Accused Cop Applies For Family Violence Education

Next Monday the Board of Alders is returning with its version of a Civilian Review Board. Unless it addresses the substantial objections that knowledgeable and involved citizens have identified as a problem, such as limiting investigations to complaints previously submitted to Internal Affairs or the omission of subpoena power, the Board will have failed the mandate of 5 years ago.

New Haven Independent post his name!

Attorney Kane: when someone is arrested but they're your client you are all over the comments section proclaiming their innocence and calling the police liars, incompetent, lazy, etc. But when a cop is arrested they're automatically guilty and the rest of us are accomplices? C'mon, don't be a hypocrite.

I'm not afraid of a commission reviewing my actions and holding me accountable when I'm wrong. What I AM afraid of is a hit squad of a commission packed with people who have a clear anti-police bias using their position as a hammer to advance a political agenda.

@ patricia kane. I think the police should go to City hall tomorrow and request a lawyer review board. Attorney John Edwards broke the law between 2004 and 2008. And now, I lack faith that the lawbreaking was limited to just him as an attorney. All lawyers MUST continually be investigated to ensure they act with integrity!

Of course, I would never do that because I don't stereotype the way you do. I won't claim myself to be an educated man and above reproach like you do. But I also won't vilify people for the work they do and tar everyone with the same job title.

The city residents wanted body cameras, the city got them. It records all officer conduct. If the police are acting illegally, they will get caught. Evidence shows city with CRBs are subject to more lawsuits b/c the city acts on political whims and then violate the rights of officers. The officers sue and then win big money.

I honestly find the thought of a CRB unnecessary and redundant. I also hope it passes with ALL of your requests. This city DESERVES to be sued over and over again for its stupidity. Maybe after its completely broken beyond repair, we will finally get a leader. Who knows, maybe it will be you with your grand liberal vision of utopia.

But lets not forget, you're the same lawyer advocating arresting people for speeding on Quinnipiac Avenue.

https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/westville_crime_wave_riles_neighbors/

That's your comment in there.

Personally, I think "arresting" people like you advocate, is an abuse of authority. Its heavy handed and unnecessary. But I will defer to your expertise.

If NHPD officers do arrest ppl for speeding, it should come with an IOU to Patricia Kane!

Reality is, the City if NH residents want a CRB for one reason: to weaponize it to grind a political axe on NHPD officers.

If NHPD officers were engaging in misconduct, complaint can be filed with the City an the State. Body cam footage is FOI-able.

And I have yet to see anyone protesting in East Haven. Of course, they dont pander to this BS.

Why isn't the news releasing the names of the other and this recent one? I've read about Walker in like 3 articles now and nothing about the other cases. The lower half of the article is almost a cut and paste of the pervious articles.

Also, why hasn't there been an article about the New Haven firefighter supervisor arrest for assault against a uniform store clerk? It was on WTNH? I'm sure Firefighters have been arrested for Domestic Violence too. I'm also sure we have other city workers arrested and no word of those.

I'm asking for fairness. That is all.

[Ed.: When the officer enters a plea, or we get his side, or the case is adjudicated, we will publish the name. Same procedure we follow with other cases involving non-public figures or non-prominent/higher-level cops.]

@fcastle1984 and Christian Bruckhart:

As far as a CRB, although I am for it, I am also for one that would utilize the experience of a retired police officer or 2 (depending on the size). FYI, when attorneys have a grievance filed against them, the panel includes lawyers and non-lawyers. In both cases the real world experience brings a valuable perspective to the facts under review. I believe such a compromise would prove helpful in producing outcomes people would trust, unlike the rubber stamp dismissals under Internal Affairs and the Board of Police Commissioners. It is a weakness in the Board of Alders current proposal that a CRB would only investigate cases that had already been submitted to the existing process. People routinely tell me that they never filed a complaint with the police because they view the Internal Affairs process as useless.

Maybe I am missing something, but I detect no anti-police bias is Ms. Kane's post.
According to an article in The Atlantic in 2014, "Research suggests that family violence is two to four times higher in the law-enforcement community (nationwide) than in the general population. So where's the public outrage?"
There can be no public outrage if the public is not informed.
According to the National Center for Women and Policing, "Two studies have found that at least 40% of police officer families experience domestic violence, in contrast to 10% of families in the general population.
This does not mean that all police officers are violent, but it does show the need for robust oversight, a built-in support system and an open program for victims to report incidents. It benefits no one to have violent officers on a police force. Whatmore, the officers, become the victims themselves when they are "protected" from getting the help they need.

