Sometimes being police chief isn’t all it’s cracked-up to be. Oh sure, there’s political pressure, vicarious liability, lots of opportunities for public scrutiny, but there’s a downside too.
Our employees, both police officers and support personnel are imperfect human beings, just like you. Sometimes we make mistakes and have to own up to them. Sometimes though, in fact many times, our employees receive complaints about them that are untrue or greatly exaggerated. My position, generally, is to process the complaint, and reply to the complaining party with the outcome in a professional manner. That’s a good idea because it helps ensure a friendly complaint registering system.
A couple of days ago, (June 12th), we received a complaint from a woman who I won’t name, via her Facebook page. She also sent a message to our RCPD Facebook page. She writes:
“I think that the RCPD needs to address this situation soon. Its a great cause for concern. I am also going to send this to Chief Allender.
[name withheld but it's her boyfriend] was wandering around drunk on 6/11/12 at approximately 12:30pm, not in any altercation with anyone else, didn’t have any weapons, not yelling around, not even around any other people, just walking in a public right of way. Someone called to report him being drunk, apparently, and so when the cops responded the female officer jumped out of the cruiser, pulled her weapon and ordered him to “get down” (This was all witnessed by myself and another person). Three other cruisers pulled up, and as he sat on the curb, cuffed, he apparently had a laceration on his head and arms, so an ambulance came and checked him out. He was then taken into police custody.
I learned from someone who knows this guy, who attended his arraignment this morning, that he was told that he was in violation of 24.7, which is appropriate cause he was drunk, but that he would not be reinstated to the program because he had been arrested AT the 24/7 Program after an altercation that happened while he was there.
How can they say that, when he was clearly arrested at a totally different location, in a whole different part of town from the 24/7 program, and there was no altercation that happened. I think I need to get on this, because it has me wondering how many other times this type of “oops” has happened.”
Her Facebook page post looks like this:
Notice the intro “ANOTHER case where the RCPD overreacted” Quite inflammatory and a very bold statement given the fact she was quite happy to have us arrive on scene to assist her. The related comments from her friends take it even further:
So, we did as she asked. We looked into it.
I probably shouldn’t do this and I probably won’t do it in the future, but I am going to answer this complaint in the same public venue it was received: social media.
Here are the facts: Someone called the 911 Center to report this incident and ask for our help. That caller was … (drum roll) the same person who made the complaint about our response. During this call, she stated these, among other things:
“I need some help getting someone out of my house” and went on to describe how her boyfriend was chasing her. She yelled “get away from me!” three times during this call. She told the dispatcher “he’s a violent person.” She was obviously in distress – I listened to the 911 call myself.
An additional important fact is that our officer pointed her Taser, not her pistol, at the man. Another thing you need to know is that the “24/7” program is used as a condition of pre-trial release from custody and requires the program participant (in this case the boyfriend) to submit to a breath test once or twice per day to insure they aren’t drinking. This man took the breath test at 7:42 am that day, five hours prior to the disturbance and he was sober. At the time of his arrest, somewhere around 12:30 pm, his blood alcohol was .22 (nearly three times
the legal limit for driving drunk). He deserved to be arrested and whether someone in court said he was arrested “at 24/7” or at her house is immaterial. The facts and charge are solid. One final factoid – the ambulance was called because he stumbled into a cactus and had quills stuck in him.
We conduct routine reviews of uses of force by police officers, and this one is by the book.
The complaining party lied on social media and to us, gained support for her lie, rallied some friends against us and unnecessarily caused an expense on the tax payers by asking us to review the incident. How embarrassing for her. In addition she is employed as a news reporter for a Native American newspaper. What should her readers believe?
Race relations are complicated enough without willful lies and underhanded tactics like this. I am glad we had the resources to help this woman – that’s our job and we are proud to do it. But in this case I believe a written apology is due the employees of our Department.
Finally, please do not comment on this post with hateful or racially inflammatory statements. I will not “approve” them and they will not help the situation.
