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99-02
PCRBPUBLICREPORTTOTHECITYCOUNCILThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardtheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofPCRBComplaint9902theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections887B2abandcBOARDSPROCEDUREThecomplainantoriginallycontactedthePCRBbyletterdatedMarch181999ShewasadvisedbyletterdatedApril11999oftheproceduresanddeadlineforfilinghercomplaintaPCRBcomplaintformwasenclosedwiththisletterOnApril61999theComplaintwasreceivedattheofficeoftheCityClerkAsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationTheChiefsReportwasreceivedonMay71999TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1adwhichmeansthattheBoardmayrequestadditionalinvestigationbythePoliceChieforrequestpoliceassistanceintheBoards ownreviewOnJuly27theBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1bwhichmeansthattheBoardmayinterviewormeetwiththecomplainantByletterdatedMay131999theBoardrequestedthefollowingadditionalinformationtranscriptoftheinterviewwiththecomplainantandtranscriptoftheinterviewswiththetwoofficerswhoaresubjectsoftheComplaintAsanattachmenttoaletterdatedJune181999theFirstAssistantCityAttorneyprovidedasynopsisofthecomplainantsstatementwhichhadbeentakenbytwointernalaffairsinvestigatorsbeforeshefiledherComplaintShealsoreportedthattheofficershaddeclinedtoreleasetheirstatementstotheBoardOnJuly28aBoardmemberinterviewedthecomplainantbytelephoneTheBoardmetonMay11May25June8June21July13July27andAugust101999toconsidertheComplaintFINDINGSOFFACTInMarch1999atapproximately515pmOfficers1and2followedthecomplainantablackfemalewhowasdrivingafriendsNissanpickuptruckandwhomtheyhadoriginallyobservedattheTownandCampusApartmentsonArthurStreetfromtheintersectionofHighway6andGilbertStreettotheintersectionofHighways923and921onSouthRiversidewheretheystoppedherforthetrafficviolationofcrossingthecenterlinewithbothlefttiresTheofficerswerewearingidenticalcivilianclothingandweredrivinganunmarkedlightbluevehicleOfficer1askedthecomplainantforherlicenseandproofofinsurancewhichsheproducedHeranarecordscheckonthecomplainantandhervehicletoldhershewasfreetogoandturnedawayfromherAsshepreparedtoleaveOfficer1thenturnedbackandaskedherifhecouldhavepermissiontosearchthetruckTheofficersreportedthattheyadvisedthecomplainant 3thattheywereassignedtotheSpecialCrimesActionTeamSCATandexplainedwhattheydoAtfirstthecomplainantrefusedtopermitthesearchThenreportingthatshefeltpressuredtodosoastheofficerscontinuedtoaskandtoquestionherrefusalsshereluctantlyassentedtothesearchShewastoldtostepawayfromthetruckduringthesearchShewasaskedifshehadanyweaponsordrugsandsherepliednoShewasthentoldtoemptythecontentsofherpocketsonthehoodoftheofficersvehicleShecompliedNoillegalitemswerefoundnotrafficcitationwasissuedandthecomplainantwasallowedtoleavethesceneTheofficersreportedthatthesearchwascursoryandtooklessthanaminuteandthattheythankedthecomplainantforhercooperationTheChiefsinvestigationincludedaninterviewwiththecomplainantconductedbytwointernalaffairsinvestigatorsatherresidenceonApril61999beforetheComplainthadbeenformallyfiledwiththePCRBitwasnottaperecordedThetranscriptprovidedtothePCRBisasynopsisbasedonnotestakenduringtheinterviewsessionCONCLUSIONAllegation1ThecomplainantbelievesshewasunfairlytargetedsingledoutandstoppedwhenotherdriverswerecommittingmoreserioustrafficviolationsintheareawhereshewasstoppedTheofficersreportthattheyfollowedthevehiclebecausetheyhadobservedsomesuspiciousbehavioronthepartofthenephewofacoworkerofthecomplainantwhenthevehicleshewasdrivingwasparkedatTownandCampusApartmentsThecomplainantstatedshewasparkedintheareabecausetheyoungmanhadlockedhiskeysinhiscarnearMuscatineand7thAvenuesandhadrequestedthatshegivehimaridetohisunclesapartmentintheTownandCampuscomplextopickupasparesetofkeysShewaswaitinginherparkedtruckwhilehewasinsidethecomplex 4TheofficersreportedthatthereissubstantialdrugandotherillegalactivityinthegeneralareaofthecitythatincludestheapartmentcomplexandthattheynotedthefollowingsuspiciousbehavioronthepartoftheyoungmanhewastalkingtosomeoneseatedintheparkedtruckheleanedintobothsidesoftheparkedtruckheseemednervousandkeptlookingattheofficersfromtimetotimehelookedintothewindowofanotherparkedvehicleTheyreportedthathethengotintothepassengersideofthetruckTheofficersstoppedthecomplainantfortheminortrafficviolationofcrossinglanelineswhichshedoesnotdisputethoughshepointedoutthattwootherdriversbothwhiteintheimmediatevicinitywereatthesametimecommittingclearlyvisiblemoreseriousoffensesspeedingandmakingerraticlanechangeswithoutsignalingNocitationwasissuedandthestopwasofshortdurationWefindthattheChiefsconclusionthattheofficersobservationsofactivitytheydeemedsuspiciouswarrantedtheiractionsinfollowingthevehiclesinceprobablecauseisnotrequiredtocontinueobservingasubjectinplainviewandtheydidnotviolatedepartmentpolicyorapplicablelawFurtherwefindthattheChiefsconclusionthattheofficersstopofthecomplainantforcrossingthecenterlinewhichshedidnotdisputewassupportedbyprobablecauseanddidnotviolatedepartmentpolicyorapplicablelawInbothcasestheChiefsconclusionsaresupportedbysubstantialevidenceandarenotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1ofthecomplaintisNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation2ThecomplainantfeelsthatshewasintimidatedintoconsentingtoasearchofthevehicleandthatbypressuringhertodosotheofficersoversteppedtheboundsandviolatedherrightsTheofficersreportedthattheeventsleadinguptotheassenttosearchconsistedofanexplanationoftheirroleinSCATarequesttosearchthevehicleand severalquestionstothecomplainantastowhyshewasrefusingthesearchAlthoughthecomplainantdoesnotclaimshewastreatedovertlyinappropriatelyduringthestopshereportedthatshefeltshehadbeensingledoutbecauseofherraceandfeltinsistentlypressuredtoassenttoasearchShereportedthatalthoughtheofficersdidnotbullyhertheirconstantandtoherinsinceresmilingborderedoncondescensionThecomplainantsaidthatsinceshefeltintimidatedbytheofficersbehaviorhadnothingtohideandfeltthatshewouldnotbepermittedtoleaveuntilsheassentedsheagreedtopermitthesearchInherinterviewwiththePCRBBoardmemberthecomplainantstatedthatthelocationofthetrafficstoponSouthRiversidewasaremoteareaandthatdarkwasapproachingShesaidshedidnotunderstandwhytheofficersfollowedhersofarandstoppedherinsucharemotearearatherthanintownShereportedthatshefeltuncomfortableandunsafewhentheofficerspersistedinquestioningherrefusaltosubmittoasearchTheChiefsReportconcludesthatfeelingsofintimidationarecommonintrafficstopsandhavenotservedtonullifyvoluntaryconsentWefindthattheChiefsconclusionthatthesearchwasproperunderthelawissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation2ofthecomplaintisNOTSUSTAINEDCOMMENTSInhisrecommendationtheChiefcitestheimportanceofsecuringvoluntaryconsentforvehiclesearchesandrecommendsthattheseofficersreviewdepartmentpolicyontrafficstopsandthelawconcerningconsenttosearchDATEDAugust101999