthecomplainantsvehiclewithhisflashlightshiningtowardthedriverThecomplainantobjectedtotheflashlightshininginhisfaceAfterinformingthecomplainantofthereasonforthestopOfficer950828askedforhislicenseandtookitbacktohiscarOfficer970103thebackupofficerjoinedOfficer950828todiscussthestopanditappearedtothecomplainantthattheofficerswerecomparingthedriverslicensetophotosinabookOfficer950828wroteacitationforanimproperrightturnaskedthecomplainanttosteptotherearofthevehicleandgavehimthecitationThe backupofficerplacedhimselfattherightrearofthecomplainantsvehicleOfficer950828askedifthereweredrugsorweaponsinthevehicleThecomplainantsaidtherewerenotThentheofficeraskedifhecouldsearchthevehicleThecomplainantsaidhedidnotmindbutthatitwashiswifescarandtheofficershouldaskherItisnotclearfromthewitnessstatementswhetherpermissionforthesearchwasaskedfororgivenbythewifeOfficer950828informedthecomplainantthathewasgoingtoperformapatdownsearchofthecomplainantbeforesearchingthevehicleAtaboutthetimehewassearchingthecomplainantthecomplainantswifebegantoexitthepassengersideofthevehicleandbegantoprotestangrilyaboutthesituationOfficer950828askedthecomplainantswifetosteptotherearofthevehicleanddirectedhertokeephervoicedownandtostopusingprofanityShesatonthecurbtotherightrearofthevehiclenearwherethebackupofficerwasstandingWhileOfficer950828searchedthepassengercompartmentofthevehiclethecomplainantswifecontinuedtoprotestanduseprofanityOfficer950828warnedhertocalmdownseveraltimesandatleastoncetoldherthatshewouldbearrestedfordisorderlyconductifshedidnotstopusingprofanityAtsomepointafterthecomplainantswifeexitedfromthevehicletheofficerswereinformedbythecomplainantandhiswifethatshehadrecentlydeliveredaprematurebabybyCsectionthattheywerereturningfromavisitwiththebabyinthehospitalandthatshewasfeelingstomachpainOfficer950828completedthevehiclesearchfindingnothingandexplainedtothecomplainantthathehadperformedthesearchinconnectionwiththeSCAToperationintheBroadwayareaThecomplainantandhiswifedepartedThecomplainantallegedthatOfficer950828sconductwasunjustifiedcruelandraciallymotivated 4CONCLUSIONSAllegation1TheofficersconductwasunjustifiedcruelandraciallymotivatedOfficer950828askedwhetherhecouldsearchthevehiclethecomplainantsaidthatthisleftanimpressionthathecoulddenypermissionforthesearchThecomplainantalsostatedthathefeltSycamoreStreetisnotintheBroadwayareathatisthetargetoftheSCAToperationNeverthelessIowalawcurrentlypermitsthesearchofthepassengercompartmentofthevehicleandthepersonofanyonecitedforatrafficviolationThecomplainantandthecomplainantswifebothreportedthatOfficer950828wasrudeprofaneaggressiveandintimidatingOfficer970103thebackupofficerstatedthatOfficer950828actedprofessionallyandthatneitherofthemusedprofanityAlthoughthecomplainantclaimedthathiswifewasshovedandthreatenedinherinterviewthewifedeniedanyuseofforceTheofficersandthecivilianwitnessalsoreportedthattherewerenothreatstowardeitherthecomplainantorthecomplainantswifenorwasthereanyphysicalcontactotherthanthepatdownsearchofthecomplainantTheclaimofracialmotivationcameprimarilyfromthecomplainantsstatementthatOfficer950828madereferencetoyoupeoplewhenhewasexplainingabouttheSCAToperationTheofficerdeniedusingthetermyoupeopleTheChiefsconclusionthattheofficerstreatmentofthecomplainantwasnotunjustifiedcruelorraciallymotivatedissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyAllegation1isNOTSUSTAINED COMMENTSItshouldbenotedthatthisisthesecondincidentwithinasixweekperiodthatanallegationoftheuseofprofanityhasbeenfiledagainstOfficer950828InthisincidentboththecomplainantandthecomplainantswifeclaimthatprofanitywasusedandbothofficersclaimthatitwasnotTheBoardsuggeststhattheChiefmakeitclearthroughwhatevermeanshedeemsappropriatethattheuseofprofanitybyofficerswhileactinginanofficialcapacityisunprofessionalconductThecomplainantswifehadrecentlyhadsurgeryandwasinpainAlthoughshewasloudandemotionalinherinteractionswiththeofficerOfficer950828sresponsetoherdoesnotappeartohavebeeneffectiveindeescalatingthesituationAlthoughtheBoardunderstandsthatitisnotalwayspossibletopreventanygivensituationfromescalatingweencouragetheChieftoenhancedepartmentaltraininginthisareaFinallyasnotedinotherBoardreportsinvolvingracerelatedallegationstheuseofracialtermsorcodewordssuchasyoupeopleisnottheonlyindicatorofracialmotivationWeencouragetheChieftoreinforcehiseffortstoinsureracialandculturalneutralityinalldepartmentpoliciespracticesandproceduresDATEDNovember41998