I see the pros and cons of the CRB. But all I have to say is if the public "demands" a CRB, then make every department in the state have a CRB. Stop making it out to seem like NHPD is the only department with problems.

@fcastle is right, no other towns are dealing with this CRB issue because ppl love to come to New Haven to protest (EVEN WHEN THEY DONT EVEN LIVE IN NEW HAVEN!)

So if we are going to play the "we want transparency" card. Then make it a requirement for ALL departments in the state. Stop picking on NHPD.

Then next question is, after you make it law to have ALL departments required to have a CRB. Who is going to PAY FOR IT.

To the contrary patricia kane, my position is no one is above the law. We have a President who should be indicted and removed from office, not even the President is above the law.

The propaganda machine? Contrary to facts? You need to elaborate....

FOI body camera footage. If there is police misconduct, the dept will need to address it. Its transparency at its best. Part of the problem is everyone in the city knows "the mayor, the chief, the president, etc"....

With the heavy politicization in the city, you're going to make the department ineffective less than it already is.

The department is already understaffed. Over 100 applied to yale, more other departments, and stamford is reportedly going to hire 50. No contract, heavy politicization, constant anti police bias from the community, the city is not offering any incentive to stay. Who in their right minds want to tolerate this abuse every day?

Im sorry to say this, but it's true: the city of new haven doesn't deserve most of the people they employ. If you handed patrol members of NHPD a questionnaire and asked them their thoughts, I doubt there would be anything positive to say. I'm sure none would recommend the city as a place to work.

Newton's 3rd law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The city would be wise to consider that. They may just force a cataclysmic meltdown.

@fcastle184:
A CRB will not affect the day to day work of police who know how to do their jobs and follow the rules. The problem is with the people breaking the law, such as humiliating or forcing sex from sex workers, or using violence because they can get away with it. We agree that this is unacceptable.
Do we agree that the current mechanisms in place don't work? Do we want a system that works or not?
Body cams are not a solution. Police simply "forget" to turn them on.
I think we probably would agree that it is unfair for the best in the NHPD to take the heat for the worst.
As to the lack of staff, many people think it would be fine to pay more salary to fewer police, but to cut overtime too. Are the statistics right that crime is down? We have options. Like you, I want the people with experience and a good record to stay.
A CRB is not designed to "abuse" the police, but to hold them accountable. Police serve the public, but if the public is terrified of what a police encounter can produce, we need to look at that.
As for my statement as to the propaganda of the NHPD, I wrote to both Hartman and the Mayor at the time of the Route 34 protest challenging the statements made as to the sequence of events and the facts alleged. Since I was present at the scene, and they were not, I stand by what I wrote.

Bruckhart,

There is already a 'system' in place to report 'rogue lawyers', that has oversight and yields results.
It is called the State Grievance System.

Most attorney's are 'private practitioners'.
All cops are 'public servants'.

Do you see the difference yet....

@ pk...the systems work. Officers go to calls in pairs. They're trained to stay together. Referred to you as "cooping". State policy states cameras have to be activated. If one officer forgets, the other probably has it on. There are caveats, Im sure. Its unreasonable to expect an officer to turn on a camera when they could potentially get killed. I digress, Im sure many would disagree just to politicize it.

If there is true police misconduct, take the FOIable video to CNN. Im not being facetious. If there's misconduct, they'll play it on repeat and rightfully so.

I read the CRB Charter. The items demanded are not in the charter as originally written. There was no mention of subpoena powers, money for budgets, recommendations for discipline, etc.

The city residents will suffer if this passes. That's reality. They already cannot keep people. The politicization needs to end. Probably won't, which means any chance of arresting speeders is going to diminish.

And I watched the Rt 34 protest on youtube. Shows a bunch of people blocking an intersection, littering, acting like CLOWNS, using bullhorns, and behaving disorderly. I thought it was cute how they conflated "cops and klan go hand in hand." Actually, I found it sickening. Esp offensive to minority officers who risk their lives everyday serving this City.

If any officer in NH was ever recorded making statements like that, Im sure the entire gang would be at city hall crying wolf. The cops are racist, blah blah blah. But we, the educated and enlightened, can accuse and slander without repercussion. That's real educated.

Kinda tired of the hypocrisy. The people on the left are committing the same crimes as the Donald Trump supporters. All while comrade Putin is laughing while both sides kill the country from within. "A divided house cannot stand ".

Further if you go under the city website
https://www.newhavenct.gov/gov/depts/comm/board_of_police_commissioners.htm

You can find a list of complaints and outcomes.

If you look under the November 13th file, it also shows a "sustained" complaint against an officer. The dept doesn't just discard them.