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98-16
PCRBPUBLICREPORTTOTHECITYCOUNCILThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardtheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB9816theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections887B2abandcBOARDSPROCEDUREComplaint9814wasreceivedattheofficeoftheCityClerkonJuly281998AsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationBecausethisComplaintandComplaint9814involvethesameincidentcitizensandofficerstheChiefissuedthesameReportforbothTheChiefsubmittedhisReporttotheBoardonAugust211998TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithCityCodeSection887B1dandewhichmeansdthattheBoardmayrequestadditionalinvestigationbythePoliceChieforrequestpoliceassistanceintheBoardsownreviewandethattheBoardmayperformitsownadditionalinvestigationTheBoardrequestedandwas granteda45dayextensionoftimefromtheCityCouncilTheBoardrequestedadditionalinformationfromtheChiefinaletterdatedAugust271998ThefollowinginformationwastransmittedtotheBoardonSeptember281998CopyofthetrafficcitationforillegalrightturnInformationaboutpolicepoliciesandproceduresregardingtrafficcitationsforanimproperturnCopyofthecomputerprintoutrecordofthetrafficstopIdentificationnumbersforthetwoofficersinvolvedintheincidentTranscriptsofinterviewswiththefollowingpersonsOfficer970103thebackupofficerOfficer950828theofficerwhomadethestopAcivilianridingwithOfficer970103ThecomplainantThecomplainantshusbandTheBoardmetonAugust251998September1221998October61320291998andNovember31998toconsidertheComplaintFINDINGSOFFACTAtapproximately1015PMonaSundaynightthecomplainantwhoisblackwasridingasapassengerwithherhusbandtravelingeastonHighway6ThecomplainantistheregisteredownerofthevehicleThecomplainantshusbandturnedrightontoSycamoreStreetOfficer950828inplainclothesanddrivinganunmarkedcarstoppedthevehicleonSycamoreStreetformakinganimproperrightturnTheofficersummonedabackupunitandapproachedthedriversideofthecomplainantsvehiclewithhisflashlightshiningtowardthecomplainantshusbandThehusbandobjectedtotheflashlightshininginhisfaceAfterexplainingthereasonforthestopOfficer950828askedforthehusbandslicenseandtookitbacktohiscarOfficer970103thebackupofficerjoinedOfficer950828todiscussthestopanditappearedtothecomplainantthattheofficerswerecomparingthedriverslicensetophotosinabook 3Officer950828wroteacitationforanimproperrightturnaskedthecomplainantshusbandtosteptotherearofthevehicleandgavehimthecitationThebackupofficerplacedhimselfattherightrearofthecomplainantsvehicleOfficer950828askedifthereweredrugsorweaponsinthevehicleThecomplainantshusbandsaidtherewerenotThentheofficeraskedifhecouldsearchthevehicleThecomplainantshusbandsaidhedidnotmindbutthatitwashiswifesthecomplainantscarandtheofficershouldaskherItisnotclearfromthewitnessstatementswhetherpermissionforthesearchwasaskedfororgivenbythecomplainantOfficer950828informedthecomplainantshusbandthathewasgoingtoperformapatdownsearchofhimbeforesearchingthevehicleAtaboutthetimehewassearchingthecomplainantshusbandthecomplainantbegantoexitthepassengersideofthevehicleandbegantoprotestangrilyaboutthesituationOfficer950828askedthecomplainanttosteptotherearofthevehicleanddirectedhertokeephervoicedownandtostopusingprofanityShesatonthecurbtotherightrearofthevehiclenearwherethebackupofficerwasstandingWhileOfficer950828searchedthepassengercompartmentofthevehiclethecomplainantcontinuedtoprotestanduseprofanityOfficer950828warnedhertocalmdownseveraltimesandatleastoncetoldherthatshewouldbearrestedfordisorderlyconductifshedidnotstopusingprofanityAtsomepointafterthecomplainantexitedfromthevehicletheofficerswereinformedbythecomplainantandherhusbandthatshehadrecentlydeliveredaprematurebabybyCsectionthattheywerereturningfromavisitwiththebabyinthehospitalandthatshewasfeelingstomachpainOfficer950828completedthevehiclesearchfindingnothingandexplainedtothecomplainantshusbandthathehadperformedthesearchin connectionwiththeSCAToperationintheBroadwayareaThecomplainantandherhusbanddepartedTheChiefinferredfromthecomplainantsstatementsthefollowingallegations1excessiveuseofforce2unreasonablesearchand3unprofessionalconductCONCLUSIONSAllegation1ExcessiveuseofforceAlthoughthecomplainantandherhusbandinitiallyclaimedthatthecomplainantwasshovedandthreatenedinherinterviewthecomplainantdeniedanyuseofforceagainstherTheofficersandcivilianwitnessalsoreportedthattherewerenothreatstowardthecomplainantnoranyphysicalcontactotherthanthepatdownsearchofthecomplainantshusbandTheChiefsconclusionthattherewasnotexcessiveuseofforceissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegation1isNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation2UnreasonablesearchThecomplainantwasstoppedforatrafficviolationWhenOfficer950828askedforpermissiontosearchthevehiclethecomplainantsaidthatthisrequestleftanimpressionthatpermissiontosearchthevehiclecouldbedeniedInadditionthecomplainantwasinphysicaldiscomfortandanxioustogohometotakehermedicationThecomplainantalsocouldnotunderstandwhyaminortrafficviolationwouldresultinquestioningaboutdrugsandweaponsandentailavehiclesearchNeverthelessIowalawcurrentlypermitsthesearchofthepassengercompartmentofthevehicleandthepersonofanyonecitedforatrafficviolationTheChiefsconclusionthattherewasnotanunreasonablesearchissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyAllegation2isNOTSUSTAINED COMMENTSInhisreportonPCRB9814theChiefinferredathirdallegationinPCRBComplaint9816thathedidnotaddressinhisFindingsunprofessionalconductAlthoughtheBoarddecidednottorefertheComplaintbacktotheChiefitshouldbenotedthatthisisthesecondincidentwithinasixweekperiodthatanallegationoftheuseofprofanityhasbeenfiledagainstOfficer950828InthisincidentthecomplainantandthecomplainantswifeclaimthatprofanitywasusedandbothofficersclaimthatitwasnotTheBoardsuggeststhattheChiefmakeitclearthroughwhatevermeanshedeemsappropriatethattheuseofprofanitybyofficerswhileactinginanofficialcapacityisunprofessionalconductThecomplainanthadrecentlyhadsurgeryandwasinpainAlthoughshewasloudandemotionalwiththeofficersOfficer950828sresponsetoherdoesnotappeartohavebeeneffectiveindeescalatingthesituationAlthoughtheBoardunderstandsthatitisnotalwayspossibletopreventanygivensituationfromescalatingweencouragetheChieftoenhancedepartmentaltraininginthisareaFinallyasnotedinotherBoardreportsinvolvingracerelatedallegationstheuseofracialtermsorcodewordssuchasyoupeopleisnottheonlyindicatorofracialmotivationWeencouragetheChieftoreinforcehiseffortstoinsureracialandculturalneutralityinalldepartmentpoliciespracticesandproceduresDATEDNovember41998