Roy Hill whistleblower suit against city of Desert Hot Springs, DHS, Jerry Hanson

Updated: March 28, 2006 
We ask the Important questions others are too afraid to ask!

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" POLITICIANS WILL ONLY START SEEING THE LIGHT WHEN THEY BEGIN TO FEEL THE HEAT"

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Desert Hot Springs Police Issues Page

11/28/06
"Go Ahead & Write My Friends"

Yesterday while running errands, we  stopped by John's Restaurant in Palm Springs for lunch and as we walked up to the entrance we saw a Palm Springs COP (Citizens On Patrol) car pull into the one and only available Handicapped parking spot available in the restaurant parking lot.

Thinking they must not have noticed, we up to the Palm Springs (PS) COP volunteers and said, " Do you know that you just parked in a handicapped parking space?"

"Yes, we know, was the reply.

"But you are not handicapped. You are not allowed to park there." 

"We know".  

"We were once president of our COP in Desert Hot Springs and we gave tickets to those who illegally parked in handicapped spots just like you just did.  It breeds contempt for the law when you use your authority to break it.  You really need to be professional and do the right thing and re-park in another spot." 

"I don't really care what you think or what you do."  

"This is really unfortunate for any handicapped person who may want to eat here," we said.  

"I really don't care. But I tell you what, if you don't like it why don't you go ahead and write to my friends about it."

FODHS;  "Well, OK if you insist." 

11/28/06
FRIENDS OF DESERT HOT SPRIGNS
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
HTTP://FRIENDSOFDESERTHOTSPRINGS.COM

Dear Friends, 
Please see below, one Palm Springs Citizens On Patrol car illegally parked in a handicapped space. 


Palm Spring COP car parked illegally in John's restaurant handicapped parking space at 12.15PM 11/28/06


Palm Springs COP volunteers having lunch in John's restaurant from 12:15 to 12:50PM 11/28/06 while their COP car is preventing handicapped access.  See car in right doorway.

Sincerely;

Gabriel King
Friends Of Desert Hot Springs

cc: Coachella Valley
     and Regular subscribers

 

 

11/01/06
 A Chief of Police is Not A Grant Writer 
(What will city report to the grand jury?)

This city used to employ a professional grant writer. That grant writer was fired (excuse us, "let go") in June with the other mass firings (excuse us, "mass lettings go"). Now we have a police Chief that everyone is going to great pains to say was not "fired" but instead is being reassigned.

But reassigned to what job? As widely reported to the media, former Interim Police Chief Walter McKinney will now be a city grant writer.

A Chief of Police is NOT by profession a grant writer. Those are not his job skills and even if he has an idea of how the process works from his time working with the city's former professional grant writer, we question if he has the qualifications for the job.

This city has just answered grand jury recommendations, one of which was that people should not be hired for positions they are not qualified to fill. The city's answer to the grand jury was that city jobs will no longer be given to those that do not possess the qualification for the job.

On the grand jury question, city hall will tell you McKinney is no longer an employee (but also was not fired) and has been retained as an independent contractor (a consultant perhaps - can we see the contract please?). 

The questions remain, consultant or employee aside, is he qualified to write grants? If we need a grant writer, why did we fire our professional grant writer? 

This one does not smell right. Explanations are in order, real explanations.

10/31/06
Distorting the Record
Three deceptions have been foisted upon our city in the last couple of weeks. They need to be pointed out.

Deception No. 3

City hall reported to the media that several people had come to city hall and "pulled recall papers" on Mayor Alex Bias. Let's be very, very clear on this: No one goes to city hall to pull recall papers. That is NOT where you get them. City hall does not supply recall papers. City hall knows that.

It was an outright deception by city hall. The impression that was left was that a recall of the Mayor had been started. The press heard the rumor created by city hall and ran with it. It was a blatant deception by city hall.

Deception No. 2

City Hall reported to the media that it had received many calls from people that were upset with the Mayor. We do not doubt city hall received such calls. But what city hall did not report was that it also received several calls of support for the Mayor. 

We have since been contacted by several people asking us this specific question: Why didn't city hall tell the press about our calls of support for the Mayor?

Deception No. 1

The law firm of Aleshire & Wynder was selected from 10 finalist to be the city's law firm. After selecting the firm, the council instructed the city manager to begin negotiations with the firm over price. Then city hall said  "Negotiations had broken down" leaving the impression the city and the firm could not come to terms over price.

