Police Officer Involved Domestic Violence.
Lighting a candle of remembrance for those who've lost their lives to domestic violence behind the blue wall, for strength and wisdom to those still there, and a non-ending prayer for those who thought they had escaped but can't stop being afraid.
To see this display larger, gohere. I'll be adjusting the date monthly so it will remain on the top of the blog. Sadly, it will continue to be updated.
...A police supervisor was immediately dispatched to the scene and contacted the victim who advised that during an argument, her husband, identified as 43 year old Alain Jones, had physically attacked her...
(Jones is referred to as "detective" in other recent news.)
SPD OFFICER ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY
KSLA
Posted: Dec 22, 2009 1:33 PM PST
Updated: Dec 22, 2009 1:33 PM PST
[Excerpts] ...Shreveport Police have arrested fellow officer 43-year-old Cpl. Alain Jones following a call from Jones' wife. According to police reports, the call went out Monday night... When a Shreveport Police supervisor arrived at the home, the victim reportedly told police that during an argument Jones allegedly physically attacked her. Cpl. Jones now faces a charge of domestic abuse battery and was issued a misdemeanor summons. Jones is now on administrative leave... [LINK]
SHREVEPORT POLICE OFFICER CITED FOR BATTERY
KTBS
Posted: Dec 22, 2009 3:19 PM
[Excerpts] ...A police supervisor was immediately dispatched to the scene and contacted the victim who advised that during an argument, her husband, identified as 43 year old Alain Jones, had physically attacked her. Based on information gathered during the investigation, the patrol supervisor charged Jones with one count of domestic abuse battery. Jones was issued a misdemeanor summons... Cpl. Jones, who joined the Shreveport Police Department in March of 1995, has been placed on administrative leave by Shreveport Police Chief Henry Whitehorn IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEPARTMENTAL POLICY. [LINK] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety louisiana state policy procedure general order]
A detective with the South Bend Police Department was arrested early Saturday after allegedly beating her husband, also a South Bend cop, in their home... [Cpl. Meredith] Hanley's husband, 41-year-old [SH], is a lieutenant with South Bend police. They both work in the detective bureau... Hanley was taken to the St. Joseph County Jail by county police and held without bond. But she was released from jail at 4 p.m... Meredith Hanley actually worked for the county prosecutor's office in the past in their special victim's unit; where she worked with those with family violence issues...
SOUTH BEND DETECTIVE ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
WSBT
By Kelli Stopczynski
Dec 19, 2009
[Excerpts] A 10-year veteran of the city's police department is on administrative leave, following a domestic violence arrest early Saturday morning. St. Joseph County Police Sgt. Bill Redman confirmed Cpl. Meredith Hanley, a detective in the department, was arrested at her home after an alleged incident involving her husband, who is also a South Bend police officer. Her husband was not arrested. Redman said police were called to a neighbor of the Hanleys at 1:35 a.m. The victim went there after the alleged assault. He told the officers Meredith had struck him over the head during an argument, and then scratched his neck and ear as he was standing back up... Officers then went to the Hanley residence. When Meredith didn’t come to the door, they got the garage door code from her husband and entered the home... she said she didn’t want to speak to the officers and requested an attorney. She was arrested for domestic violence/battery, a misdemeanor... Meredith will be on paid administrative leave until the Board of Public Safety votes to make it unpaid. [Full article here]
SOUTH BEND OFFICER ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC BATTERY
Corporal accused of striking her husband.
South Bend Tribune
By Mary Kate Malone
Dec 19, 2009
[Excerpts] A detective with the South Bend Police Department was arrested early Saturday after allegedly beating her husband, also a South Bend cop, in their home... [Cpl. Meredith] Hanley's husband, 41-year-old [SH], is a lieutenant with South Bend police. They both work in the detective bureau. The department has placed Meredith Hanley on administrative leave, taking away her police powers, badge and gun... [SH] told police that his wife turned violent during a verbal argument... Meredith Hanley allegedly struck her husband in the head several times and scratched his neck and ear, police said. He sustained visible injuries, police said. Both had been drinking that evening... [SH] called police after the assault and fled to a neighbor's house, occupied by his boss, Rick Bishop, division chief of the detective bureau... She was booked into the St. Joseph County Jail, where she is being held without bond... Meredith Hanley is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Monday... [SH] has been with the department for 16 years; Meredith Hanley for 10 years, police said. The four-member Board of Public Safety will decide whether to put her on unpaid leave... [Full article here]
UPDATE: SB OFFICER OUT OF JAIL, CASE TURNED OVER TO SPECIAL PROSECUTOR
A South Bend police officer is out of jail after being arrested on domestic violence charges. Meredith Hanley allegedly attacked her husband, who is also a South Bend cop.
WNDU
Reporter: Ryan Famuliner
Posted: 6:12 PM Dec 21, 2009
Updated: 4:12 PM Dec 22, 2009
[Excerpts] A South Bend police officer is out of jail after being arrested on domestic violence charges... Despite a court appearance Tuesday, there are still no official charges against Hanley. The judge set a status hearing for January 12th. The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's office is now asking for a special prosecutor from a neighboring county to handle this case... The court appointed the LaPorte county Prosecutor to handle the case, and it will be assigned to Deputy Prosecutor Alan Sirnek... As it turns out, Meredith Hanley actually worked for the county prosecutor's office in the past in their special victim's unit; where she worked with those with family violence issues... County officials told WNDU over the weekend, and into Monday morning, that Meredith was being held until a court appearance Monday afternoon without bond. A spokesperson from the prosecutor’s office explained Monday morning that this is regular practice in a domestic violence case. But when WNDU tried to attend Hanley’s scheduled hearing Monday, we found out she had been released from jail over the weekend. County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak then told WNDU that South Bend police called his office Saturday night to say Hanley had surgery scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Monday. Dvorak says he “took their word for it.” Judge Scopelitis ordered her release, and she was out on Sunday. Dvorak says Hanley is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. However, Dvorak says he’s not sure what type of surgery she had and if she will have recovered at that point, and may just be represented by an attorney. South Bend Police say that Meredith Hanley is currently on paid administrative leave. That is the only punishment allowed by the police chief without the involvement of the board of public safety, and its next scheduled meeting is January 6th. Chief Darryl Boykins has not recommended she be taken off paid leave as of yet, and a police spokesperson says they will likely wait to see how the situation plays out in court before making any decision. A special meeting of the board is unlikely, as he also said it may be “procedurally impossible” to get the board together for a legal vote during the next couple of weeks due to the holidays. [Full article here]
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR APPOINTED IN DETECTIVE'S CASE
Hanley was released early for medical reasons, officials say
South Bend Tribune
By Mary Kate Malone
Dec 22, 2009
[Excerpts] A South Bend police detective who was arrested last weekend after allegedly beating her husband was released early from jail for medical reasons, officials said... Formal charges against Cpl. Meredith Hanley have not been filed... Hanley was taken to the St. Joseph County Jail by county police and held without bond. But she was released from jail at 4 p.m. Saturday after her boss, South Bend police Division Chief Rick Bishop, called St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak. He told Dvorak that Hanley had surgery scheduled for Monday morning and needed time to prepare for it, Dvorak said. Dvorak asked St. Joseph County Superior Court Judge Michael Scopelitis to order Hanley be released, which he did. She did not post bond, Dvorak said. Given her medical situation and assurances from Bishop that Hanley and her husband would be kept apart, Dvorak and Scopelitis felt an early release was appropriate, Dvorak said... Dvorak said he did not know the nature of Hanley's surgery... The special prosecutor will decided what charges, if any, should be filed against Hanley... Hanley once worked for the Special Victims Unit, which is overseen by an investigator from the prosecutor's office... Indiana State Police have taken over the investigation of the case... [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety cop on cop brass indiana state preferential female]
Previous posts: [VA] Orange County Sheriff's Investigator Bob Canosa shot multiple times and wife Brenda arrested - ...In an official State Police release, it's reported Brenda Lee Canosa, 49, of Jack Shop Road in Rochelle, Virginia, has been charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of malicious wounding and one count of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.... [VA] Shot multiple times by wife, Investigator Canosa conscious - Colleagues being kept out of his room - ...A source close to the family said Bob Canosa underwent surgery Monday to repair his pancreas, and physicians have already operated on his aorta. He is also said to be responding to questions and is aware of what happened to him. Only a select number of visitors are allowed to see Bob Canosa, and hospital personnel are forbidding access to his room, even among his colleagues in the law enforcement...
ORANGE LAWMAN DIES FROM GUNSHOT WOUNDS Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigator Bob Canosa died Sunday afternoon at the University of Virginia Medical Center.
