dcoc 72 hr ethics complaint

8/12/2019 DCOC 72 HR Ethics Complaint

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ClTy OF DALLAS Pleasegpe or print legibly n blue or blackink.

CITY OF DALI.ASETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION

COMPLAINT FORM

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For Official UseNOTE: FILING A COMPLUNT TIHAT FALSELY ACCUSES SOMEONEOF A VIOI,{TION OF THE ETHICS CODE T[T\Y RESULT IN CRIMINALPROSECUTION OF ANYONE WHO KNOWINGLY MAKES A FALSEACCUSATION.

PART A- COMPLAINANT INFORMATION

Yout residenceaddtess Street,City, StateandZip Code)

1. Your full name (print) (dentifies y-ouas he Complainant)

Your businessaddress Stteet,City, StateandZip Code) County

Businesshone 31.{-Srq -qqG4 Residence hone #

I DECLARE I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST:2. FullNameof personagainst homyouafebringing heallegation:(CheckCr''r";Information

Fill in Appropriate

COMPLAINANT DECLARATION

Elected Official Office HeldAppointedOfficial

Boardor Commission/TitleCandidate Office Souqht* City Employee Tide/Department CHIEFDAVID O. BRO\XA]/DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Business ddress Street,City,StateandZip Code)1400SouthLamarDallas.TX75215

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PART C .- DESCRIPTION OF COMPLAINTProvide a statementof the facts upon which your complaint is based. Descdbe the eventsin the order in which they occurred. Keep datesof events n sequence. Include fulI names,addresses nd phone numbers of all individuals involved, including any witnessesPresentwhen alleged iolations took place. Be factual; he information you provide in this statementmustbe basedon factsand not on personal onfecture.Try to answer he questions who","what", "whefe", and "when", Attach extrasheetsf more spaces needed.

Backgtound: On Octobet 74,Z}l3,Joyce Jacksoncalled he Dallas Police Departrnentbecause he eared hat het son,Bobby GeraldBennett, who suffets from schizophreniaandbipolar disorder,would hutt himself. DallasPolicedispatchedOfficets CardanSpencerandChristopher'$Tatsono the call. Within minutes of arriving, Officer Spencershot BobbyBennett fout times in the stomach. Officet ChristopherWatsonwrote in his report that Mr.Bennett moved "in a threateningmanner", and "lunged" at the officers with a knife, causingthem to fear fot their lives. Mr. Bennettwaschargedwith AggravatedAssault'udtha deadlyweaponon a public servant,a felony, basedon the official report ftom Officer Watson.MauriceBfown, a neighborofJoyceJackson, aptured he confrontationon a homesurveillance arnera.Mr. Brown's video evidenceshowedthat Mr. Bennett never ungedatthe officers,and that he didn't threaten hem in anyconceivablemanner. Mr. Bennett stoodup when officers arrived,did not move, and kept his handsat his sidewhen Officer Spencerbegan epeatedly iring his serviceweaPon.MauriceBrown showedDallasPolice the surveillance ideo before handing it ovet to themedia. Police Chief David O. Brown madean official decision o Pursuechargesagainstthe shootingvictim evenafter seeing he video evidence,because Officer \Tatson'sstatement eally overrodewhat the video sho'wed". Chief David O. Brown went on to state,"\Weput a lot of credibijity on officer's statements ntil we haveother evidence o proveotherwise". Officer Watson was suspended hordy thereafter ot making falsestatementsin the report. Officer Spencerwas terminated rom the DallasPolice,and the casehasbeenreferred o a gtand jury.Complaint: MauriceBrown's video contradictedOfficer l7atson's estimonyandundeimined the criminal chargeagainstBobby Gerald Bennett, In response,Chief DavidO. Brown implemented the"72 Hour Review"policy, which state , "Any Dallas officetinvolved in a police shooting- rvhsthff the officer fired arJ/eaPon t witnessed he gunfire- will now have he right to remainsilent or 72 hours...And evenbefote they giveastatementabout the shooting, the officers canwatch anyavailable ideo before they give astatement."The"T2Hour Review"policydeveloped nd mplementedby DallasPolice Chief DavidO. Brown is specifically esignedo protectofficers rom beingcaught n a lie, andcreatesa mandate or officer-involvedshooting cover-ups" n the City of Dallas. The policyrvill createa culrureof corruprion, giving dishonestofficers the ability to fix nattatives n

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a tePort, ensuring hat they do not conffadict availablevideo evidence. The "/ZHourReview" policy provides for an environment wheredeceit and collabotation between hosedkecdy involved in officer involved shootings,will no longer be the exception,but theflofTn.