Price was not the issue. There was a serious conflict of interest. The firm had to withdraw when that conflict was revealed in a series of articles in a local newspaper.

“The city of Desert Hot Springs has a lot of potential, and it is a major disappointment that we cannot serve them,” said David Wynder, Senior Partner of Aleshire & Wynder. “Due to the fact that we represent Carson, it creates a conflict of interest.”

Why didn't city hall give the real reason the law firm of Aleshire & Wynder withdrew from consideration? With such an obvious disqualifying conflict of interest, how did they make the final cut?

 

 

10/24/06
When It Comes to Crime....
The Grass Is Not Always Greener
On The Other Side Of The I-10
(and other police issues)

It is safe to say that no one has been more critical of our city than has been FODHS. But, we have been correct. Now comes a letter to the editor in the Desert Sun that is far more critical of the city than we are and is just plain wrong.

In the letter - linked here - we are told that the Desert Hot Springs police are inept and violence in DHS will go to new and unacceptable levels.

To the letter writer we say, if you are moving to escape violence, don't move to Cathedral City or Palm Springs. If you are worried about being caught in a bank being robbed, don't move to La Quinta or Palm Desert. If you are worried about car-jacking's or being robbed as you use a teller machine at night, don't move to Rancho Mirage or Indian Wells.

About that FBI report that showed our city to have the most violent crime, we don't believe it. Something else is at work there. We know from talking to police officers in Desert Hot Springs and other Valley cities that there is nowhere in Desert Hot Springs anywhere near as dangerous as areas in other Valley cities.

The letter writer was also very wrong in his reference to the recent arrest of a Desert Hot Springs police officer and we are surprised that letter got past the legal department at the Desert Sun. The police officer in question has not had his day in court and got accused just after filing for divorce. Most CPS workers will tell you (privately) that at least 85% (or more) of these types of accusations are false and are filed maliciously to get the upper hand when there is custody, child support/alimony and and other issues involved before the court.  Some family law attorneys even encourage such false charges to be filed when their clients are not in a strong legal position regarding these financial matters! Question: Why all of a sudden do these numerous charges get filed right after the guy files divorce? For argument sake, if the mom allegedly knew all these years of these alleged molestations, isn't she just as culpable? Is it not a little odd that mom did not know, then conveniently discovered them immediately after  the officer filed divorce papers against her?? KNOWING THESE DETAILS ALONE, THESE ACCUSATIONS JUST DON'T PASS THE SMELL TEST.

We must all mentally assume a very "INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty" stand in our minds.  And we must again try to successfully pass a ballot law making filing known to be false accusations into a felony or at least a misdemeanor charge with sever penalties to the false accusation accuser.  That way, CPS can devote more (85%) resources to focus on the real cases.

The only thing the letter writer was correct about is the embarrassment of our city council. But that is not reason to leave. That is reason to work to change it. This is a good city. It can be a great one once we get rid of the majority on the council.

They and they alone are what is dragging our city down. They must go. The letter writer can take them with him. We are staying!  A simple fix, just remove the current council causing the obstructionism.

Links:
www.unitedfathersofcalifornia.com/
http://www.unitedfathers.org/contactus.htm
United Fathers Of America
1651 E 4th St# 122
Santa Ana, CA. 92701
(714)558-7949

 

 

03/25/06
Jane Pye gives public thanks to the injured
police explorer.
Desert Sun Letters today

Thank you to youth
"Teen Police Explorer hurt in shooting" (March 16): Regardless of the findings in this situation, we as a society must salute the youth who was injured. This youth has made a conscious decision to protect and serve. While I clearly understand why the youth's name is not released, I want to publicly thank that teenager for actively protecting my community and me.

Jan Pye
Desert Hot Springs

FODHS Note: Jane Pye is a well respected past city council woman who ran a (unfortunately) unsuccessful bid against Mayor Weyuker. 

 

03/25/06
Sgt. David Henderson of the DHS Police cleared of filing a false police

Portion of Desert Sun Story;
Sgt. David Henderson crashed his unmarked police cruiser into a palm tree about 7 a.m. June 8 on Two Bunch Palms Trail, near Desert Springs Middle School.

He claimed to have heard gunshots and that a side window in his car had been shot out by gunfire.

The district attorney's investigation, however, found evidence that Henderson himself had fired the shotgun into his own car. Gunshot residue was found on both of his hands and on his shirt, Assistant District Attorney Sue Steding said Friday.