Culpeper Star Exponent Rhonda Simmons
Published: December 20, 2009
Updated: December 21, 2009
[Excerpts] Bob Canosa, a veteran investigator with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, died Sunday afternoon at the University of Virginia Medical Center, succumbing to complications from multiple gunshot wounds he suffered nine days ago, according to the Virginia State Police. He was 55. VSP spokesman Sgt. Les Tyler said Special Agent M.L. Jones has charged Canosa’s estranged wife, Brenda Lee Canosa, 49, with first-degree murder. Brenda Canosa, who is being held at Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange, also faces felony charges of malicious wounding and using a firearm in the commission of a felony... Orange County Sheriff’s Office is not releasing a transcript of the emergency call, saying it could jeopardize the case. Bob Canosa’s death comes on the heels of what could have been viewed as promising news in his recovery. Last week, a source close to the family said the victim had undergone surgery to repair his pancreas and aorta. He was also reported to be responding to questions and was aware of what happened to him... Bob Canosa coordinated Orange County’s citizens law enforcement academy, a function he also performed while at the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office in the mid-2000s. He started his law enforcement career in Culpeper in the early 1970s before moving to the town of Orange Police Department. After retiring from a lengthy tenure of police service in Suffolk, N.Y., he was brought to Culpeper to work on a part-time basis in 2004 by former Sheriff H. Lee Hart. He took the job in Orange in August 2007, shortly before Jim Branch was elected Culpeper’s sheriff. [Full article here]
NO BAIL FOR WIFE IN SLAYING OF DEPUTY Wife of slain Orange sheriff's investigator still being held with no bail on murder charges in his death
The Free Lance-Star Robin Knepper
Date published: 12/22/2009
[Excerpts] The estranged wife of a slain Orange County sheriff's investigator will stay in jail for the foreseeable future while waiting to face charges in his death. Bob Canosa, 55, died Sunday morning as a result of multiple gunshot wounds he received Dec. 11.... Brenda Lee Canosa, who lives in Rochelle in Madison County, has now been charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Previous charges of attempted murder and malicious wounding have been dropped... Canosa underwent multiple surgeries for his wounds at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville. According to Chief Deputy Tim Murphy, Canosa was moved from the intensive-care unit last Wednesday and "was getting remarkably stronger every day." Murphy said he was told that Canosa "developed an infection, but someone also said he got a blood clot in his lung." Canosa was returned to the intensive-care unit, where he died late Sunday morning. Brenda Lee Canosa, 49, was scheduled to appear in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court yesterday afternoon, but snow from the weekend storm kept her attorney, Dana Slater, from making it to court. Nevertheless, J&DR Judge Frank Somerville heard from Slater by telephone and as a result Canosa's status was not changed. Bail has not been sought and Canosa continues to be held in Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange. A preliminary hearing will be held in J&DR court Feb. 8 to determine probable cause for an indictment in Orange County Circuit Court... [Full article here]
COMRADES REMEMBER FALLEN DEPUTY AS SNOW POSTPONES ORANGE HEARING
Charlottesville Daily
Published: December 22, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Judge Frank Sommerville denied her request for bail last week. The Orange County clerk added that Brenda Canosa’s lawyer, Charlottesville’s Dana Slater, could request another bond hearing before the next court appearance. Brenda Canosa is being held at the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange. Meanwhile, the local tight-knit law-enforcement community is mourning the death of one of its own. Canosa, 55, was an investigator with the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office before transferring to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in 2007. He died Sunday afternoon at the University of Virginia Medical Center from complications from the multiple gunshot wounds he suffered Dec. 11. Bernie Feaganes III, a Prince William County deputy who worked closely with Canosa on developing the Citizens Law Enforcement Academy in Culpeper, said he was shocked by the reported shooting and his friend’s death. “It was like a punch in the stomach,” said Feaganes, who also left Culpeper County’s Sheriff’s Office in 2007. “I guess I let my guard down when I heard reports of him sitting up and talking last week.” Canosa reportedly had undergone surgery to repair his pancreas and aorta. It was also reported that he was conscious and responding to questions. Feaganes, who still lives in Culpeper, said he and Canosa remained friends even after both men left their law enforcement jobs in Culpeper. “Bob and I were really close, even up to the end,” Feaganes added. “Bob was one of the finest men I’ve ever known. He was one of those people who treated everybody the same.” Feaganes said a 10-minute trip to Walmart with Canosa to gather supplies for the academy would last an hour. “He spoke to everyone... That was the type of person he was”... Culpeper County Sheriff Jim Branch, who also worked with Canosa under former Sheriff H. Lee Hart, shared his condolences Monday. “We have been dealing with the shock of Bob’s being shot and intently following his recovery progress. His untimely death saddens us in the law enforcement community... We will miss his outgoing, pleasant personality as well as his expertise as an officer. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to those whose lives he touched. He will be missed and fondly remembered.” Phone calls and e-mails to Orange County Sheriff Mark Amos were not returned as of press time... [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety fatal fatalities murder female virgina state shot shooting robert canosa]
...His female passenger was ejected and was also taken to Herman Hospital in Houston where she is in critical condition...
A FORMER DPS TROOPER WAS KILLED IN CRASH IN CONROE SATURDAY NIGHT.
Montgomery County Newspaper
12/20/2009 12:36 PM
Around 7:30 p.m. on Conroe police responded to a minor accident at Longmire and FM 3083. The investigation showed that former DPS Trooper Steven Fetters, 48, was eastbound on FM 3083 and Billy Parker and her family were in their SUV at the intersection of Longmire, which is a four way stop. As Parker pulled into the intersection, she said “A white pickup came out of nowhere 90 to nothing, hit me and kept going. The family was uninjured and the only damage to the vehicle was the right front fender. Parker called Conroe Police and moments later a second call came in that a white Ford F250 pickup had left the roadway on FM 3083 at Teas Nursery, flipping several times and ejecting a person. When EMS arrived on the scene they found Fetters in extremely critical condition. They transported him by ground ambulance to Bentaub Hospital in Houston where he was pronounced dead just after 9 p.m. His female passenger was ejected and was also taken to Herman Hospital in Houston where she is in critical condition. According to Conroe Sgt. Jon Buckholtz the former trooper failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway and went airborne and then began to flip. “Steve Fetters was a good trooper, husband,” a friend of his later said. [LINK]
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety fatality fatalities murder texas state suicide alcohol dui dwi]
IN 2007 POLICE OFFICIALS SAID THAT PITTSBURGH POLICE SGT. EUGENE HVALAC'S DOMESTIC INCIDENTS HAD BEEN VERBAL, NOT VIOLENT. (THAT DOESN'T APPEAR TO ME TO BE TRUE, BUT)
IS IT VIOLENT ENOUGH NOW TO TAKE SERIOUSLY?
Saturday: Pittsburgh Police Sgt. Eugene Hlavac was charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault after allegedly slapping the face of his son's mother and dislocating her jaw during an argument. As she had agreed with Hvalac to do after he wouldn't let her call the police, she told medical personnel at the hospital that she fell down some stairs, but soon after she reported her injuries were due to a violent assault. No, he's not in jail.
FROM 2007 NEWS: ...Sgt. Hlavac's promotion is one of three that have sparked concern that was heard yesterday during a two-hour City Council public hearing. He and new Cmdr. George Trosky and Lt. Charles Rodriguez have all faced charges of verbal or violent domestic abuse... "Clearly the police brass has no idea about the impact and the law regarding domestic violence," Jeanne Clark said. "It kills women. It kills men"... Deputy Chief Donaldson said Sgt. Hlavac complied with the order to attend three days of anger management counseling...
FROM MAY 2008 NEWS:...It took the Citizen Police Review Board two years to collect and examine evidence and gather testimony on a complaint against a police officer accused of recklessly endangering a group of bicyclists. It took the police department 12 days to curtly reject the board's findings... Hlavac made news last summer when he was promoted to sergeant along with the promotion of George Trosky to commander and Charles Rodriguez to lieutenant, despite domestic-violence allegations hanging over all three. "I don't know why he's a sergeant," [Citizen Police Review Board Executive Director Elizabeth] Pittinger says. "His conduct at our public hearing demonstrates that he needs to grow up"...
CITY OFFICER CHARGED WITH ASSAULT
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
By Kaitlynn Riely
Sunday, December 20, 2009
[Excerpts] Pittsburgh police Sgt. Eugene Hlavac was charged yesterday with one count of aggravated assault after his ex-girlfriend, who is the mother of his son, said he hit her. [LM] initially contacted Penn Hills police, who referred her to Pittsburgh police... The sergeant, who works in the Hill District, was arraigned yesterday and released on his own recognizance but was ordered to have no contact with Ms. [LM]... According to the complaint, Ms. [LM] was late to pick up their son at Sgt. Hlavac's house in Greenfield Friday after her car broke down. When she arrived, she said she and Sgt. Hlavac, who was in uniform and preparing to leave for work, began arguing in front of his house... She said they scuffled briefly after he slapped her and she grabbed him... Ms. [LM] said she was in pain and threatened to call the police... She said he took her cell phone and told her, "You're not doing this. You're not ruining my life"... She said she left to go to the hospital after telling Sgt. Hlavac she would say she hurt her face in a fall. According to the complaint, Sgt. Hlavac met her at Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville and told a doctor, "She's always getting hurt, she fell down her steps and tripped and may have hit her wall." The doctor determined that Ms. [LM] had partially dislocated her jaw... [Full article here]
PITTSBURGH POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF HITTING EX
Pittsburgh Police Sergeant Faces Assault Charges
thepittsburghchannel.com
December 20, 2009 [Excerpts] Pittsburgh police Sgt. Eugene Hlavac is facing assault charges after the mother of his son claimed he hit her. Sgt. Eugene Hlavac Sgt. Eugene Hlavac was charged with aggravated assault after the mother of his child, [LM], came forward, saying he hit her across the face this week. According to the police criminal complaint, the two got into an argument. [LM] said Hlavac hit her and then tried to get her to say she was injured in a fall. An emergency room doctor didn't believe the story, and eventually, the woman told police her injury was caused by Hlavac. When the couple was together, police had been called to their home for reports of loud arguments. [Full article here]
CITY POLICEMAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT TAKING TIME OFF FROM DUTY
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
By Kim Leonard
Monday, December 21, 2009