T\e "72 Hour Review" Policywill createan environment where the public w.illno longertrust officer-involved shootings reports,and elevates ublic perception of officers asreceivingspecial reatment It decteases ny semblanceof transparencyn the periodbetweenwhen the shooting happens,and when a report is filed. The public inierestof thetesidentsof the City of Dallas doesnot support the "72 Hour Review" policy, and demandsexacdy he opposite. fn accotdance with this Code, I hereby request an evidentiaryheadng tegatding this complaint, whereby "ll the facts may become know to thepublic.PART D .- CODE VIOI.ATIONSList the sectionsand pangraphs of the Code of Ethics' provisions you believehavebeenviolated:I. F'thics Code SEC.12A-3(a): IMPROPERECONOMIC BENEFIT,

Economic IntetestsAffected. To avoid the appearance nd risk of impropiettJ,acity official or employeeshallnot tahe any official action that he or sheknows islikely to affect particulady the economic nterestof: (1) the official ot employee

Fthics Code SEC. 12A-3(a)Violation#t: The official decision o implement he"-12Hout Review" policy is in direct response o video evidence eleased fter theshootingof Bobby GeraldBennetton October 14,2073. The implementationofthe "72 Hour Reviev/' policy violates his code of conduct by making unworkablethe Special nvestigationsUnit FBI Notification Policy,which was designed o allowfor neutral third party oversightof officer involved shootings. The elimination ofneutral third party oversight s intended to protect Dallas Pofice Officers and ChiefDavid O. Brown from public scrutiny, civil liability, and criminal charges.ChiefDavid O. Brown's economic nterest s affected hrough potential terminationor demotion. Chief David O. Brown hasan economic nterest n maintaininghis position within the DallasPoliceDepartment. The economic nterest s inthe form of a yeaily salary, xpenseaccounts,stipends,bonuses,and other fringebenefitsassociated ith the position. "SIU FBI Notification Policy:Anytime anofficer involved shooting occurs n which a ciazen s injured or killed, the Special

DALLAS, EXAS04-03-07OFFICEOF THEClry SECRETARY Page3 of 4


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InvestigationsUnit (SILf will email the DallasDivision of the FederalBureauofInvestigations,Civil Rights Unit, the shooting sunmafy, no later than the first

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Ethics Code SEC. 12A-3(a)Violation#2: The officialdecision o implementthe"72 Hour Review" poli.y is in direct response o video evidence eleasedafterthe shootingof Bobby GeraldBennetton October 74,2073. The implementationof the "72Hout Review" policy violates his code of conduct by allowing for theintentional abricationof evidenceesultingn a lossof liberty to another(18U.S.C'$S241, 242). Criminal chargesagainsta shootingvictim that arebasedon an officer'sfalse estimony,of testimony that is contradictedby video evidence,s likely toaffect Chief David O. Btown's economic nterest, htough Potential terminarionor demotion. Chief David O. Btown has an economic ntetest in maintaininghisposition within the Dallas PoliceDepanment by avoidingpublic scrutiny,civilliability, and criminal charges. The economic ntetest s in the fotm of aye tysalary,expenseccounts, tipends, onuses, nd othet ftinge benefitsassociated iththe position.

Ethics Code SEC. 12A-3(a)Violation#3: The implementationof the "72HoutReview" policy violates this codeof conduct through an implicit effort to avoidfuture contradicting fepofts betweenswofn testimony submitted by a DallasPolice Officer and availablevideo evidence,aspart of an officer involved shootinginvestigation. Criminal chargesagainsta shootingvic.Um hat ate based on anofficer's false estimony,or testimonythat is contradictedby video evidence, s likelyto affectChie David O. Brown's economic nterest, htough potential erminationor demotion. Chicf David O. Brown hasan economic nterest n maintaininghisposition within the Dallas PoliceDepartment by avoidingpublic scrutiny,civilIiability, and criminal charges.The economic nterest s in the form of a yeadysalary,expenseccounts, tipends, onuses, nd other fringebenefitsassociated iththeposition.

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Ethics Code SEC. 12A-3(a)Violation#4: The implementationof the "1ZHourReview" policy violatesthis code of conduct through an implicit effoft to avoid afederal nvestigationof officer involved shootings hat have occurred n the Cityof Dallas. Any federal nvestigation nto a pattem and practiceof unconstitutionaluseof deadlyot excessiveorce against he residentsof Dallas,TX is likely toaffect Chief David O. Brown's economic nterestthrough potential terminationor demotion. Chief David O. Brown has an economic nterest n maintaininghisposition within the Dallas PoliceDepattment by avoidingpublic scrutiny,civilfiability, and criminal charges.The economic nterest s in the fotm of a yeafysalary,expense ccounts,stipends,bonuses,and othet fringe benefitsassociatedwiththeposition.

