imported post
Here is the update from VCDL on the MCPD incident...
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3. Manassas City Council decides to sweep abuse of police power under the rug!
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I had been warned by many residents of Manassas that the City Council
could be expected to sweep abuses by their police department under
the rug. Indeed that is what they have done.
In a letter to VCDL from Mayor Waldron, Waldron said that the City
Council and the Chief of Police apologized for the, "disrespectful
references to your members by some of our police officers after the
incident at the restaurant."
I KNOW that City Council cannot be this stupid. We made it CLEAR,
the most important issue was NOT about the insults, but the Manassas
Police using the color of law to get seven gun owners kicked out of a
restaurant, by one of the officer's own admission!
The Mayor and the Police Chief just glossed over that major breach of
the law as if we wouldn't notice.
While I'm glad that City Council and the Police Chief have apologized
for the abusive language, this matter isn't yet closed from VCDL's
point of view.
I will be discussing the letter with the Board of Directors to decide
our next move. We have some options to consider and Manassas isn't
going to like any of them.
Oh, well.
Here's the letter:
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May 17, 2007
Mr. Phillip Van Cleave
Virginia Citizens Defense League
P.O. Box 513
Newington, Virginia 22122
Dear Mr. Van Cleave,
I am writing in response to your concerns and those of your members
concerning the police department's response and handling of a citizen
initiated complaint on January 13, 2007 at Tony's Pizza, 9108 Mathis Avenue
and a subsequent Internal Affairs Investigation into the matter. You (and
others) appeared at City Council on February 26 and April 23, 2007. As
President, you represented the Virginia Citizens Defense League.
During the February 26th meeting, those speaking were specific with regard
to their expectations of the investigation into this incident including:
1. That officer(s) involved in any misconduct be disciplined;
2. That the department conduct remedial training concerning the concealed
carry laws contained in the State Code as well as open-carry in Virginia;
and
3. That the Chief of Police make a public apology to the individuals
involved as well as the VCDL through Phillip Van Cleave.
As a result of the investigative findings, several actions were taken:
1. Officers were disciplined in accordance with City policy (i.e.
progressive discipline to include mandatory remedial training);
2. Roll call training was directed concerning concealed carry laws
and open carry in Virginia as well as other City policy; and
3. The Chief of Police extended a personal written apology to the
complainants, each anonymous party of the group involved and to the
Virginia Citizens Defense League via a copy of the letter of
investigative findings to Phillip Van Cleave and to the local print
media;
4. In addition, enhanced auditing of electronic messaging in in-car
computers in the field has been initiated to more closely monitor
text messages as a preventative measure.
In addition to the written and public apology of the Police Chief, the City
Council and I offer our sincere apology to your organization and its members
for the disrespectful references to your members by some of our police
officers after the incident at the restaurant.
The City Council has discussed your requests and believes the actions taken
by the staff and by the City Council serve to close this matter.
Sincerely yours,
Douglas S. Waldron
Mayor