[Excerpts] A Pittsburgh police sergeant accused of slapping his former girlfriend on Friday afternoon has been charged with aggravated assault and is taking time off from work through the end of the year as the incident is investigated. Eugene Hlavac, 41, is accused of hitting [LM] after she arrived late to pick up their son, according to a criminal complaint. Assistant Chief William Bochter said Sunday that Hlavac is taking "discretionary days" off. An investigation is under way, and any disciplinary action against the officer would take place when he returns in the new year... [LM] told Pittsburgh police she was supposed to be at Hlavac's house on Beechwood Boulevard in Greenfield at 2:15 p.m. Friday so he could go to work, but she was delayed when her vehicle stalled and she had to call a friend to bring a gallon of gas. When she reached Hlavac's home at 2:55, he was waiting outside, in uniform. He put their son into her vehicle and slammed the door. The two argued outside the car, and Hlavac slapped [LM] on the left side of her face with his open right hand... She said she was in such pain that she went to her car to get her phone and told Hlavac she intended to call police... Hlavac replied, "You're not doing this, you're not ruining my life," according to the complaint. She told police she had difficulty speaking because of the pain. [LM] said the two talked inside his home for about a half-hour and he convinced her to keep the incident secret... She went to Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville and was referred to a specialist for a partial dislocation of her jaw, according to the complaint. Hlavac showed up at the hospital... she told the doctor she hurt herself in a fall. When the doctor asked how that resulted in facial injuries, Hlavac said she fell down steps and might have hit a wall... Later, after talking over the situation with her family, [LM] said she went to the Penn Hills police station, saying she was afraid to go to the city. She was referred to the Zone 4 station. Hlavac, who works out of the Zone 2 station in the Hill District, was arraigned Saturday, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. In 2007, Hlavac and two other city offices who were linked to reports of disturbances or domestic violence were promoted, touching off a controversy that led to policy changes in the department. Police were called to investigate reports of screaming at Hlavac's home in March 2007, but no charges were filed. [Full article here]
NO DISCIPLINE DECIDED YET FOR CITY OFFICER CHARGED WITH ASSAULT
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
By Jonathan D. Silver
Monday, December 21, 2009
[Excerpts] Pittsburgh police officials have not determined whether to change a sergeant's work status following his weekend arrest for hitting his ex-girlfriend. Sgt. Eugene Hlavac was charged Saturday with aggravated assault after allegedly slapping [LM]'s face and dislocating her jaw during an argument at his Greenfield home. Assistant Chief William Bochter said yesterday that Sgt. Hlavac was on vacation at the time of the incident and is scheduled to be off until January. Sgt. Hlavac works the overnight shift at Zone 2 in the Hill District. "He's off right now using discretionary time. He was scheduled off until the end of the year, so his case will be investigated as all domestic violence cases are, internally," Assistant Chief Bochter said. "If there is discipline, he would be disciplined when he returned to work... We're just getting this. We haven't had a chance to investigate"... Sgt. Hlavac is charged with a first-degree felony.... Officer Dan O'Hara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said he had not been briefed on the situation. "That's in his personal life. He's gonna have to deal with that as an individual. We don't represent him for that"... [Full article here]
PITTSBURGH POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE
Sgt. Eugene Hlavac Accused Of Hitting Girlfriend
ThePittsburghChannel.com
December 21, 2009
[Excerpts] ...State law calls for his suspension while the investigation proceeds. Channel 4 Action News attempted to contact Hlavac on Monday, but he declined to comment. He is currently not at work through the holidays due to vacation time. As of 5 p.m., city police did not return calls to Channel 4 regarding his employment status... In 2007, Pittsburgh city council voted in favor of a bill allowing for guns to be taken away from police officers who are involved in a suspected case of domestic violence. Ravenstahl promised a "zero tolerance" policy going forward. "Still angry and frustrated that one would do something like that," said Ravenstahl of Hlavac’s recent charges. "It’s something we want to avoid. That's why we put the policy in place that we did and now we want to enforce it." At the time the ordinance was passed, Fraternal Order of Police President James Malloy called the ordinance "a witch hunt" and said only one or two of the 2,700 protection from abuse orders issued that year in Allegheny County involved police officers... "This is not an issue that the police department is very careful about," said Phyllis Wetherby, of the National Organization for Women. [Full article here]
ANGRY, ANGRY BOYS IN BLUE
Examiner
Michael Bagen
December 20, 2009
[Excerpts] A Pittsburgh Police officer was arraigned yesterday for domestic violence, giving us yet another peek into the armed men who patrol our streets. Police Sgt. Eugene Hlavac, whose name should be familiar to some readers of the local news, was released after arraignment over charges he allegedly dislocat[ed] his girlfriend's jaw. Initially the victim claimed (as most do) that she "fell down the stairs", but in time the story came out... What's interesting here is that the Hlavac's very promotion to sergeant came amidst allegations of domestic abuse and, more broadly, being a hazard to the city. How else do you qualify... After allegations of domestic abuse in his East Liberty home in 2007, his Zone 5 commander RaShall Brackney recommended his anger counseling and limiting his contact with the public. Instead, he got three days counseling and transfer to the Hill District. Soon after, Hlavic got a new commander, another man with a history of domestic violence and drunken driving. George Trosky was even demoted for it, from sergeant to patrolman. But in June of 2007, due to a change made in police policy, Trosky was able to jump from detective to commander, omitting the earlier supervisory rank of lieutenant... So let's recap. What we have here is a man who got in a fight with his girl in March of 2007, and for it was recommended to be taken off the streets. Instead... "We never took him out of contact with the public," Chief Harper said. "We sent him to Zone 2" in the Hill District, where, the chief acknowledged, there is frequent contact with the public... [Full article here]
WOMEN'S GROUP URGES MAYOR TO 'TAKE ACTION' AGAINST CITY OFFICER
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
By Jonathan D. Silver
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
[Excerpt] The National Council of Jewish Women yesterday urged Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl to "take action" against a Pittsburgh police sergeant charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Christine Stone, the group's public affairs chairwoman for Pennsylvania, sent the mayor a letter reminding him of a zero-tolerance pledge he made in 2007 with regard to domestic violence among city employees... Ms. Stone wrote in an e-mail that she is asking that the matter "not be swept under the rug"... Sgt. Hlavac, a night-shift supervisor at Zone 2 in the Hill District, is temporarily assigned to the warrant office while the criminal and internal investigations are pending... Officer Dan O'Hara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the move to the warrant office when Sgt. Hlavac returns to duty from vacation is meant to limit his interaction with the public... [Full article here]
JUNE 2007:
PROMOTED OFFICER SENT TO TRAINING TO MANAGE ANGER
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA
By Jonathan D. Silver and Rich Lord
Friday, June 29, 2007
[Excerpts] A police sergeant's June 18 promotion came three months after he was sent to anger management training and a supervisor recommended that his contact with the public be minimized. Police leadership yesterday said that now-Sgt. Eugene F. Hlavac completed the training but was never removed from contact with the public and that the measure shouldn't have precluded his promotion. "When they go to anger management, and get some sort of counseling, that's taken into consideration," Police Chief Nate Harper said. "If he would have continued to have anger issues, it would definitely be taken into consideration" in the promotion decision -- but he didn't. Sgt. Hlavac's promotion is one of three that have sparked concern that was heard yesterday during a two-hour City Council public hearing. He and new Cmdr. George Trosky and Lt. Charles Rodriguez have all faced charges of verbal or violent domestic abuse. The promotions are "appalling. They're insulting to the citizens of Pittsburgh," said Jeanne Clark, a member of the state board of the National Organization for Women and a Squirrel Hill resident. She was among 150 people at the hearing, including Chief Harper. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl did not attend. "Clearly the police brass has no idea about the impact and the law regarding domestic violence," she said. "It kills women. It kills men." Chief Harper listened to the two dozen speakers, then said he did not regret the promotions, instead faulting a public tendency to "accuse people" of things that have not been proved, adding that "the public has the right to their opinion." Police officials have said that Sgt. Hlavac's domestic problems have been verbal, not violent... [Alleged victim LM] told Sgt. [Raymond] Hutton that Sgt. Hlavac pulled her hair, hauled her from a bed and grabbed her wrist, according to the report... Sgt. Hlavac told Sgt. Hutton that he grabbed her wrist in self-defense when she hit him while holding a cell phone, and did not grab her hair, just her pillow. On March 22, Sgt. Hlavac's supervisor at the time, Lt. Philip Dacey, said he witnessed an argument at the apartment... Zone 5 Cmdr. RaShall Brackney, recommended he be removed from active duty, undergo counseling and that his contact with the public be minimized when he returned... Deputy Chief Donaldson said Sgt. Hlavac complied with the order to attend three days of anger management counseling. "We never took him out of contact with the public," Chief Harper said... Mr. Ravenstahl has said that he did not know of the issues involving Sgt. Hlavac and Lt. Rodriguez prior to their promotions... [Full article here]
MAY 2008:
POLICE: COPS DISMISS CPRB FINDINGS ABOUT SGT. HLAVAC
Pittsburgh City Paper
By Melissa Meinzer
May 1, 2008
[Excerpts] It took the Citizen Police Review Board two years to collect and examine evidence and gather testimony on a complaint against a police officer accused of recklessly endangering a group of bicyclists. It took the police department 12 days to curtly reject the board's findings. Based on nine complaints and the sworn testimony of four witnesses, the CPRB recommended that Sgt. Eugene Hlavac be suspended for seven days, undergo retraining and anger management, and possibly face prosecution... The board heard testimony on two counts: conduct unbecoming a member of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and conduct toward the public... "I reject your recommendations regarding discipline," wrote Deputy Chief Paul J. Donaldson in a brief March 18 letter responding to CPRB Executive Director Elizabeth Pittinger. City code required a reply within 30 days, and the letter was turned around in 12. Donaldson's letter acknowledged receipt of Pittinger's letter and what the board's findings were, then rejected the findings, saying that the bureau had already disciplined Hlavac in March 2007. "I'm not going to speak to what it was," says Donaldson of the action against Hlavac... "It does not surprise me," says Pittinger of the rejection. "The paternal nature of that department says, 'We've dealt with him, we're done with him'... While Pittinger acknowledges that Hlavac was disciplined - she doesn't know what the discipline consisted of... Hlavac made news last summer when he was promoted to sergeant along with the promotion of George Trosky to commander and Charles Rodriguez to lieutenant, despite domestic-violence allegations hanging over all three. "I don't know why he's a sergeant," Pittinger says. "His conduct at our public hearing demonstrates that he needs to grow up." Hlavac was plugged into an MP3 player during the hearing that was turned up so loud others in attendance could hear it, and didn't answer questions, pleading the Fifth Amendment... [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety hx history repeat teflon zero tolerance pennsylvania state police union]
...Documents claim [Omaha Police Officer Sean] Heyenga wrapped both hands around [NM]'s neck and began strangling her until her eyes rolled back in her head and she lost consciousness... Officers wrote that [NM] had "visible marks," of strangulation, which were “photographed by the crime lab”... In court Friday afternoon, details emerged suggesting this isn't the first time Heyenga had attacked his wife... [NM] claims she has been too scared to come forward because Heyenga is a police officer... [A 12 year old child was there during the attack]
To Officer Heyenga's wife - you did the right thing even though it may feel wrong or make you feel sick that it can't be undone now. As the story-keeper I tell you that many women who have been murdered at home were afraid to reach for help because their husband or boyfriend was a law enforcement officer. It doesn't help you or him to keep the secret. Secrecy does not heal or protect.
You were as close to death as you can come without leaving us.
All 3 of you are in my prayers.
