City police received 27 complaints during ‘07

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: March 6, 2008

Manassas City police received 27 complaints and more than 100 letters and phone calls of commendation in 2007, according to data released Thursday by police Chief John J. Skinner.

Of the 27 complaints—25 against sworn police officers and two against non-sworn personnel—10 were founded and disciplinary action was taken, Skinner said.

Seventeen were investigated and determined to be exonerated, not sustained or unfounded, police said.

“This is a tough job,“ Skinner said. “We’re in the public eye 365 days a year. We’re held to a higher standard of conduct in the community than others.“

Skinner said state and federal regulations prohibit him from

releasing the specifics of

complaints and who they were filed against.

He did say, however, that four were for unprofessional conduct—two against officers on duty and two against officers off duty—and others ranged from rudeness to improper use of force during an arrest.

He also said that one complaint of unprofessional conduct while on duty resulted in the resignation by the officer at the close of the department’s investigation.

Other disciplinary actions that can be taken, he said, include verbal reprimand, a written apology to the complainant, remedial training and a short, unpaid suspension from duty.

Complaints and concerns were made by citizens and by fellow department members, according to a news release issued by the

department.

The number lodged against the department dropped from 35 in 2006.

That year there were also 10 founded complaints that resulted in corrective action.

With nearly 77,500 reported situations in which city police officers were in contact with citizens, Skinner said the number of complaints was low in comparison.

“I am very pleased with the small number of complaints received given the thousands of citizen-police con-tacts through calls for service and criminal arrests,“ Skinner said. “This extremely low number of complaints is a direct indication of the professionalism and dedication to service of all of our employees, whether sworn or civilian.“

As for compliments on a job well done, Skinner said there were 108 written ones and a number of phone calls doing the same.

Additionally, he said, two of his officers—Officer R. L. McAndrews and Senior Detective D.E. Abbott—will be among those honored at the 22nd Annual Valor Awards later this month.

Anyone with questions or concerns about department procedures, policies or acts by individual department members can call the department’s Office of Professional Standards at 703-257-8010.

Concerns, compliments or suggestions on how to improve police services can be mailed to the Manassas City Police Department, Office of the Chief of Police, 9518 Fairview Ave., Manassas, VA 20110. Or it can be done

online at http://va-manassas.civicplus.com/forms/

policepublicsafetyform.asp.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.