Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout98-20PCRBPUBLICREPORTTOTHECITYCOUNCILThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardtheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB9820theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections887B2abandcBOARDSPROCEDUREOnNovember191998thisComplaintwasreceivedattheofficeoftheCityClerkAsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationTheChiefofPolicesubmittedhisReportonDecember181998TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1awhichmeansthatitchosetoreviewthematterontherecordbeforeitwithoutadditionalinvestigationbytheBoardTheBoardmetonDecember221998andJanuary51999toconsidertheComplaint 2FINDINGSOFFACTInNovember1998atapproximately745PMwhenthecomplainantwasleavingalocalrestauranthetoldtherestaurantemployeewhoinquiredabouthoweverythingwasthathewasdissatisfiedwithboththeserviceandtheventilationHelateradmittedthathewasatthetimeupsetInresponsetohiscomplainttherestaurantreducedtheamountofhisbillbyonehalfWhileattherestaurantthecomplainanthadconsumedtwobeersonetallandoneshortStillupsetthecomplainantdrovehometodropoffoneofhispassengershisoldestchildHethenlefthomeagainwithhistwoyoungerchildreninthecarAt808PMaboutablockfromthecomplainantshomeOfficer1stoppedhimHeinformedthecomplainantthathewasdoingsoinresponsetoacallfromtherestaurantabouthisconductthereandwhiledrivingawayandabouthispossibleintoxicationTheofficeraskedthecomplainanttostepoutofthecarandthenattemptedtoperformahorizontalgazenystagmustesttoassessthecomplainantssobrietyTheofficerreportedthathewasnotabletoobtainusableresultsbecausethecomplainantdidnotfollowhisdirectionscorrectlyThecomplainantlaterstatedthatOfficer2hadbythenarrivedonthesceneasbackupandcommentedtothecomplainantthathehadpassedthenystagmustestOfficer1thenaskedthecomplainanttoperformapreliminarybreathtestTheresultwas056underthe10presumptivelevelofintoxicationforOWlOfficer1thenpermittedthecomplainanttodriveoffTheChiefsReportindicatesthatthefollowingpeoplewereinterviewedduringtheinvestigationofthiscomplaintthecomplainantOfficer1andrestaurantstaff CONCLUSIONSAllegation1ThecomplainantwasunreasonablysearchedoutandstoppedOfficer1stoppedthecomplainantinresponsetoareportfromtherestaurantthathewasupsetpossiblyintoxicatedandhaddrivenawayfromtherestaurantatahighrateofspeedItwasappropriatefortheofficertopursuethismatterWheninterviewedthecomplainantstatedthathisrealcomplaintwaswiththerestaurantHealsoconfirmedthatduringthecourseofthestoptheofficerswerecourteousandprofessionalintheirdealingswithhimHenotedthathewishedthecomplaintwouldendwiththeinvestigationHesaidheintendedtofurtherdiscusshisdissatisfactionsdirectlywiththerestaurantTheChiefsconclusionthatOfficer1followedproperproceduresuponreceivingacomplaintofarecklessandpossiblyintoxicateddriverandfollowedituptoaresonableconclusionissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegationIisNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation2ThecomplainantwasunnecessarilygivenanalcoholbreathtestThecomplainantadmitsthathehadtwobeerswhileattherestaurantOfficer1detectedanodorofalcoholonthecomplainantsbreathwhenhestoppedhimReportingdifficultyinobtainingusableresultswiththenystagmustestOfficer1thenadministeredabreathtestwhichthedriverpassedTheChiefsconclusionthatasaresultofthereportmadebytherestaurantandinlightofOfficer1ssubsequentobservationofthedriveritwasreasonableandpropertoadministerabreathalcoholtestissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAccordinglyallegation2isNOTSUSTAINEDDATEDJanuary51999