OMAHA POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED FOR FELONY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
action3news.com
Liz Dorland
Posted: Dec 18, 2009 09:21 AM
[Excerpts] Omaha police arrest one of their own Thursday night after allegedly attacking his wife. Officers were called to 1902 North 63rd Street just after 11:30pm for a report of a domestic violence assault. The wife of officer Sean Heyenga, 41-year-old [NM], told them she had been attacked and strangled by him. Court documents say Heyenga had been drinking before he got home. He and [NM] began arguing about kids. Documents claim Heyenga wrapped both hands around [NM]s' neck and began strangling her until her eyes rolled back in her head and she lost consciousness. When she woke-up, court documents claim [NM] ran to a neighbors house to call 911. Officers say they even saw visible marks of the attack on her neck. Court documents also claim [NM] says Heyenga has been violent before with her. [NM] claims she has been too scared to come forward because Heyenga is a police officer... Action 3 News learned Heyenga's 12-year-old son was home during the alleged attack. The county attorney says he is answering police questions about the accusation. [Full article here]
WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW
kptm.com
Todd Unger
Dec 18, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Responding officers found his wife, 41–year–old [NM], suffering from clear marks of strangulation around her neck. In court Friday afternoon, details emerged suggesting this isn't the first time Heyenga had attacked his wife. Prosecutors say she didn't tell anyone about past incidents because of her husband's position as a cop. Local domestic violence experts say that is a problem. Sue Michalski works with victims through the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. "What perpetrators do best is find out what's important and use that against the individual they're violating," she says. She says often times abusers who have jobs that put them in a position of public trust–teachers, cops or doctors for example–use a 'public/private' face. Michalski says they'll tell their victims, "Nobody will believe you. Everyone is gong to believe me. I'm the greatest. I would never do anything like this." Heyenga is being charged with felony assault & strangulation and also making terroristic threats. His bond was set at ten percent of $200,000, or $2,000... They also say her son from a previous marriage witnessed the assault. [Full article here]
OPD OFFICER CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC ASSAULT
Wife Says Not First Time She's Been Assaulted
ketv.com/news
December 18, 2009
[Excerpts] ...The Douglas County Attorney’s Office has reviewed the reports and filed assault/strangulation and terroristic threats charges against Heyenga. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Heyenga will be prosecuted for the offense just like anyone else. "Domestic violence is serious problem," Kleine said. "It runs the spectrum. It's especially disheartening, especially troubling, when someone in law enforcement is involved in this case." In court Friday afternoon, prosecutors said Heyenga came home after drinking Thursday night and got into an argument with his wife. They said Heyenga got on top of his wife, strangled her and threatened to kill her. The prosecutors said he strangled [NM] until she passed out. [NM] said she had been assaulted by Heyenga "on several occasions." She said she didn't report it because of his position in the police department. She was afraid nothing would be done... A judge set Heyenga’s bond at $20,000 dollars. He told the judge he can’t afford an attorney. Heyenga’s preliminary hearing will be held on Jan. 12... He’s been placed on administrative leave pending a criminal and internal investigation. [Full article here]
UPDATE: OFFICER OUT ON BOND AFTER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARREST
An Omaha police officer has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Sean Heyenga is charged with felony strangulation and making terroristic threats after a domestic violence arrest Thursday night.
wowt.com
Jodi Baker sixonline@wowt.com
Updated: 6:36 PM Dec 18, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Bond was set at $20,000 for Heyenga in his first court appearance Friday. He was able to bail out with 10% of that or $2,000. However, the judge ordered him to stay away from his wife, [NM], and his 12 year-old boy... Officers wrote that [NM] had "visible marks," of strangulation, which were “photographed by the crime lab”... [NM] says Heyenga began to choke her and even threatened to kill her. She says she finally lost consciousness. When she came to, she went to a neighbor’s house for help. She was taken to Methodist Hospital. Documents shared at Heyenga’s preliminary court appearance Friday, indicate that [NM] had been victimized by her husband a number of times before. But she never reported them, “due to his position.” "Very troubling,” said Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine... Kleine says [NM]'s injuries were serious enough to cut off her breathing, which is why such a charge as felony strangulation exists... "It's difficult and it's obviously disappointing,” said Lt. Tierney. “But at the same time it is a crime and we will investigate it thoroughly, and we'll also investigate it internally as well." Heyenga will have a court-appointed attorney after telling the judge that he could not afford to hire one. He said it's because of bills and his wife being unemployed. [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety lethal nebraska state children fear]
A former South Carolina police officer, David Dietz of Lexington, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for kidnapping and holding his ex-girlfriend and infant son hostage in Georgia...
PREVIOUS POSTS:
[SC] Needing prayer: Allim & Eva kidnapped & held hostage by ex-officer Dietz - ...a former police officer kidnapped his ex-wife and her infant son at gunpoint... Dietz fired shots and wore his old, black uniform, with "police" on both sleeves and on the back, during the abduction... Officials warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous...
[SC] Ex-Officer Dietz surrenders to police. Ex-wife Eva & their son are released safely - ...David Dietz, charged in a two-state kidnapping and hostage case that ended quietly Monday in Georgia, has deep roots in law enforcement - and a documented history of aggression... A relative of the mother of Dietz's infant son reported he shot at eight relatives, then sped off with the woman and the child... Columbia police provided no information on the reasons for Dietz’s departure in October 2006... It wasn't the former police officer's first run-in with the law. South Carolina police reports showed authorities were called twice last year to [armed] domestic disturbances between Dietz and Arce-Perez...
Catching up: July, September, and yesterday's news:
EX-COP TO PLEAD INSANITY TO KIDNAPPING CHARGE
COLUMBIA (AP)
Chaunte' McLean
7/16/2009
[Excerpt] An attorney for David Dietz says in court documents filed this week he intends to introduce evidence that his client was suffering from a mental disease or defect at the time of his alleged crimes... [Full article here]
EX-OFFICER CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING SON, ESTRANGED WIFE
AP, WLTX
Tony Santaella
COLUMBIA, S.C.
9/22/2009 11:30:46 PM
U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins says 25-year-old David Dietz was found guilty Tuesday of several federal charges, including kidnapping and carjacking... Dietz dressed as a police officer and ambushed his estranged wife and infant son as they returned from church on January 3 in West Columbia... During the trial, prosecutors said that Dietz also abducted and sexually assaulted a teenage girl, and forced her to help in the abduction... [Full article here]
FORMER SC OFFICER SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS IN PRISON
WJBF-TV
Updated: December 18, 2009
[Excerpts] A former South Carolina police officer has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for kidnapping and holding his ex-girlfriend and infant son hostage in Georgia. U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins announced Friday that 25-year-old David Dietz of Lexington was sentenced to 25 years for kidnapping and carjacking and 10 concurrent years on a gun charge... Dietz was a former policeman and probation officer employed by the Department of Social Services at the time. [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety lethal children south carolina convicted]
...Spousal and child abuse charges against a veteran California Highway Patrol officer were dismissed today in Sutter County Superior Court after his wife refused to testify against him... Yuba City officers did not testify...
Previous post: [CA] CHP Officer Handwork arrested on suspicion of willful child cruelty and injury to a spouse - ...The California Highway Patrol says 44-year-old Richard Joseph Handwork of Yuba City was arrested Friday at the CHP office in Yuba City on suspicion of inflicting corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant and suspicion of willful cruelty to a child... An internal investigation has been initiated and Handwork will remain on administrative duties until it is complete...
Now you see it:
"SUSPICION OF INFLICTING CORPORAL INJURY TO A SPOUSE OR COHABITANT AND SUSPICION OF WILLFUL CRUELTY TO A CHILD."
Now you don't: "POOF!"
CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST CHP OFFICER AFTER WIFE REFUSES TO TESTIFY
Appeal-Democrat,TMCNews
By Rob Young
Dec 18, 2009
[Excerpts] Spousal and child abuse charges against a veteran California Highway Patrol officer were dismissed today in Sutter County Superior Court after his wife refused to testify against him. Brandi Handwork, wife of Officer Richard Handwork, 44, was called to the witness stand to testify at a preliminary hearing about what allegedly happened in October at the couple's Yuba City home. "I wish not to testify," was Brandi Handwork's response to all questions, including where she lives. "I direct you to answer," Judge Chris Chandler said. After Handwork refused to read a letter she wrote to the District Attorney's Office in October, Deputy District Attorney Alison Boutilier read the letter aloud. Handwork wrote that she was "deeply saddened" by the office's actions toward her husband. District attorneys are "badly mistaken if you expect me to destroy" her husband and family, she wrote... Yuba City officers did not testify. The couple sat together in the courtroom and hugged in the hallway afterward. "That was the criminal side," Capt. Jim Young of the Yuba-Sutter CHP office said in an interview after the verdict. Richard Handwork is still the subject of an internal office investigation and will remain on administrative duty until it's over, he said. [Full article here or here.]
Echo:
...CORPORAL INJURY TO A SPOUSE... WILLFUL CRUELTY TO A CHILD...
...CORPORAL INJURY TO A SPOUSE... WILLFUL CRUELTY TO A CHILD...
...CORPORAL INJURY TO A SPOUSE... WILLFUL CRUELTY TO A CHILD...
...CORPORAL INJURY TO A SPOUSE... WILLFUL CRUELTY TO A CHILD...
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety california state trooper fear recant refuse cooperate teflon brotherhood]
Attorney General Anne Milgram warned law enforcement agencies in New Jersey that they could be sued by domestic violence victims or their survivors if they don't adopt the state's new guidelines for handling domestic violence involving police officers...