"We became suspicious that someone else may not have fired it, and the investigation turned toward him as the one who fired the blast into his car, (but) there's not sufficient evidence to prosecute him for filing a false police report," Steding said.

The shotgun was fired into the car from 6 to 12 feet away and, because glass from the window was found on the road well before the point of impact with the tree, occurred before the car collided with the tree, Steding said.

Of course, Henderson could have easily got the gunshot residue on his hands by normally loading or unloading the shotgun in the morning (as is often done per police safety procedure) or by even repositioning the shotgun while driving around in the squad car.  So the residue on the hand or clothing, exceptionally for a police office in very inconclusive evidence.

The Desert Sun goes on to say:
Henderson has been on administrative leave at the police department since the incident in June and was demoted from lieutenant to sergeant by interim Chief Walter McKinney, ostensibly because of departmental restructuring. Henderson recently filed a lawsuit against the city and police department over his demotion.

Henderson worked under past police Chief, Roy Hill.

03/25/06
Ritchie Shooting was within policy per DHS police department.
Shooting of dog and injury of explorer was not technically a 
"Officer Involved Shooting"
per DHS police Chief Walter McKinney.

Press Enterprise quote:
"It's not an officer-involved shooting. There were no hits. He didn't shoot at the person," Desert Hot Springs Interim Police Chief Walter McKinney said in a phone interview Thursday.

Two people confronted Ritchie, and one held a hammer. While he was trying to control the situation, a mixed breed dog belonging to one of the persons attacked Ritchie. The officer was able to kick away the dog but the animal attacked him again, according to a police news release.

Ritchie then fired one round from his gun at the dog that grazed the dog before hitting the sidewalk. Something -- possibly a bullet shell or a piece of concrete -- then hit the Explorer, said McKinney in a phone interview Thursday.

 

03/20/06 Late Night
KESQ Channel 3 News asks why DHS PD (Police Department) took so long to file report on OIS (Officer Involved Shooting).


DHS Police Officer Robert Ritchie

See our story 03/16/06 below.  Also click here for link to KESQ story and video. 

Investigation shall be done by outside agency (Riverside County Sheriff Department) per DHS police policy.  Click here to see copy of DHS PD OIS policy here.  Applicable sections in Red.

OIS Investigations do take time exceptionally if done by an outside   Police Agency per DHS PD policy. Sources have told us that Robert Ritchie is also a outstanding officer.  He is also a San Jacinto council member and running for sheriff against Bob Doyle.  

 

03/16/06
 DHS Officer Shoots Dog, Ricochet Hits Police Explorer
The 16 year old explorer was treated at the scene by paramedics and transported to Desert Regional Hospital for removal of metal bullet fragments that went into his arm and shoulder.  No DA report was filed and DA did not investigation incident. Officer involved in the shooting was Robert Ritchie, also a candidate for Sheriff Riverside County. The report was file about 03/15/06 but information to this site indicates the event took place on 3/11/06, indicating there was a delay in reporting the event.
This is a reminder that we must remember to support our Police officers.  They do dangerous the work. They often risk their lives keeping us safe.


Desert Sun Story: "The dog was grazed by the bullet, and the teen's injury was caused either by debris thrown up by the bullet shell or by the shell itself after it ricocheted, Assistant Chief Mike Hole said Wednesday."


Picture of one of the many ranges at the
Front Sight Training Institute near Las Vegas.  They  offer Hand Gun, Rifle, Machine Gun and other 2 and 4 day intensive courses for police and civilians alike.
Save $200 to $1200 on Front Sights courses

Bullets do not act like billiard balls. No matter what the projection angle of the bullet that hits the surface, the bullet will partially disintricate and often continues to closely travel along the surface after it ricochets .  This is the main reason why swat members often prefer to not stay close to the wall surface when entering a building unless necessary. No matter the angle of impact, those near the impacted wall or floor surface tend to get hit with the ricocheting bullet.
Link: Projection bullet angle from car s. m.
 Link: Bullet analyses upon impact
Link: Frangible Ammo reduces ricochets
Link: Plastic bullets more deadly than metal

DESERT HOT SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Officer Involved Shooting

310.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

To establish policy and procedures for the investigation of an incident in which a person is injured as the result of a police shooting. The intent of this policy is to ensure that such incidents be investigated in a fair and impartial manner.

310.2 INVESTIGATION RESPONSIBILITY

Nothing in this policy is intended to increase, modify, or in any way affect the current legal standards nor shall any deviation from these guidelines be considered a breach of any legal standard.

