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99-03
PCRBPUBLICREPORTTOTHECITYCOUNCILThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardtheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRB9903theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections887B2abandcBOARDPROCEDUREThecomplainantinitiallycontactedtheMayorsofficedateunknownandwassentaPCRBcomplaintformOnMay41999theComplaintwasreceivedattheofficeoftheCityClerkAsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationTheChiefcompletedhisReportandsubmittedittotheBoardonJuly301999TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1awhichmeanstheBoardmayexamineallcomplaintinformationontherecordwithnoadditionalinformation 2TheChiefsinvestigationincludesaninterviewwiththecomplainantconductedbyinternalaffairsattheIowaCityPoliceDepartmentonMay131999beforetheComplainthadbeenformallyfiledwiththePCRBAtranscriptprovidedtothePCRBisasynopsisoftheinterviewsessionTheinterviewlasted19minutesTheBoardmetonAugust10andAugust241999toconsidertheReportFINDINGSOFFACTAtapproximately115aminApril1999thecomplainantandtwofriendsallHispanicmalesleftalocalbarinthedowntownareaendproceedednorthonDubuqueStreetenroutetoMotineILThecomplainantwasdrivingaToyota4x4pickuptruckwithoversizetiresThestreetswerewetandtherewasalightrainatthetimeAstheyproceedednorthonDubuqueStreettheywerefollowedforthreetofiveblocksbyamarkedpolicecarwhicheventuallymadearightturnontoasidestreetAllthreepassengersintheToyotawereawareofthepolicecarbehindthemThetwofriendsofthedrivertoldhimtobecarefulandwatchthespeedometersincetheyhadbeendrinkingContinuingnorthonDubuqueStreetafterthepolicecarturnedoffonasidestreettheymetasecondpolicecarsouthboundinthe600blockwhichafterpassingtheToyotamadeaUturnandbeganfollowingthemThecomplainantwasawareofthesecondpoliGevehiclebehindhimBothvehiclescontinuednorthonDubuqueStreetbeforebeingstoppedbyOfficer900430justnorthofFosterRoadOfficer900430approachedthepickuptruckandtoldthecomplainantthathewasstoppedbecausehehadbeenspeedingThecomplainantfelthehadnotbeenspeedingandtoldtheofficersoAfteradmittingtodrinkingafewbeersthecomplainantwasgiventwopreliminarybreathtestsbothregistering06Officer900430 thenissuedthecomplainantaspeedingticketfortenmilesoverthespeedlimit35mphina25mphzoneAsthecomplainantcontinuedtodenyspeedinghewastoldbytheofficeraccordingtotheinterviewattheIowaCityPoliceDepartmentonMay131999thathecouldhavegivenhimtwospeedingticketsTheofficertoldthecomplainantthatheclockedhimat25mphoverthespeedlimitjustbeforehemadetheUturnonDubuqueStreetandagainfarthernorthonDubuqueStreetAlsoduringtheinterviewthecomplainantsaidheaskedOfficer900430ifhecouldseehisspeedasregisteredontheradarWhenthisrequestwasdeniedthecomplainantaskedtheofficertotellthistohisfriendsHisfriendsweretoldbyOfficer900430thathedidnothavetoshowthespeedreadingbecauseitisnotIowalawThecomplainantwasnotallowedtodrivebecauseofthebreathtestApassengerwasgivenabreathtestandthenallowedtodrivethetruckCONCLUSIONAllegation1ThecomplainantfeelsthathewasstoppedonlybecausetheofficerobservedthreeHispanicmalesinhistruckandnotbecauseofthespeedHebelievesthatthefirstofficerfollowinghimwouldhavegivenhimaticketifhehadbeenspeedingOfficer900430statesthatwhenhemetthetruckanddetectedthespeedhecouldnotseewhowasinthetruckduetotherainandglareoflightsTheofficersaidhedidnotknowtherewereHispanicmalesinthetruckuntilafterthestopwasmadeThequestionofethnicbiasonbehalfoftheofficerwasdiscussedbythecomplainantandhispassengersontheirreturntoMolineandagainlaterthatdaywhenafriendofthecomplainantaformerpoliceofficersaidthatthecomplainantfittheprofileofcertainpeoplethatarestoppedbythepoliceHowevertherewasnothingsaidduringthestopregardingethnicbiasThequestionatthattimecenteredonthespeedofthevehiclewhich 4wasdeniedbythecomplainantbutwillbeamatterforthecourtTherefusaltoallowthecomplainanttoseethereadingontheradarunitprobablycreatedseriousdoubtinthemindofthecomplainantaboutthevalidityofthestopbutitappearstheofficerisnotrequiredtopermitthisAccordinglytheconclusionintheChiefsReport1thatthereisnoevidencetoindicateatrafficstopwasinitiatedduetothecomplainantsethnicorigin2thatthecomplainantsvehiclewasdetectedtobespeedingbyradarand3thatnothingwassaidduringthestoptoindicateethnicbiasissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousTheallegationisNOTSUSTAINEDDATEDAugust241999