COPS SHOULD FOLLOW NEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PLAN, AG SAYS
Cliffview Pilot
Jerry DeMarco
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
[Excerpts] Attorney General Anne Milgram warned law enforcement agencies in New Jersey that they could be sued by domestic violence victims or their survivors if they don't adopt the state's new guidelines for handling domestic violence involving police officers. Milgram says the new guidelines, adopted last week, help protect victims who feel intimidated because their alleged abusers are cops. For one thing, it requires a supervisor to join any rank-and-file cop dispatched to a domestic incident involving a brother officer. Milgram, who will be replaced by Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow after incoming Governor-elect Christopher Christie takes office next month, produced the policy at the urging of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Domestic Violence Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board, part of the Division on Women in the state Department of Community Affairs. There didn't seem to be much input from local police chiefs. However, Milgram didn't try to make the policy mandatory -- a nod, her office said, to those departments that can handle such incidents just fine on their own. She also said other departments were free to develop their own guidelines... Dow - who, like Milgram, is a former federal prosecutor -- hasn't expressed an opinion on the policy yet. [Full article here]
ATTORNEY GENERAL ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR INVESTIGATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS INVOLVING POLICE OFFICERS
The State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety Office of the Attorney General
For Further Information: David Wald 609-292-4791
December 10, 2009
[Excerpts] Attorney General Anne Milgram has issued a model police department policy for handling domestic violence incidents that involve law enforcement officers. The model policy, supplementing long-standing Attorney General directives related to the seizure of weapons from state, county or local law enforcement officers involved in domestic violence incidents (Directives 2000-3 and 2000-4), is designed to ensure that police departments have in place clear guidelines when investigating domestic violence complaints involving their own officers. “This model policy should ensure a thorough fact-finding process that is fair to both domestic violence victims and the accused officers by incorporating the involvement of police chiefs and county prosecutors,” Attorney General Milgram said. “It is especially important that victims understand that domestic violence complaints against law enforcement officers are free of any bias during investigations. Victims should not be intimidated to bring domestic violence complaints because the alleged abusers are police officers”... The model policy is based on a policy promulgated by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a report of the NJ Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. It recommends background investigations for new employees that would screen out candidates with histories of domestic violence or sexual assault. It also recommends psychological examinations of all candidates for law enforcement positions and regular annual training on domestic violence issues and the impact of domestic violence within police departments. Supervisors would be trained on how to recognize early warning signs of domestic violence behavior such as excessive or increased use of force on the job, deteriorating work performance, or alcohol or drug abuse. The model policy details incident response protocols, reporting and documentation protocols and recommends that any allegations of domestic violence offenses by high-ranking law enforcement officers - police chiefs or police directors -- be referred to prosecutors’ offices for oversight... Victim safety and protection measures are also detailed in the model policy... [Full article here]
NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNE MILGRAM ISSUES NEW POLICE POLICY FOR DEALING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Press of Atlantic City
By Lynda Cohen
Thursday, December 10, 2009
[Excerpts] The state attorney general issued a new model policy Thursday for police departments dealing with domestic violence issues involving their own. But much of the directive is already done locally, according to police in Atlantic County... Both Atlantic City and Pleasantville already have many of the standards in place recommended under Milgram's directive, officials said. "The Atlantic City Police Department has a long-standing tradition - probably more than 25 years - of screening their candidates," Sgt. Monica McMenamin said. "We conduct thorough background checks." Pleasantville does as well, Chief Duane Comeaux said. In-service training also includes a focus on domestic violence cases, Comeaux said. The policy would include four hours of annual training on domestic violence issues, with supervisors getting additional training on recognizing potentially abusive behavior... Psychological examinations of all candidates will also be required under the directive, which applies to all municipal police departments, as well as state and county law enforcement agencies, according to Milgram. While much of the policy is already done, Comeaux said he welcomes the model. "Any training is good," he said. "That's the way most chiefs look at it. That's the way I look at it." The model is based on one recommended by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a report of the NJ Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board... [Full article here]
FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR:
...unions representing troopers and superior officers have been upset that Attorney General Anne Milgram has vetoed some of the proposed promotions... According to testimony at the arbitration hearing by the State Police chief of staff, those rejected included some who had been involved in falsification of records, domestic violence, or other "issues that would be relevant to the progression of someone to the next highest rank"...
...According to testimony at the arbitration hearing by the State Police chief of staff, those rejected included some who had been involved in falsification of records, domestic violence, or other "issues that would be relevant to the progression of someone to the next highest rank"...
N.J. STATE POLICE, ATTORNEY GENERAL LOCK HORNS OVER PROMOTIONS
By Chris Megerian/Statehouse Bureau
July 12, 2009, 4:00PM
[Excerpts] or almost two years, Attorney General Anne Milgram and State Police unions have been engaged in a behind-the-scenes battle over her power to reject trooper promotions proposed by the agency. And so far Milgram is winning. The unions contend Milgram has been too aggressive in denying promotions to troopers, digging deeper into disciplinary records and judging candidates with criteria outside their contract. An arbitrator supported her right to deny promotions in a decision issued in March, but further fights may be ahead. In the latest round of promotions two months ago, Milgram approved 315 promotions and rejected 17. In the previous round, in January 2008, she approved 179 and rejected 15... Dennis Hallion, who retired as president of the sergeant's union last month, said Milgram has rejected troopers even after they emerged from probationary periods following an infraction... Attorneys general have used promotion denials as a way to keep problem troopers from rising in the ranks. Some of the troopers Milgram rejected were involved with domestic violence or falsification of reports, State Police Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Thomas Gilbert testified during a labor arbitration hearing. "The attorney general's responsibility is to carefully consider the qualifications of all those proposed for promotions," said David Wald, Milgram's spokesman... The current dispute comes as the State Police moves closer to the conclusion of a decade-old consent decree... A bill awaiting Gov. Jon Corzine's signature would turn into law many of the reforms the State Police have adopted as part of the decree, one of the final steps needed before federal oversight ends and the Attorney General's Office becomes the sole monitor. The Non-Commissioned Officers Association, Hallion's former union, took Milgram on late last year, accusing her of rejecting promotions based on "new, unannounced criteria" not in their contract. In response, Milgram said her authority "exists above and beyond the negotiated promotional procedures," according to the March 28 decision by arbitrator Joel Weisblatt. The union protested on behalf of three sergeants prevented from advancing to sergeant first class in January 2008. The three troopers --- who were not identified in the redacted copy of the arbitration decision obtained by The Star-Ledger -- had disciplinary records that included problems with "candor, falsification of reports, involvement in domestic violence incidents and issues that would be relevant to the progression of someone to the next highest rank," Gilbert said... State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes declined to comment on the issue. New Jersey is one of the only states where the attorney general oversees the State Police. That creates a unique dynamic... State Troopers Fraternal Association president David Jones declined to comment for this story. [Full article here]
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE VS. ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNE MILGRAM: EXERCISING JUDGMENT
By Kelly Heyboer
July 15, 2009, 1:26PM
[Excerpts] It's called the chain of command. In the New Jersey State Police, the chain leads up through the ranks of troopers and officers to the superintendent, and then to the attorney general. When it comes time every year for promotions to be considered, supervising officers compile their recommendations for the superintendent. Seniority factors in, and so does job performance, leadership ability, and any special achievements -- or disciplinary problems -- in each officer's service record. The superintendent puts together a list of recommended promotions. Then it goes up the chain of command to the attorney general. Lately the unions representing troopers and superior officers have been upset that Attorney General Anne Milgram has vetoed some of the proposed promotions. They complain she's made "arbitrary" decisions to deny advancement to certain troopers... According to testimony at the arbitration hearing by the State Police chief of staff, those rejected included some who had been involved in falsification of records, domestic violence, or other "issues that would be relevant to the progression of someone to the next highest rank"... Milgram's office is working on creating a written test that would help make the promotion process more transparent and less subjective. But testing programs have their own problems -- look what happened with the firefighters in New Haven. And when it comes to choosing leaders in a military-style organization like the State Police, test scores, seniority, and other facts and figures can never be the only determining factors. It will always be a judgment call, and someone has to be the final judge. Milgram is right to take that responsibility seriously. [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety fatality fatalities new jersey policy brotherhood police union hero]
Special prosecutor Don Schense filed charges in September against Sarpy County Sheriff's Deputy Dana Harrah and her husband, La Vista Police Officer Wesley Harrah. Wesley is also under investigation for allegedly taping conversations between his wife and a friend..
DEPUTY GUILTY OF MISDEMEANOR
World-Herald
By Leia Baez-Mendoza
Wednesday December 16, 2009
[Excerpts] Two of the three charges against a Sarpy County Sheriff's deputy were dismissed in a plea deal Wednesday morning. The charges were related to an August disturbance with her husband, a former La Vista Police Officer. Dana M. Harrah was found guilty of disturbing the peace, a misdemeanor. The dropped charges were third-degree domestic assault and interfering with a public service. Special prosecutor Don Schense filed charges in September against Harrah and her husband, Wesley Harrah, in connection with an Aug. 9 disturbance at their Papillion home. Wesley Harrah was charged with disturbing the peace. His case is still pending... The Harrahs since have dropped their requests for protection orders. Wesley Harrah filed for divorce Aug. 10. He resigned from the La Vista police force in October. Dana Harrah remains on paid administrative leave. Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis have said they are conducting internal affairs investigations. Dana Harrah is scheduled to be sentenced in March. She faces up to three months in jail. [Full article here]
DUELING COP DUO
thereader.com
04 Sep 2009
A Sarpy County couple have dropped protection-order requests against each other. Sarpy County Sheriff’s Deputy Dana Harrah was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence against her husband, La Vista Police Officer Wesley Harrah. Wesley Harrah is under investigation for allegedly taping conversations between his wife and a friend. Both Harrah’s remain on paid suspension... [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety Nebraska plea deal cop on cop state]
TRIAL DATE SET FOR EX-DEPUTY TORTURE CASE
The Orange County Register
By Sean Emery
December 17, 2009 6:55 PM
IRVINE - The jury trial of a former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy accused of torturing and sexually assaulting his wife and another man at an Irvine apartment has been set for late March. Robert McClain last year pleaded not guilty to torture, mayhem and sexual assault charges stemming from what authorities described as a brutal, nine-hour attack. After more than a year of pre-trial hearings and continued arraignments, McClain's jury trial will begin on March 22 in Orange County Superior Court. Prosecutors allege that McClain tortured his wife and her alleged suitor after learning that she was planning to leave him for the other man. Prosecutors contend that McClain persuaded his wife to introduce him to the other man at his Irvine apartment, and then convinced the two to go with him to an empty leasing office, where they say an argument turned physical and McClain allegedly beat the two victim's, slashing the younger man's face with a knife, forcing his wife to cut the man in the groin region, then forcibly sodomizing her. McClain's attorneys have not commented on the case, but his relatives have claimed that the other man attacked McClain first. [LINK]
PREVIOUS POSTS:
[CA] Deputy McClain charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, domestic violence & fired - ...Lt. Rick Handfield said that there were puncture marks near the victim's groin, but stressed that "any characterization of an attempted castration is way exaggerated"...But one law enforcement source said the assailant had attempted to castrate the 23-year-old male... the young man's father, was told by an emergency room nurse that a castration attempt had been made... the nurse warned the father that his son had been beaten so badly that "you won't recognize him"... The wife remains hospitalized...
[CA] Deputy McClain's aggravated mayhem on wife and man - The ordeal, authorities said, spanned nearly nine hours... Los Angeles sheriff's Deputy Robert McClain was charged with one felony count each of aggravated mayhem, torture, sodomy by force with great bodily injury, along with sentencing enhancements for personal use of a deadly weapon, great bodily injury to a sexual assault victim and the use of a deadly weapon during a sexual offense...
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety california state brutal]
...[Beloit police officer Michael] Bogdonas allegedly talked about his personal life during a response to a domestic incident. He also allegedly told an accused batterer he would have done the same thing, talked about internal matters at the police department and the town, and told a family member that if he wasn’t “a cop,” he’d probably punch his mother-in-law in the head... The suspension days will not be entirely consecutive and will not affect Bogdonas’ vacation days... no other disciplinary action will be taken...
