Peoria Pundit

WEEK just reported that two Peoria police officers were arrested today. There is no link, and I’m going from memory. But the officers allegedly beat a Peoria resident following a brief car chase. Part of the incident was captured on tape. The initial scuffle was not.

UPDATE: I did find the video on YouTube. It shows what may be an officer kicking or stomping on the subject, but the angle doesn’t show enough for me to come to any conclusion as to whether excessive force was used or whether they really were having trouble subduing the man.

The original caption from the Journal Star: “Bryce Scott, a Northwest Peoria man, alleges he was brutally kicked and stomped by police after a car chase in May. His attorney, Dan Cusack of Peoria, supplied the Journal Star with a video taken in the early morning hours of May 3 from the dashboard camera of a Peoria squad car involved in the chase.”

From my inbox:

PEORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2009

For More Information: Contact Officer Doug Burgess
APPREHENSION OF ARMED ROBBERS
Case #’s 09-5430 & 09-5437

On Saturday, March 14th, 2009 between the hours of 3:45 pm and 5:30 pm two armed robberies occurred in the City of Peoria. In both incidents, the suspects in the robbery were identified and apprehended shortly after the crime took place.

At approximately 3:45 pm, a citizen was confronted by a male carrying a handgun in an alley in the 1800 block of W. Lincoln. The robber pointed the handgun at the chest of the victim and demanded money but was chased away when another male confronted him with a broom stick. Responding officers were able to locate the suspect nearby and he was positively identified by the victim.

At around 5:30 pm, the Top of the Hill Bar & Grill fell victim to a robbery where the weapon was implied but not seen. The suspect entered the business, sat at the bar and ordered a beer. When the bartender rang up the beer and the cash drawer was open, the suspect jumped over the counter, grabbed the bartender and informed her that he had a gun in his jacket pocket. The suspect then reached into the cash drawer and took an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing. Officers in the area were able to identify the suspect while canvassing the area and he was later apprehended and positively identified by the victim.

I received the following comment earlier today:

There was a news article today that received no attention by the Pundit or other bloggers on the blogpeoria site involving the vote of no confidence by the police union against the Chief of Police. By all accounts, average people trust and like the Chief and the approach he’s taken to addressing crime in our city. But now, the same people who think our State’s attorney isn’t worthy of reelection think our Chief of Police isn’t worthy of confidence. First let me say that I know that many many police officers did not attend and/or vote to stand in opposition to the Chief (just as in the case when the union endorsed Lahood). However, the “overwhelming majority” of those who did show up decided to take this extraordinary action. It has to make you wonder why they are opposed to everybody in a position of authority? Seems like they only support people who have made campaign promises to support them unconditionally. Perhaps their actions to oppose the Chief should put their opposition to the incumbent state’s attorney in a different light. Perhaps the price of Union support is not a good law enforcement partner but unconditional surrender to union (leadership) demands.

I read the article earlier today. Unfortunately, before I left for work this morning, I had time to write just one post, and I chose to write about the Sigma Nu incident. Sorry.

I would link to it now, and quote from it, but the PJS site is down right now.

I did send a few emails out earlier today seeking comment from various sources. No replies yet. When I do, I will probably comment further.

My sympathies are extended to the family, friends and comrades of Peoria Police Sgt. Phil Fisher, who died of an apparent heart attack outside the Peoria County Courthouse, where he worked as a liaison to the State’s Attorney’s office.

The Journal Star’s Andy Kravetz did a wonderful job the breaking news write-up

I came across a Web site than was gathering “signatures” on a petition protesting what someone claimed was the abuse police dogs in Peoria. The petition writer claimed:

The officer in charge of the K9 at the Peoria, IL police department does not seem to have any regard to the safety and well being of his partner, the K9 officer. This poor dog is often left in the hot patrol car all day with no food or water while the officer in charge of him walks around the mall. Police are supposed to ‘Protect and Serve’, so why aren’t they protecting their own officers? Furthermore, if they can’t even protect their own K9 officer, how can we (the citizens) be sure they can protect us?

Police dogs die every year from being left in squad cars or working in sweltering heat, according to the U.S. Police Canine Association. However, no agency tracks the number of heat-related deaths.

We must bring to the attention of the Peoria, IL Police Department, that their K9 officers are very valuable members of the police force and deserve to be treated as such. If someone does not know how to care for a dog, they shouldn’t be allowed to have one, police officers are not immune to this. If they don’t know how to care for the K9 officer, they shouldn’t be in charge of it.

I didn’t want to link to this site without giving the Peoria Police Department a chance to respond. So I sent an email to Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard. His reply:

Peoria Pundit: Were you aware of this petition? 

Chief Steve Settingsgaard: No, but first I would correct the writer in that the K9 is not an officer, it is a dog.  A K9 Officer is the human being that has responsibility for the dog.  Second, no one here has any knowledge of this Department ever losing or harming a dog through any form of neglect, including leaving them in a car.    

PP: Have you received any direct complaints about the public about dogs being left in police cars “all day” w/out food and water in the heat of the summer?

Settingsgaard: No, no complaints, ever.  Clearly if the writer were correct and a dog was left in a sweltering hot car all day, it would not survive.  It is necessary to leave a dog in the car at times but the dogs are properly protected.  See below.   

PP: If so, is there an investigation? 

Settingsgaard: N/A

PP: What is the policy for leaving animals alone in cars? 

Settingsgaard: The K9 policy does not specify how long a K9 may be left in a car because it is not an issue and need not be said.  Just like a parent doesn’t need a policy that says not to leave a child in a hot car.  If a parent were to abuse or neglect a child by leaving them in a hot car, they would suffer consequences.  No conscientious K9 officer would ever leave his dog in a car for an unsafe period but if it were to happen, the officer would face consequences.   

PP: How may police dogs does the city own and for what sorts of duties are they used? 

Settingsgaard: Five K-9s.  One is dedicated to bomb detection.  The others are used in uniform patrol, primarily for tracking and drug detection. 

The PPD has spent a considerable amount of money outfitting K-9 vehicles with a “hot dog” which is an automated system that detects extremes in temperature and automatically will adjust the temperature to keep the K-9 as comfortable and healthy as possible.  The system also has an alarm that notifies the officer whenever the temperature inside the car exceeds reasonable limits. There is also a remote “bail-out” system where the Officers can open the door to their vehicle remotely to let the dog out of the car in case of emergencies. 

All PPD K-9 Officers carry water in their vehicles for the use of the K-9’s. Additionally, all PPD K-9’s receive veterinary (medical) attention on a regular and consistent basis.  This includes boarding if the assigned K-9 Officer will be on leave or unable to provide care for his assigned dog at any time.
 
PPD K-09 Officers and the K-9 Sergeant perform in an exceptional manner in all aspects of care and awareness of the needs for their dogs.  In my experience if there is a problem with how handlers care for their dogs it is that they can be overly protective of the dog.  They are more likely to err in protecting the dog from situations the dog was designed for then they are to neglect the dog.  During my career I have seen several cases where the handler limits the usefulness of the dog and devalues a very expensive police tool by being too emotionally attached and too reluctant to expose the dog to danger when it is absolutely necessary and part of the dog’s purpose.  I have never seen a case of the opposite wherein a handler neglected his dog. 
 
If anyone has direct knowledge of a K9 being mistreated, I would strongly encourage them to document the facts and file a complaint immediately.