Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 June 2000 — Page 4
*
■Am*
PAGE A4
THE INDIANAPOUS RECORDER
FRIDAY, JUNE 23, ^00
for a seat-belt violation. However, the officer proceeded to search the car, driver and a passenger for drugs and guns. Convinced he was a victim racial profiling. Quick filed a written report against the officer with the Citizens Police Complaint Board and ICLU, asserting Fitzpatrick stopped and illegally searched him because of he was Black. “... One of your officers pulled me over for no reason except (my race)...,” Quick said in a letter to IPD officials. “No one should suffer this kind of treatment. I don't take light of this and it has to be addressed, not only for me but for every citizen in Indy, especially if (they) are Black. This profiling has to stop.” His 24-word complaint wasn’t enough to convince the civilian board or IPD internal affairs of any improper acts, and Fitzpatrick was cleared. The officer now claims the complaint tarnished his reputation and labeled him as a racist. Fitzpatrick’s attorney, John C. Ruckelshaus, called Quick’s
Why not both? 317.274.4591 www.iupui.edu
THEMDMNAPOUS RECORDS) USPS 262-660 Published weekly by: The George P. Stewart Printing Co., Inc., P.O. Box 18499, 2901 N. Tacoma Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46218. Entered as Second Class Matter under Act of March 7,1870. Periodicals paid at Indianapolis, IN. POSTMASTER: Send address
P.O. Box 18499,2901 N. Tacoma Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46218. Subscription price by mail or carrier: $39 per year; $29 for 6 mos.,75 cents per copy. National advertising representative: Amalgamated Publishers Inc., 45 W. 45th St., New York. NY 10036. The National Newspaper Publishers Association, Central Indiana Publishers Association, Hoosier State Press Association. SUBSCRIBERSBYMAIL: Wearenot responsible for replacing issues missed due to change of address or late renewals. Please allow two weeks when placing a ercha|Ba of'address H MH<lCi>(B17)Be4-51», . .V.V
SUIT ContlniMd from At complaint “false, fictitious and malicious” and added the officer suffered emotional distress, loss of sleep and appetite and was subject to ridicule and scrutiny among his peers and supervisors during the investigation. “His reputation as an honest and professional police officer was damaged and his ability to perform his job was diminished,” he said. Astonished by the lawsuit. Quick said he went by the city’s process and policy to file his complaint, only hoping Fitzpatrick would be held accountable. He also stated he was surprised complaints are reviewed by the board without input from the complainant and the officer doesn’t have to be present. Once he learned the procedure he said he knew the officer wouldn’t be disciplined. “I lived with ithe said. The episode got worse this April when the Fraternal Order of Police sent Quick a letter stating that members had unanimously voted that he be banned from their property, where he held his union meetings. Quick filed another report with the police complaint board and ICLU. Both are still pending. His union now meets at a different place. Greater Indianapolis NAACP President Roderick Bohannon said he has heard of other instances of FOP retaliation, but had been unable to substantiate
them.
“What police are saying to the community is we want your respect and believe in us, but don’t you dare file a complaint against us if you feel we did something wrong,” he said. “They’re saying that they're going to intimidate you from initiating a legal right that you
have.”
Bohannon said the local NAACP is awaiting approval from th&mtionaMnvrRrn i support Quick, iftjuKWMtHa
ers^
ardin
d 1
thicjt-
citizens of Indianapolis need |o such approval to take interest in the case. “We’re very concerned tlu these type of actions are goin to have a very chilling effect on citizens coming forth and the procedure which has beei up to try and resolve these problems as quickly as possil said ICLU attorney Kenneth
Falk.
He said officers should * support the complaint process and added that some officers 2 haven’t accepted that they; the position to be criticized. “One should be a little thic skinned when engaging in tn^iy type of professions, including this one. 3 “I don’t know if it’s IPD’s-
message or the officer’s mes&ge,
but whoever’s message it is i$|
going to be translated as discour-
aging filing of complaints. Evpn if I feel I have a good faith
complaint. I’m not going to wpnt
to court a lawsuit by using thif procedure.” 1 Quick’s attorney, Roger Ralph said a citizen’s right to criticize government officials about matters of public concern is protected by the First Amendment. “Obviously this is a harassment tactic to not only make Steve Quick be quiet, but for others to take a look and use
him as an example.
“Citizens are going to be ; afraid to complain not only . against police officers and the performance of their duties, but city and government officials/’ attorney Ralph said. “People are going to be afraid to call and 1 make complaints if one of the results is them having to defefcd
libel suits.”
“I hope this situation doesn’t deter people and everything is all right at the end of this process,” added Quick, who said he would like to see complaints taken by neighborhood organizations apd 1 the hearings televised. 'b