TOWN OFFICER SUSPENDED
Beloit Daily News
By John Ranallo
December 17, 2009
[Excerpts] Town of Beloit police officer Michael Bogdonas has been suspended after reaching an agreement with attorneys for the Town of Beloit. Bogdonas had been brought up on charges of lying during an internal investigation and misconduct. According to the settlement, dated Nov. 24, Bogdonas will be suspended for 38 work days, as scheduled by Town of Beloit Police Chief John Wilson... The suspension days will not be entirely consecutive and will not affect Bogdonas’ vacation days in 2009. According to the second clause of the settlement, “no other disciplinary action will be taken against Michael Bogdonas as a result of these disciplinary charges”... Town Administrator Robert Museus said Bogdonas will still serve as a full-time officer for the department and that he will not receive pay for the days he is suspended. Museus said Bogdonas will have completed his suspension by the end of January. Bogdonas was scheduled to stand before the Town of Beloit Police and Fire Disciplinary Review Committee to face allegations of being disloyal to the police department, lying during an internal investigation and acting in way unbecoming of an officer... The settlement agreement was signed by Bogdonas, a representative of the Town of Beloit and a representative of Teamster’s Local No. 695 which handles the police department’s union affairs. [Full article here]
ARTICLES FROM LAST MONTH:
TOWN OF BELOIT POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT
Janesville Gazette
By Ann Marie Ames
Monday, Nov. 23, 2009
[Excerpts] BELOIT TOWNSHIP — Town of Beloit Police Chief John Wilson has filed charges against one of his officers and requests the officer be suspended for up to 90 days. A recently appointed disciplinary committee will hold a hearing and could act on the matter Tuesday. Wilson on Sept. 22 filed a document listing five charges against officer Mike Bogdonas. The charges were a result of a complaint filed by a resident after Bogdonas responded to a July 12 domestic incident... According to the complaint: During the July 12 incident, Bogdonas told a family member involved in the July 12 incident that if Bogdonas wasn’t “a cop, I’d probably go over and punch” his own mother-in-law in the head... Bogdonas told an accused batterer he would have done the same thing... He made false and misrepresentative statements... [Full article here]
SUSPENSION OF OFFICER SOUGHT
Beloit Daily News
By John Ranall
November 23, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Town Administrator Robert Museus said Bogdonas serves as a steward for the police union for the Town of Beloit. Monday’s workshop agenda for the Town of Beloit indicates that a closed session may be conducted in regards to the “collective bargaining agreement for Teamsters Union Local No. 695, the police department.” Museus said the union talks and disciplinary hearing are unrelated. Town attorney William Henderson said the disciplinary committee will be made up of three members, who will serve as the judge for the hearing. Both sides will have the opportunity to present evidence. The committee could take up to three days to make a decision, Henderson said. Museus said the committee will provide the final say on what happens regarding the allegations. The decision cannot be reviewed by the town board. Museus said he did not have a copy of the charges facing Bogdonas on hand and did not want to comment any further. “I can’t comment on any of that stuff,” he said. [Full article here]
TOWN OF BELOIT, OFFICER REACH SETTLEMENT
WCLO
November 25, 2009
[Excerpts] Attorneys for the town of Beloit and police officer Mike Bogdonas have reached a settlement... Details of the settlement will not be released to The Janesville Gazette until it files an open records request, Museus said. The Gazette will file such a request, Editor Scott Angus said... Town of Beloit Police Chief John Wilson filed the charges after a resident filed a complaint July 12. According to the complaint, Bogdonas allegedly talked about his personal life during a response to a domestic incident. He also allegedly told an accused batterer he would have done the same thing, talked about internal matters at the police department and the town, and told a family member that if he wasn’t “a cop,” he’d probably punch his mother-in-law in the head. [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety wisconsin state teflon handslap]
FORMER WOOD COUNTY DEPUTY FACES CHARGES
WTAP-TV
Reporter: Lauren Weppler
Dec 14, 2009
A former Wood County deputy is free on bond, facing domestic battery charges for the second time in 18 months. Reporter: Lauren Weppler lauren.weppler@wtap.com Dec 14, 2009 A former Wood County deputy is free on bond, facing domestic battery charges for the second time in 18 months. Donald Balog of Mineral Wells was arraigned in Wood County's Magistrate Court for charges involving domestic battery. Balog is free after posting a $1,500 dollar bond. Back in June of 2008, Balog pleaded guilty to one count of domestic battery. The 51-year-old had to complete an anger management course, he could not have contact with the victim, and could not possess or own a firearm. Balog retired from the Wood County Sheriff's Department in August of 2008. [LINK] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety west virginia repeat hx]
Gina Pearce, the administer of the estate and Kristin Palumbo-Longo's sister: "...We believe that Kristin's cries for help to Joe's superiors in the [Utica Police Department] were not acted upon appropriately... Acts of officer-involved domestic violence should be investigated and taken very seriously. Kristin, on two separate occasions, over the summer, reported threats and acts of violence to Joe's superiors, as did another member of our family. They acknowledged the danger. They promised they would protect my beloved sister, but they let her down. As a result, my four nieces and nephews will have to live without their mother. My parents, Kristin's children, our entire family will be suffering for the rest of our lives as a result..."
Kristin Palumbo-Longo’s brother, Joseph Palumbo: ...Kristin Longo’s family says law enforcement should be held accountable and certain changes need to be made to ensure that officers with mental issues and domestic problems are handled properly. “That’s our main objective here – to make sure there’s a procedure in place so this never happens again”...
[NY] Kristin just wanted things to be better - ...Kristin Longo’s desire for a divorce not only stemmed from marital troubles over her husband’s alleged infidelity and threats of violence; it also was meant to end the longtime verbal abuse she and her four children had to endure... "The course of action that she took is consistent with an abused person who was trying to appease her husband and trying to work things out in a fashion that is not scandalous”...
Nearly four months after the brutal murder of Kristin Longo took place, her family is now considering pressing charges against the City of Utica. Jim Gibbons has more
news10now.com
By: Jim Gibbons
Updated 12/16/2009 04:39 PM
[Excerpts] As members of the Polumbo family stood before the media Tuesday, a picture of Kristin Longo was set up in front of them for all to see. On September 28th, Kristin was murdered inside her Deerfield home. The killer was her ex-husband Joseph Longo Jr., an investigator with the Utica Police Department. Joseph later turned the knife on himself. Kristin's family says Joseph had been unstable after their divorce and had made at least two threats of violence against her. "Kristin reported two threats and acts of violence to Joe's superiors. They acknowledged she was in danger, they promised to protect my beautiful sister, but they let her down," said Gina Pierce, Kristin's sister.
Which is why the Polumbo family has filed an intent to make a claim against the City of Utica. They say the incident could have been avoided had the Utica Police Department taken action to protect one of its employees who showed signs of a mental breakdown. The notice states Joseph Longo had threatened to commit suicide and had announced to his family "today is the day that I go postal." "It's clear that we're not going to have the truth about the circumstances leading to Kristin's death, or accountability, without examining people under oath, under penalty of perjury," said John Dillon, attorney for the Kristin Longo Estate.
The family also claims the city was negligent in their appointment of Police Chief Daniel LaBella... They say the chief knew of Longo's mental state, but failed to act... [Full article here]
VICTIM'S FAMILY CITES CITY'S NEGLIGENCE IN MURDER-SUICIDE
WKTV
By Joleen Ferris
Dec 16, 2009
[Excerpts] The family of Kristin Palumbo-Longo has filed a notice of claim against the city of Utica... The Palumbo family is claiming the city was negligent in preventing the tragedy; that there were several warning signs the city ignored. According to the notice of claim, Longo had put the barrel of his service revolver in his mouth in front of his wife and the couple's nine-year old son weeks before the murder-suicide. The claim also said he had recently threatened to kill himself and his family on more than one occasion.
This notice of claim also alleges that the city was further negligent in appointing Dan LaBella as Chief. The claim reads: "The city was further negligent in allowing an individual to circumvent the appropriate and customary appointment procedure and protocol to become Police Chief when said individual clearly lacked the requisite qualifications and skills to serve competently as Chief of Police in the City of Utica"... The city attorney says there's nothing the city, or anyone else, could have done to prevent the tragedy. "When someone has their mind set on killing a person, I don't see how our city entity could have prevented that act," said Corporation Counsel Linda Sullivan Fatata. The family intends to seek monetary damages to provide for the needs of the couple's four children. The family added that, more importantly, they seek a change in policy and procedures which would provide better mental health screenings for potential officers and more pro-active and responsible treatment of officers' mental health issue... A notice of claim is a necessary precursor to a lawsuit against a municipality. It preserves a person's right to sue at a later date. Currently, only the city of Utica is named as a defendant in the notice of claim. Gina Pearce's attorney- a former attorney for the city of Utica- says that will likely change, and individuals will probably be added. [Full article here]
LAWSUIT TO ALLEGE LABELLA FAILED TO ADDRESS INVESTIGATOR'S VIOLENT TENDENCIES
Utica Observer-Dispatch
By Rocco LaDuca
Posted Dec 16, 2009 @ 06:23 PM
[Excerpts] One day in early September, Utica police Investigator Joseph Longo Jr. put the barrel of his duty revolver in his mouth and threatened to “blow his head off” in front of his wife Kristin Longo and their 9-year-old son, according to legal documents. A frightened and tearful Kristin Longo later called the Utica Police Department to report the incident, and the officer’s weapon was taken away from him. But that wasn’t enough, according to a notice of claim filed against the city. About two weeks later, Joseph Longo stabbed his wife to death inside their Deerfield home Sept. 28 before turning the knife on himself. Now, the estate of Kristin Palumbo Longo is claiming the city failed to protect her from her husband as he showed signs of a mental breakdown. Specifically, the family alleges that recently appointed Utica Police Chief Daniel LaBella was not competent in addressing the problems of the investigator, who was LaBella's friend and former patrol partner. As a result of this alleged negligence, the family states, Joseph Longo’s “disturbing behavior” was allowed to escalate until the Longo couple was dead, leaving their four children – 9, 11, 15, and 17 – without a mother or father.
Kristin Longo’s sister Gina Pearce and other family members voiced these allegations for the first time Wednesday morning as they gathered at the New Hartford law office of attorney John Dillon announcing their intent to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the city. “We want to know the truth about the events that led to Kristin’s murder and we want the circumstances that allowed her murder to happen to be known,” Pearce told members of the news media as she stood behind a photograph of her smiling sister. “We believe that if the people responsible for protecting our citizens had done their jobs properly, Kristin would have been protected and would still be alive today,” she added. “We believe that Kristin’s cries for help to those in a position to help her were ignored”...
According to the notice of claim, LaBella and other police officials should have known that Joseph Longo:
* was experiencing extreme emotional and mental anguish caused by the breakup of his marriage as a result of abusive behavior.