310.3 TYPES OF INVESTIGATIONS

Officer involved shootings involve several separate investigations. The investigations may include:

(a) A Criminal Investigation of the incident by the agency having jurisdiction where the incident occurred. This agency may relinquish its criminal investigation to the Riverside Sheriff's Office with the approval of the Chief of Police or a Division

Commander.

(b) A Criminal investigation of the involved officer(s) conducted by an outside agency.

(c) A Civil investigation to determine potential liability conducted by the involved officer's agency.

(d) An Administrative Investigation conducted by the involved officer's agency, to determine if there were any violations of Department policy.

310.4 JURISDICTION

Jurisdiction is determined by the location of the shooting and the agency employing the involved officer(s). The following scenarios outline the jurisdictional responsibilities for investigating officer-involved shootings:

310.41 DESERT HOT SPRINGS OFFICER WITHIN CITY BOUNDARIES

The Desert Hot Springs Police Department is responsible for the criminal investigation of the suspect's actions, the civil investigation, and the administrative investigation. The criminal investigation of the officer-involved shooting will be conducted by the Riverside Sheriff's Office.

310.42 ANOTHER AGENCY'S OFFICER WITHIN DHS' BOUNDARIES

The Desert Hot Springs Police Department is responsible for the criminal investigation of the suspect's actions. The criminal investigation of the officer-involved shooting will be conducted by the Riverside Sheriff's Office. The officer's employing agency will be responsible for any civil and/or administrative investigation(s).

310.43 DESERT HOT SPRINGS OFFICER OUTSIDE CITY BOUNDARIES

The agency where the incident occurred has criminal jurisdiction and is responsible for the criminal investigation of the incident. That agency may relinquish its criminal investigation of the suspect(s) to another agency. The Desert Hot Springs Police department will conduct timely civil and/or administrative investigations.

310.44 INVESTIGATION RESPONSIBILITY MATRIX

The following table identifies the possible scenarios and responsibilities for the investigation of officer involved shootings:

Criminal Investigation of Suspect(s)

Criminal Investigation of Officer(s)

Civil Investigation

Administrative Investigation

Desert Hot Springs Officer in the City Desert Hot Springs

Detectives

District

Attorney's Office

Desert Hot Springs Civil Liability Team

Desert Hot Springs Professional Standards Unit

Another agency's officer in the City of Desert Hot Springs

Desert Hot Springs Detectives

District Attorney's Office

Involved Officer's Agency

Involved Officer's Agency

Desert Hot Springs Officer in another jurisdiction.

Agency where incident occurred

Decision made by agency where incident occurred

Desert Hot Springs Civil Liability team

Desert Hot Springs Professional Standards Unit

310.5 THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS

The following procedures are guidelines used in the investigation of an officer involved shooting.

310.51 DUTIES OF INITIAL ON SCENE SUPERVISOR

Upon arrival at the scene of an officer involved shooting, the first uninvolved supervisor should:

(a) Take all reasonable steps to obtain emergency medical attention for all apparently injured individuals.

(b) Attempt to obtain a brief overview of the situation from any non-shooter officer(s).

1. In the event that there are no non-shooter officers, the supervisor should attempt to obtain a brief voluntary overview from one shooter officer.

Officer Involved Shooting - 46

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DESERT HOT SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Officer Involved Shooting

(c) If necessary, the supervisor may administratively order any officer from this department to immediately provide public safety information necessary to secure the scene and pursue suspects.

1. Public safety information shall be limited to such things as outstanding suspect information, number and direction of shots fired, parameters of the incident scene, identity of known witnesses and similar information.

(d) Absent a voluntary statement from any officer(s), the initial on scene supervisor should not attempt to order any officer to provide other than public safety information.

(e) Provide all available information to the Watch Commander and Communications (If feasible, sensitive information should be communicated over secure networks).

(f) Take command of and secure the incident scene with additional personnel until relieved by a detective supervisor or other assigned personnel.

(g) As soon as practical, shooter officers should respond or be transported (separately, if feasible) to the station for further direction.

1. Each involved officer should be given an administrative order not to discuss the incident with other involved officers pending further direction from a supervisor.

2. When an officer's weapon is taken or left at the scene (e.g. evidence), the officer will be provided with a comparable replacement weapon or transported to the station by other officers.

310.52 WATCH COMMANDER DUTIES

Upon learning of an officer involved shooting, the Watch Commander shall be responsible for coordinating all aspects of the incident until relieved by the Chief of Police or a Division Commander.