II. Ethics code sEC. 12A-4(a): UNFAIR ADVANCEMENT OF PRTVATEINTERESTS, Genetal Rule. A city official or employeemay not use his or herofficial position to unfaidy advanceor impedepersonal nterestsby granting otsecuring,ot by attempting to grant or secure, ot anyPerson(includinghimself

or herself any form of specialconsideration, reatment,exemption,of advantagebeyond that which is lawfully available o everyother person or orgarizatjon-

Ethics Code SEC. 12A-4(a)Violation #1: The officialdecision o implement he"72 Hgur Review" policy violates his codeof conduct through an implicit e fort tounfaidy advanceChief of Potce David Brown's personal nterests. Chief David O'Rrovrnunfaidyusedhis positionasa depattmentditectorto securemplementationof the "72Hour Review" policy to avoid continuedpolitical and internal Pfessufefrom the DallasPolice Association,who has obbied for the implementation of thispolicy for several earsprior. The implementation f the "72Hout Review"policyadvances is petsonal nterestandconstitutes form of special teatment'and snot lawfully available o everyother police officer, or orgarizaicrnwithin the City ofDallas.

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III.

Ethics Code SEC. 12A-4(a)Violation #2: The official decision o implement he"'/2 Hout Review" policy violates his code of conduct through an implicit effortto unfaidy advancespecialconsideration or the employeesof the Dallas PoliceDepartrnent. The implementation of the "72Howr Review" potcy constirutesaform of special reatment, and s not lawfully available o any other public employee,private citizen, or orgarizatton within the City of Dallas

Ethics Code SEC. 12A-18: PARTICIPATION IN ETHICS VIOLATIONS,No person shall ntentionally or knowingly induce, attemPt to induce, conspirewith, aid, of assist,or attmpt to aid or assistanotherPefson to engagen conductviolative of this chapter.Ethics Code SEC. 12A-18Violations #lthtough #4: The official decision oimplement the "72 Hour Review" policy violates his code of conduct through animplicit effort by Chief of PoliceDavid Brown to intentionally or knowingly aid,assist,or induce high ranking police officets within the Special nvestigations Unit,Internal Affairs Division, Public Integrity Unit, and Crimes Against PersonsUnit toviolate SFC. 12A-3(a): IMPROPER ECONOMIC BENEFIT, and SEC-.1244(a):UNFAIR ADVANCEMENT OF PRIVATE of the Ciw of Dallas Code of Ethics.

PART E .. SOURCES OF EVIDENCEIdentifr sources of evidence, f any, that you believe should be considered by the EthicsAdvisory Commission. Submit all information that you have; attach photocopies of anypertinentPaPers r documentation to support your allegation.The following files are attachedas sourcesof evidence:

A. DallasPolice Shoot Bobby Getald Bennett and Lie About It:^. http://www.wfm.comf news/local/dallas/surveillance-footage-disputes-

dallas-police-affidavit-officer-involved-shooting--mentally-ill-228252551.htm|http: /wwrv.vrashingtonpost.comnews opinions/wp /2014l01 /22 /do-cooling-off-periocls-help-cops-rememher-poice-involvedsh otings-more-accuratcly'

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http://hloSs.dallasohserver.com/unfai?ark12013/12lright to remain silent is new.php

h tF: / /blogs. dallasoh server. com /unfairf'ark /20 13 / 10 /catdan sencer officer who shot.fhp

htrp: / /www.wfaa.crrm /news /lc'cal /dallas /sut'veillance-frr


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Before me the authority,on the25 day f FeWuat\',200 L, persondlyappeared, known to me to be the Personwhosen.". ir subscribedhereio, and being duly swom stated hat he/she has personalknowledgeof the facts hereinabove and that such facts are tnre and correct.

-Tv t t [s county,TexasMy CommissionexPites:

J t , r , " l , - o l kSpecial Note: Section 3.2 of the Ethics Advisory Commission Rules of Procedure statesffi;^n amendedcomplaint may only be filed within sevendays after the city secretary'sreceiptof the origind comPlaint"Should you have any questions conceming this form, pleasecontact the City Secretary'soffice, at Ql4) 671-8970during regularbusinesshours (8:15am 5:15pm)'Upon completion of ALL sectionsof the complaint form, pleasehand delivet or send bycertifiedmail with any attachments o:

Office of the City SecretaryCITY HALL1500 Matilla Avenue- Suite5DSDallas,TX 75201

DALLAS, EXAS04-03-07FFICEOF THECITYSECRETARY Page8 of4

dcoc 72 hr ethics complaint

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