* recently threatened to kill himself and his family on more than one occasion, including the instance when Longo placed the barrel of his revolver in his mouth.
* had announced to his family more than once that “today is the day that I go postal.”
* had failed a psychiatric screening test administered by the New York State Police during an unsuccessful attempt several years ago to become a state trooper...
Dillon, who is handling the case and is also formerly Utica city government’s top attorney, took direct aim at LaBella's lack of action in the weeks and months before the murder-suicide. “If we had a police chief who had acted appropriately and prudently, Kristin Longo would still be here today,” Dillon said. Joseph Longo and LaBella had been partners on the force when they were both patrol officers, as well as personal friends, he said. “At the very least, it seems to indicate a conflict of interest,” regarding the possibility that LaBella might have been challenged to look past his friendship with Longo to take the proper precautions, Dillon said. As Joseph Longo later became a “clear and present danger” to himself, his family and the community, the claim further states that the city failed to provide mandatory in-patient psychological services to the officer...
Kristin Longo’s family says law enforcement should be held accountable and certain changes need to be made to ensure that officers with mental issues and domestic problems are handled properly. “That’s our main objective here – to make sure there’s a procedure in place so this never happens again,” Kristin Longo’s brother, Joseph Palumbo, said. [Full article here]
IN DEPTH
FAMILY OF MURDER-SUICIDE VICTIM FILES CLAIM AGAINST CITY OF UTICA
Utica Daily News
Marques Phillips and Dana C. Silano
12/16/2009 11:29:00 am
[Excerpts] The family of Kristin Palumbo-Longo, who was stabbed to death in a murder-suicide by her police officer husband, has filed a notice of claim against the City of Utica, alleging it was negligent in dealing with the events leading up to her death. The family's attorney, John Dillon said the family will sue, although a venue and an amount has yet to be settled on. "What amount of money is going to bring back the children's parents," he asked. "The amount is going to be astronomical--I imagine--and it still wouldn't be enough for the suffering those kids went through."
Utica Corporation Council Linda Sullivan-Fatata, said she's confident the city wasn't negligent in this case. "It's still difficult for me to talk about because it is so fresh and it was a terrible event," she said. "This was in no way caused by the city, its officials or the police department. He committed a criminal act. He murdered someone. There's nothing the city could have done"... The assertion is that Longo did several alarming things leading up to the killings and the police department either knew or should have known about his state of mind. "No matter what forum or venue we choose to pursue this in, Kristen Longo would be alive if the police department would have taken the appropriate actions and followed protocol, and that makes them responsible," Dillon said.
Among the incidents the notice cites are:
* Longo had taken to telling his family "Today is the day I go postal" and he threatened suicide.
* Longo pointed his gun recklessly at individuals while working at Thomas R. Proctor high school.
* Longo frequently drove by the Deerfield house while he was on duty Therefore, the claim asserts that the city failed to properly protect Joseph Longo, despite the fact that it knew he was demonstrating signs of a mental breakdown and showed signs that he was inclined to harm himself...
John E. Creedon Police Benevolent Association President Tom Brady said that while the family of Palumbo-Longo has every right to make a notice of claim, it seemed unfair to put the entire blame of a situation that was also personal on UPD. "I believe that two of them were in family court that day (of the murder-suicide) -- if there was something going on why wasn't the court involved," he asked. "There's so many angles to it that to dump it all on the Utica Police Department and chief of police isn't fair. Why wasn't that being brought up in court then?" The notice was filed on behalf of Palumbo-Longo and her four children through Gina Pearce, the administer of the estate and Palumbo-Longo's sister. "We believe that Kristin's cries for help to Joe's superiors in the UPD were not acted upon appropriately... Acts of officer-involved domestic violence should be investigated and taken very seriously. Kristin, on two separate occasions, over the summer, reported threats and acts of violence to Joe's superiors, as did another member of our family. They acknowledged the danger. They promised they would protect my beloved sister, but they let her down. As a result, my four nieces and nephews will have to live without their mother. My parents, Kristin's children, our entire family will be suffering for the rest of our lives as a result."
Dillon said it wasn't an isolated incident, but the result of a policy, although he didn't elaborate as to the nature of that policy. "We'd be alleging and proving that there was a policy so pervasive that it had the effect of law," he said. "Because of that policy, it would have been reasonable to see that it could have resulted in police brutality-- in this case, the violent stabbing of Kristin Palumbo-Longo"... Further,the notice of claim submits that the city and its employees were negligent and reckless in the following ways:
* Failing to properly train its employees.
* Failing to discipline officers that committed crimes under the color of law.
* Failing to provide appropriate psychological services to Joseph Longo.
* Interjecting itself into the private affairs of the couple.
* Failing to have proper policies regarding domestic violence...
The Utica Daily News did a story in September about the mental stress involved in the job and the policies in place before the killings. At the time, LaBella said that there were mental and spiritual counseling services available to officers and that the Employee Assistance Program was set up to deal with issues of stress and mental health. The claim seems to imply that those policies and services were either not sufficient, or not adhered to. In the meantime, Brady said police are still trying to come to terms with the situation as much as Palumbo Longo's family is. A veteran officer at the UPD for 14 years, Brady said Longo was known for being happy-go-lucky and always smiling and joking. While he said people in the department knew there were problems, they never thought it would come to this. "Even though it's happened, I'm still in disbelief," Brady said. "It's pretty screwed up to want to take your own life, but even moreso to take someone else's. We all sit here and try to figure out why he did this; and all I can think is that all the stars were aligned and everything was happening at once: in his job, his money problems and his divorce." Dillon says otherwise, namely that the department was notified and that police had made a pledge to the woman they later found out was killed. "Kristen had advised them of these incidents and they promised to protect her, and assured her they could,"
Dillon said. [Full article here]
LABELLA APPOINTMENT ONCE AGAIN IN SPOTLIGHT
Utica Observer-Dispatch
By Dan Miner
Posted Dec 16, 2009 @ 08:41 PM Mayor David Roefaro’s June appointment of his childhood friend as police chief sparked citywide controversy
and a now-failed effort to recall the mayor. And now, with a pending lawsuit against the city drawing a connection between Police Chief Daniel LaBella’s appointment and the Sept. 28 murder-suicide involving his former partner and friend, it’s clear the issue is back. The claim asserts the city’s negligence in allowing LaBella “to circumvent the appropriate and customary appointment procedure and protocol to become police chief when he clearly lacked the requisite qualifications and skills to serve competently as police chief”... LaBella did say that no police chief could have prevented the homicide that prompted the claim, which was filed Wednesday. Council President William Morehouse, a Democrat, agreed the only person to blame for the tragedy was Joseph Longo Jr... The attorney filing the claim, John Dillon, was once city Corporation Counsel under former Mayor Timothy Julian, whom Roefaro defeated in the 2007 election... After repeatedly saying he had no desire to be chief, LaBella took a county civil service test March 10, three days after it was actually offered, because he was sick. Capt. John Toomey, who scored higher on that test, was passed over because he didn’t live in Utica. LaBella later called the illness a “blessing in disguise” because if he had taken the exam March 7 with others present, it might have prompted speculation about his intentions. The doctor’s note that allowed LaBella to take the test later was signed by a Utica cardiologist, Fred Talarico, who had a history of campaign contributions to local Democrats. ***LaBella also was chosen over the two perceived front-runners — deputy chiefs Mark Williams and Michael Bailey. Both scored higher on their civil service exam than LaBella... [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety fatality fatalities murder suicide sue lawsuit liability policy mental health ny]
ST. PAUL POLICE OFFICER ISAAC RINEHART ACQUITTED OF FELONY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSAULT
... the prosecutor didn't ask the emergency room physician, who treated Lisa Rinehart that night, whether her injuries were consistent with her testimony of Tuesday — which was that she harmed herself by letting a heavy door close on her... The night of the incident, she told Maplewood police that her husband had grabbed her hair and punched her in the face and ribs... Lisa Rinehart suffered a fractured right cheek with bone fragments pushed into her sinus, a fractured eye socket and a broken rib...
Previous post: [MN] Officer Rinehart's wife walked into council meeting beaten up - ..."She had some bleeding from her nose, blood on her shirt and her face was puffy and swollen," said Maplewood Police Chief David Thomalla, who was attending a biweekly City Council meeting when the victim walked into City Hall, where the police department also is located. Rinehart's wife, who complained of rib pain, too, was taken to St. John's Hospital in Maplewood... He said officers have to be careful when dealing with other officers because they are often armed...
ST. PAUL CANINE UNIT OFFICER ACQUITTED OF BEATING HIS WIFE
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Anthony Lonetree
Last update: December 16, 2009 - 9:48 PM
[Excerpts] A St. Paul police canine officer was acquitted Wednesday by a Ramsey County District Court jury of felony assault in the alleged beating of his wife last summer. Isaac Rinehart, 42, had been accused of assaulting his wife, Lisa Rinehart, while they were in a car outside his Maplewood home on June 22. After the verdict was read, Isaac Rinehart's attorney, Andrew Birrell, said that he and the officer were "...grateful. It's been a nightmare for Isaac." A felony conviction could have spelled the end of Rinehart's law-enforcement career. As it now stands, his future with the department is uncertain... [Full article here]
JURY ACQUITS ST. PAUL COP OF ASSAULT CHARGE AFTER WIFE RECANTS
Pioneer Press
By Emily Gurnon egurnon@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 12/16/2009 03:32:16 PM CST
[Excerpts] A jury acquitted St. Paul police officer Isaac Rinehart of felony third-degree assault after his wife, the alleged victim in the case, recanted the story she told police on the night of June 23... One juror, who did not want to be identified, said the prosecution gave them nothing to go on. "There wasn't any corroborating evidence," the juror said. "It was one word against another." For instance, the prosecutor didn't ask the emergency room physician, who treated Lisa Rinehart that night, whether her injuries were consistent with her testimony of Tuesday — which was that she harmed herself by letting a heavy door close on her. She had broken bones in her face and a broken rib. The night of the incident, she told Maplewood police that her husband had grabbed her hair and punched her in the face and ribs in the midst of a discussion about their marriage... On the witness stand Tuesday, she said she had been at her husband's home in the 2100 block of Barclay Avenue in Maplewood the night of the incident. He revealed that he had had some affairs, and she was upset. "I harmed myself," she said... [Full article here]
July article, since last post: ST. PAUL POLICE OFFICER NOW FACES FELONY CHARGES IN ASSAULT Misdemeanor assault charge changed after it was found that his wife had suffered broken rib and facial bones.