Wow–some people just need attention, I guess! How convenient that she neglects to mention on FB that she’s the caller and knows the “victim” rather intimately. Nice to hear the full story from a source who has actual documentation and evidence.
Well, Chief Allender…… I applaud you! I applaud that you are Rapid City’s Police Chief and do an excellent job. I applaud the fact that you were willing to face monumental scrutiny for writing this “Chief’s View”….. yet you wrote it anyway. Kudos to you and all your officers for continually doing a seemingly thankless job in trying to keep this community safe for all its citizens.
Amen, well said!!! Chief Allender, you are an amazing Police Chief and have been fair, positive, strong, and supportive of your LE personel and Community. This is one more example of the fight we are facing everyday. Just doing our jobs properly or living and participating as a good citizen this type of “prejudice against LE” even good citizens happens. You have been eloquent in your response and once again, I am proud, happy, and shed a tear of pride at the wonderful leadership our protector’s/hero’s have in you and hope you do not give in and stay in the fight for us and for the innocent citizens of Rapid City that just don’t really see the most terrible of the daily activites and how hate, dis-illusion, and the need to blame rather then owning actions fules this type of public accusation. Prayers always with you, our RCPD officers, PCSO Deputies, Officer’s workng in the jail, and all other agencies; HP, RCFD, EMT’s and Paramedics, Dispatch, RCRH, Detox, 24/7, City Alchohol and drug employees, Sioux San employees, Search and Rescue, Game, Fish and Parks, all Federal agencies, and on and on………. We cannot let anyone or anything keep us from upholding all laws in all situations, no matter what anyone likes to think!!!!!
Well written Chief Allender. ALL the facts and to the point. Even though I live in Black Hawk, I visit Rapid City frequently. It makes me feel secure when I see one of your wonderful officers patrolling the city. I thank you for keeping Rapid City and its citizens safe. God Bless you all!
Awesome response! Thank you for not taking these complaints lying down – too afraid of the uproar. I love the new publicly-displayed backbone of the RCPD that says “Don’t mess with the law!”
Well DONE Chief! I dont see why anyone would disagree with you posting this..This kind of stuff needs to be known about! There are many people who are thankful for the job EVERYONE does at the RCPD! keep up the good work!
Chief,
Good for you in writing this blog and defending your employees.
I have an immense amount of respect for the fact that you personally investigate many of these complaints with an objective, unbiased method. It is unfortunate that some people unreasonably want to stir-up unneeded tensions, which can only result in problems for all involved.
Again, applause all around.
Jordan Mason
Ward 4, Alderman
I have always been very impressed with the RCPD, and applaude you for standing up for your officers with facts. Thank you for keeping us and our city safe. God bless you all.
Chief,
Well said. Keep up the excellent work RCPD!
Well said Chief…Keep up the excellent work..you are appreciated !!
Chief Allender,
I applaud you for your respectful response to this woman. As a journalist she has a responsibility to report the news fairly and unbiased; I’m sure she would expect no less from any other journalist. I know there are situations where the RCPD has been in error, and I have always known them to own up to their mistakes. I agree that in this instance you were wise in responding in kind through social media. Thanks for keeping us up to date on situations happening in the city.
Chief Allender,
Thanks for your informative post. We appreciate your strong leadership of our heroic “Thin Blue Line” of the RCPD. This unwarrented complaint is typical of the ungraitful. Don’t loose the spirit in spite of ludicirous criticism. Good citizens support and applaude the RCPD. Criminals do not.
M Dirks
While I empathize with your frustration, I agree that you should probably not have responded this way. It makes me very uneasy – kind of like watching a divorce materialize over FaceBook. Also, it paints a less than professional picture, don’t you think? It’s your job to remain an example to the community, and I just don’t think a response like this accomplishes that end.
I don’t think anything you said was incorrect, just the medium used was a little over-reaching for my taste, I guess?
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