310.53 NOTIFICATIONS

The following person(s) shall be notified as soon as practical:

• Chief of Police

• Detective Division Commander

• District Attorney OIS Rollout Team

• Internal Affairs

• Risk Management Personnel

• Psychological/Peer Support Personnel

• Coroner (if necessary)

• Officer Representative (if requested)

• Lieutenant

All outside inquiries about the incident shall be directed to the Watch Commander.

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DESERT HOT SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Officer Involved Shooting

310.54 MEDIA RELATIONS

A single press release shall be prepared with input and concurrence from the supervisor and agency representative responsible for each phase of the investigation. This release will be available to the Chief of Police or his or her designee in the event of inquiries from the media.

It will be the policy of this agency to not release the identities of involved officers absent their consent or as required by law. Moreover, no involved officer shall be subjected to contact from the media [Govt. Code § 3303(e)] and no involved officer shall make any comments to the press unless authorized by the Chief of Police or a Division Commander.

Law enforcement officials receiving inquiries regarding incidents occurring in other agency jurisdictions shall refrain from public comment and will direct those inquiries to the agency having jurisdiction and primary responsibility for the investigation.

310.55 INVOLVED OFFICERS

Once involved officer(s) have arrived at the station, the Watch Commander should confirm to each officer that the incident is not to be discussed except with authorized personnel or representatives. The following shall be considered for the involved officer:

(a) Any request for legal representation will be accommodated.

(b) Discussions with licensed attorneys will be considered privileged as attorney client communications.

(c) Discussions with departmental (e.g. association) representatives will be privileged only as to the discussion of non-criminal information. [Govt. Code § 3303(i)]

(d) A psychotherapist shall be provided by the Department to each involved officer, or any officer upon request.

1. Interviews with a licensed psychotherapist will be considered privileged and will not be disclosed except to the extent that the officer is or is not fit for return to duty.

(e) Although the Department will honor the sensitivity of communications with peer counselors, there is no legal privilege to such and peer counselors are cautioned not to discuss the facts of any incident with an involved or witness officer.

Care should be taken to preserve the integrity of any physical evidence present on the officer, equipment or clothing (e.g. blood, fingerprints, etc.) until investigators or lab personnel can properly retrieve it.

Investigators shall make reasonable accommodations to the officer's physical and emotional needs. [Govt. Code § 3303(d)]

Each involved officer shall be given reasonable paid administrative leave following an officer involved shooting and it shall be the responsibility of the Watch Commander to make schedule adjustments to accommodate such leave.

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DESERT HOT SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Officer Involved Shooting

310.6 THE SHOOTING INCIDENT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

310.61 DETECTIVE PERSONNEL

Once notified of an officer involved shooting, it shall be the responsibility of the Detective Division Commander to assign appropriate detective personnel to handle the department's investigation of related crimes. Departmental detectives will be assigned to work with investigators from the District Attorney's Office and may also be assigned to separately handle the investigation of any related crimes not being investigated by the District Attorney's Office.

All related departmental reports except administrative and/or privileged reports will be forwarded to one designated detective supervisor for approval. Privileged reports shall be maintained exclusively by those personnel authorized such access. Administrative reports will be forwarded to the appropriate Division Commander.

310.62 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

It shall be the policy of this agency to utilize the Riverside Sheriff's Office to conduct an independent criminal investigation into the circumstances of any officer involved shooting involving injury or death.

If available, detective personnel from this agency may be assigned to "partner" with investigators from the Riverside Sheriff's Office so as to not duplicate efforts in related criminal investigations.

Once public safety issues have been addressed, criminal investigators will be given the next opportunity to interview involved officers in order to provide the officer(s) with an opportunity to give a voluntary statement. The following shall be considered for the involved officer:

(a) Supervisors and Professional Standards personnel should not participate directly in any voluntary interview of officers. (This will not prohibit such personnel from monitoring such interviews or indirectly providing areas for inquiry).

(b) If requested, any involved officer will be afforded the opportunity to consult with a representative of his or her choosing or an attorney, prior to speaking with criminal investigators.

(c) Any voluntary statement provided by the officer(s) will be made available for inclusion in the administrative or other related investigations.

(d) Absent consent from the involved officer or as required by law, no administratively coerced statement(s) will be provided to any criminal investigators.

310.63 REPORTS BY INVOLVED OFFICERS

In the event that suspects remain outstanding or subject to prosecution for related offenses, this Department shall retain the authority to require involved officers to provide sufficient information for related criminal reports to facilitate the apprehension and prosecution of those individuals {Government Code § 3304(a)}.