Star Tribune
By Pat Pheifer
Last update: July 17, 2009 - 12:04 AM
[Excerpts] After Lisa M. Rinehart walked into Maplewood City Hall the night of June 22 with a bloody nose and a puffy, swollen face, authorities determined to charge her husband, St. Paul police canine officer Isaac Rinehart, with misdemeanor domestic assault. Those charges were changed Thursday to felony third-degree assault after it was determined that the woman's injuries constituted "substantial bodily harm," according to documents filed in Ramsey County District Court. Medical records showed that Lisa Rinehart suffered a fractured right cheek with bone fragments pushed into her sinus, a fractured eye socket and a broken rib... Rinehart and his wife apparently were estranged before the incident... "He said they should get divorced and was agitated," the complaint said. When Lisa Rinehart tried to leave the car, Isaac Rinehart "grabbed her hair... then used his left hand to hold her head down and began beating her with his right fist." The county attorney's office has not decided whether to refer the case to another county to avoid a possible conflict of interest. [Full article here]
Videos from last June:
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety lethal minnesota teflon recant recanted]
Previous post: [TX] Police Chief Ivy who brutalized, tasered girlfriend was on his EIGHTH cop job & had domestic priors - ...[IN COURT, LEON COUNTY VICTIM SERVICES TANYA] FOSTER POINTED TO SEVERAL PICTURES SHOWING A WOMAN WITH A BLACK EYE, BRUISED ARM, AND WHAT FOSTER SAID WERE TASER BURN MARKS NEAR THE EYE AND ON THE WOMAN'S SIDE... ANOTHER LEON COUNTY OFFICER TIPPED IVY OFF THAT A WARRANT HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR HIS ARREST...
JAIL TIME POSSIBLE FOR EX-POLICE CHIEF ACCUSED OF TASERING GIRLFRIEND
A former Oakwood police chief accused of tasering his live in girlfriend could spend more time in jail.
KBTX Mike George & Ashley Sigman
Dec 14, 2009
[EXCERPTS] A former Oakwood police chief accused of tasering his live in girlfriend could spend more time in jail. Leon County District Attorney, Whitney Smith says a plea deal had been worked out, but in court the alleged victim said she was upset by the deal. Oly Ivy would have plead guilty to assault family violence and received probation for a one year jail sentence, but because Ivy's attorney was not present the plea has been rescheduled for January. Oly was arrested in April of 09. His live in girlfriend at the time said she had been tasered by Ivy several times, not only the night of his arrest, but also in the past... Ivy's law enforcement experience totaled just over 7 years, and took him to Ohio and six other departments in Texas... four months in Lott, eight months in Marlin, 10 months at McGregor, 9 months in Valley Mills & 11 months with Hearne Police... THE CITY OF OAKWOOD WAS AWARE OF IVY'S SHORT-TERM STINTS, BUT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID NEEL SAID THE CITY NEVER DID A BACKGROUND CHECK. Neel said the city left the background check up to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, or TCLEOSE. A spokesperson for TCLEOSE said the agency doesn't run background checks, and simply provides law enforcement work history... COURT RECORDS SHOW IN DECEMBER OF 2003, WHILE IVY WAS NOT EMPLOYED BY A POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE WAS CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. The allegation was made against Ivy in Portsmouth Ohio. The case went on for nearly two months before it was dismissed because alleged victim failed to appear in court. In Oakwood, Ivy was on the job just two months before he was arrested on allegations of tasering his wife... [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv law enforcement texas repeat officer, gypsy cop hopper hopping hop fighter brotherhood]
...The reports show [Atlanta Police Officer Timothy "Tim" ]Turner’s wife called 911 after Turner said, "If we can't be married, I'm going to have to kill you"... Wednesday, he was back at work at Atlanta's police Zone 4 in southwest Atlanta...
OFFICER, SON OF INTERIM CHIEF, UNDER INVESTIGATION Police Reports Show Officer Tim Turner Accidentally Threatened To Kill Wife
CBS Atlanta
By Jennifer Mayerle
POSTED: 6:24 pm EST December 9, 2009
UPDATED: 9:45 pm EST December 9, 2009
ATLANTA, Ga. - Questions are being raised about the son of Atlanta’s interim Police Chief George Turner. Atlanta police are investigating a Nov. 18 incident that happened at the home of Officer Tim Turner, between him and his wife.
According to police reports, Officer Turner admitted to saying he accidentally threatened to kill his wife during an argument. The reports show Officer Turner’s wife called 911 after Turner said, "If we can't be married, I'm going to have to kill you." The report goes on to say Turner told the responding officer that during "the heat of the moment, he accidentally said that if he had to leave and get a divorce that he would kill her." Officer Tim Turner was not arrested, instead he was placed on administrative duty with pay pending mandatory employee counseling. Wednesday, he was back at work at Atlanta's police Zone 4 in southwest Atlanta.
CBS Atlanta News originally requested the information more than two weeks ago, but Atlanta police just released it Wednesday, the same day Officer Turner’s father was named interim police chief.
Mayor-elect Kasim Reed was made aware of the incident Tuesday, and his office gave this statement, "It has no impact on his decision to select deputy chief Turner as acting police chief for the Atlanta Police Department." http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/21913446/detail.html
Jennifer Mayerle is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who joined CBS Atlanta News as a reporter in May 2006... http://www.cbsatlanta.com/station/13421949/detail.html [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety lethal preferential treatment terroristic threatening georgia state teflon]
...A source close to the family said Bob Canosa underwent surgery Monday to repair his pancreas, and physicians have already operated on his aorta. He is also said to be responding to questions and is aware of what happened to him. Only a select number of visitors are allowed to see Bob Canosa, and hospital personnel are forbidding access to his room, even among his colleagues in the law enforcement...
Previous post: [VA] Orange County Sheriff's Investigator Bob Canosa shot multiple times and wife Brenda arrested - ...In an official State Police release, it's reported Brenda Lee Canosa, 49, of Jack Shop Road in Rochelle, Virginia, has been charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of malicious wounding and one count of using a firearm in the commission of a felony....
BRENDA LEE CANOSA DENIED BOND
nbc29.com
Reported by Tracy Clemons tclemons@nbc29.com
Posted: Dec 14, 2009 1:01 PM PST
Updated: Dec 14, 2009 1:01 PM PST
[Excerpts] The woman [Brenda Lee Canosa] accused of shooting her estranged husband in Orange County last week has been denied bond... Bob Canosa is listed in critical condition at UVA Medical Center. Brenda Canosa will have another court appearance December 16th. [Full article here]
OC JUDGE DENIES BOND TO WIFE CHARGED IN LAWMAN’S SHOOTING
Star-Exponent
Published: December 14, 2009
Updated: December 14, 2009
[Excerpts] Orange County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Frank Sommerville denied bond this morning to the woman accused of shooting her estranged husband, a longtime local lawman, early Friday. Brenda Canosa, 49, is being held at the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange in connection with the shooting in Unionville of Orange County Sheriff’s Investigator Bob Canosa, 55. She was arrested without incident at her home in Madison County Friday night and faces charges of attempted first degree murder, malicious wounding and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Monday morning, Judge Sommerville scheduled another hearing for Wednesday... [Full article here]
ORANGE COPS MUM ON FOIA REQUESTS IN CANOSA SHOOTING Brenda Canosa, 49, faces charges of shooting her husband, Orange County sheriff’s investigator Bob Canosa, at his home Friday.
Star-Exponent
Rhonda Simmons,
Published: December 14, 2009
Updated: December 15, 2009
[Excerpts] Law enforcement authorities in Orange County remain tight-lipped about a high-profile attempted murder case, refusing to release additional information in connection to Friday’s shooting of a veteran police investigator. After repeated requests by the Star-Exponent for a booking photo of suspect Brenda Canosa, jail officials said they won’t release it because it’s considered an internal record and part of the inmate’s personal file... In response to the Star-Exponent’s Freedom of Information Act request for a copy of the 911 call reporting the shooting, Orange County Sheriff Mark Amos said via e-mail Monday that “releasing this information could jeopardize the ongoing investigation or prosecution of this case.” Bob Canosa, 55, who formerly worked as an investigator for the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office until transferring to Orange County in 2007, was shot with a small-caliber rifle, according to sources familiar with the case. He was listed in critical condition Monday, according to a spokeswoman with the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. A source close to the family said Bob Canosa underwent surgery Monday to repair his pancreas, and physicians have already operated on his aorta. He is also said to be responding to questions and is aware of what happened to him. Only a select number of visitors are allowed to see Bob Canosa, and hospital personnel are forbidding access to his room, even among his colleagues in the law enforcement community... [Full article here] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety lethal female virgina state shot shooting]
DEPUTY BEHIND BARS
MyFox Orlando
13 Dec 2009, 12:22 PM EST
Seminole County - An Orange County Sheriff's Deputy was arrested by the Seminole County Sheriffs Office early Sunday morning. Corporal Orlando Montero is charged with a battery domestic violence. An Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesperson tells us the arrest stems from an incident that occurred at the deputy's residence. He also says Corporal Montero was immediately relieved of duty and will be administratively reassigned pending the outcome of the agency's internal review of this case. Montero joined the Orange County Sheriffs Office on May 22nd 1998 and was currently assigned to the agency's Special Operations & Investigations Division where he served in the Gang Unit. [LINK] [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner abuse law enforcement public safety florida state]
A detective with the South Bend Police Department was arrested early Saturday after allegedly beating her husband, also a South Bend cop, in their home... [Cpl. Meredith] Hanley's husband, 41-year-old [SH], is a lieutenant with South Bend police. They both work in the detective bureau... Hanley was taken to the St. Joseph County Jail by county police and held without bond. But she was released from jail at 4 p.m... Meredith Hanley actually worked for the county prosecutor's office in the past in their special victim's unit; where she worked with those with family violence issues...
[Excerpts] Pittsburgh police Sgt. Eugene Hlavac is facing assault charges after the mother of his son claimed he hit her. Sgt. Eugene Hlavac Sgt. Eugene Hlavac was charged with aggravated assault after the mother of his child, [LM], came forward, saying he hit her across the face this week. According to the police criminal complaint, the two got into an argument. [LM] said Hlavac hit her and then tried to get her to say she was injured in a fall. An emergency room doctor didn't believe the story, and eventually, the woman told police her injury was caused by Hlavac. When the couple was together, police had been called to their home for reports of loud arguments. [Full article here] 
...Spousal and child abuse charges against a veteran California Highway Patrol officer were dismissed today in Sutter County Superior Court after his wife refused to testify against him... Yuba City officers did not testify...
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