James Berry, chairman of the police chief’s Citizen Advisory Council (CAC), said he was pleased with the level of citizen involvement in the committee’s investigation.

"There was no effort (by the committee) to limit our participation," Berry said.

He said Mark H. Tuohey III, who conducted the investigation as special counsel to the committee, met with all seven police district CACs and handed out his business cards to members encouraging them to call him with information and suggestions.

"In my mind, that was sort of unprecedented," Berry said.

Berry said CAC members had "an open invitation to testify at any of the (special committee’s) meetings."

Special committee co-chair Jack Evans, D-Ward 2, said the investigation found the police department did not suffer from widespread corruption but from chronic mismanagement. In its investigation the committee found 65 instances of individual misconduct that have been referred to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the Inspector General or the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

The instances of misconduct include falsifying employment applications and testimony, theft of MPD equipment, abuse of police powers, frequenting the premises of known drug dealers and prostitutes, and unauthorized off-duty employment.

Tuohey estimated that roughly one-third of those cases involved officers who hold the rank of lieutenant or higher.

The committee recommended requiring new recruits to have at least two years of college education, establishing mandatory in-service training for current officers, prohibiting off-duty officers from working at ABC licensed establishments and the creation of a "provisional retirement" status that would prevent officers under investigation from retiring without facing further disciplinary action.

Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey has already proposed at least two of these recommendations: the college requirement and the prohibition against off-duty officers working in any business with a liquor license.

Co-chair Kathy Patterson, D-Ward 3, said the committee is drafting an omnibus police reform bill and public hearings will be held on the bill later this year.

Legislation the committee recommended would address recruitment and training standards for new officers, regulation of off-duty employment, procedures for handling seized currency, and officers retiring or resigning while under disciplinary investigation.

The report also recommended a number of internal police changes including the overhaul of the department’s internal investigation procedures and greater staffing of the police service areas (PSAs).

The 109-page report was the result of an eight-month investigation conducted by the special committee. The investigation cost $400,000.

Copyright 1998, The Common Denominator