Westminster Officers Indicted Over Excessive Force

[Wildcard]

TheDenverChannel.com
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INDICTMENTS
Westminster Officers Indicted Over Excessive Force
Officers Disciplined Earlier By Police Chief

POSTED: 10:16 am MST November 15, 2005
UPDATED: 12:02 pm MST November 15, 2005
WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- Four members of Westminster's Special Crimes Attack Team have been indicted and disciplined after allegedly using excessive force during an arrest, officials said Tuesday.

Two Federal Heights officers came forward in August to report the alleged use of unnecessary force on the part of SCAT team members during an arrest in their city.

Adams County authorities investigated and a grand jury returned indictments Monday night.

The indictments included the charges of third-degree assault, official misconduct, and filing a false report.

The indicted officers were identified by the district attorney's office as Mark Toth, Norman Haubert and Jason Poppenger. Officer Chris Pyler was charged with official misconduct and filing a false report.

Westminster Police Chief Dan Montgomery took disciplinary action on Nov. 9 against several officers, including one dismissal, included two reprimands, several one-week suspensions, and one two-week suspension. Additionally, two of these employees were transferred out of SCAT and several will be required to undergo remedial training.

He also handed down several one-week suspensions, and took at least two officers off the attack team.

Montgomery did not identify the officers involved, but said that he's embarrassed and disappointed by the incident.

"I support my people as long as they do the right thing. In this case, they let everyone down and more importantly they failed to live up to our high expectations. We won’t tolerate that kind of conduct. It is unacceptable," he said in a statement issued Tuesday

Officials said the SCAT officers who were reassigned to patrol jobs could have their duties further modified, pending the results of the criminal investigation.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/5330425/detail.html?subid=22100484&qs=1;bp=t


"I support my people as long as they do the right thing. In this case, they let everyone down and more importantly they failed to live up to our high expectations. We won’t tolerate that kind of conduct. It is unacceptable," he said in a statement issued Tuesday

I guess it is tolerated, all involved were not fired, most were just reassigned.

 

[jcoiii]

Perhaps those who were not fired did not participate as much? Not offering excuses, just trying to figure out why all were not fired. One officer goes overboard and the other three don't stop him? All four try to take the perp down, and then once he's down, one guy keeps going? Perhaps it was only one guy who really stepped over the line and the other three are being punished for political expediency? Guess we'll see at the trial.

edit: I reread the post and I can't figure out how many people were involved. Four indictments, yes, but was the whole team punished? Part of the team? What's the deal. Not a very well written article for clarity.

 

[sendec]

...guess it is tolerated, all involved were not fired, most were just reassigned.

A lot depends on what the individual's role and level of involvement was.

 

[jimpeel]

Since Westminster is just down the road from here I was tempted to post this but didn't want to get in another -- as in still ... one ... more ... time -- p---ing match over cop bashing.