While the involved officer may write the report, it is generally recommended that such reports be completed by assigned investigators who should interview involved officers as victims/witnesses. Since the purpose of these reports will be to facilitate criminal

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DESERT HOT SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Officer Involved Shooting

prosecution, statements of involved officers should focus on evidence to establish the elements of criminal activities by involved suspects. Care should be taken not to duplicate information provided by involved officers in other reports.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to deprive an involved officer of the right to consult with legal counsel prior to completing any such criminal report.

Reports related to the prosecution of criminal suspects will be processed according to normal procedures, but should also be included for reference in the investigation of the officer involved shooting.

310.7 ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATION

In addition to all other investigations associated with an officer involved shooting, this agency will conduct an internal administrative investigation to determine conformance with department policy. This investigation will be conducted under the supervision of the Professional Standards Unit and will be considered a confidential peace officer personnel file.

(a) Any officer involved in a shooting may be administratively compelled to provide a blood sample for alcohol/drug screening. Absent consent from the officer, such compelled samples and the results of any such testing shall not be disclosed to any criminal investigative agency.

(b) If any officer has voluntarily elected to provide a statement to criminal investigators, the assigned administrative investigator should review that statement before proceeding with any further interview of that involved officer.

1. If a further interview of the officer is deemed necessary to determine policy compliance, care should be taken to limit the inquiry to new areas with minimal, if any, duplication of questions addressed in the voluntary statement.

The involved officer shall be provided with a copy of his or her prior statement before proceeding with any subsequent interview(s). [Govt. Code § 3303g]

(c) In the event that an involved officer has elected to not provide criminal investigators with a voluntary statement, the assigned administrative investigator shall conduct an administrative interview to determine all relevant information.

1. Although this interview should not be unreasonably delayed, care should be taken to ensure that the officer'(s) physical and psychological needs have been addressed before commencing the interview.

2. If requested, the officer shall have the opportunity to select an uninvolved representative to be present during the interview. [Govt. Code § 3303(i)]

3. Administrative interview (s) should be tape recorded by the department [the officer may also record the interview - Govt. Code § 3303(g)].

4. The officer shall be informed of all constitutional "Miranda" rights [Govt. Code § 3303(h)] and, assuming no voluntary waiver, will then be given an administrative order to provide full and truthful answers to all questions [Govt. Code § 3303(e)]. The officer shall be informed, however, that the interview will be for administrative purposes only and that the statement cannot be used criminally. (The Lybarger or Garrity admonishment).

5. The administrative interview shall be considered part of the officer's confidential personnel file.

6. The Professional Standards Unit shall compile all relevant information and reports necessary for the department to determine compliance with applicable policies.

7. The completed administrative investigation shall be submitted to the Use of Deadly Force Review Board, which will determine compliance with the department's Use of Deadly Force Policy only.

8. Any other indications of potential policy violations shall be determined in accordance with standard disciplinary procedures.
The department waited several days before acknowledging this incident. Although it may be a perfectly inocent event, the due process that should follow it has not been forthcoming. Here is the Desert Hot Springs Police Department policies and procedures regarding officer involved shooting incidents.
 
 

 

Legal stuff here!

Any statements from these letters should be verified prior to being relied upon as being factual. We believe that the information is true when we post it within these letters. Even so, the reader should question and investigate the information provided as to its truth fullness.   Even though we feel that the information is true, no one should rely on any information provided until it is verified as correct.   The views represented within these letters are not necessarily our opinion.

Please Note: We will attempt to correct any information we find to be false. We will not publish any information about a public figure that we "believe" to be "False" or have "actual knowledge of being false". (See Sullivan vs New York Times) Please let us know if you find any additional information regarding any posted statements herein.  The information posted here has had a very high probability of being factually correct.  We have tried to be diligent in our postings as to avoid any "reckless disregard" for the information presented (expanded Sullivan Rule). The letters are provided a "Matter of Public Concern" therefore are "Common Law Privilege" (See Sullivan vs New York Times).  These letters are posted as citizen opinions under the First Amendment Right. In 1974, Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc, 418 U.S. 323 there is no such thing as a false idea.  Even obvious sarcasm is not liable per 1988 ruling in Hustler Magazine v. Falwell 485 U.S. 46. This forum of letters is a constitutional privilege of "neutral reporting" per Edwards v. National Audubon Society.