ratemycop.com opens up for ratings
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| I came across a new website on rating police officers. According to WBNS 10tv, officers aren't too happy with it. I love this quote - "Anytime there is any mention of a complaint, it is sent over to the Internal Affairs Bureau where it's investigated to make sure it happened that way and they can talk to witnesses," Weiner said. "You can still be anonymous by doing so, but it will be investigated."
Internal Affairs is a complete waste of time. I'm glad there's another forum for these complaints where people can keep a record on the police and make their experience public so that others can determine if they are dealing with problem officers. Without such a site, officers cannot be held accountable to the public. Internal Affairs can sweep most matters under the rug. Not anymore! |
Here's my complaint to Internal Affairs that was swept under the rug.
I am writing to file a formal complaint with the Internal Affairs Bureau concerning the conduct of Officers Egelhoff and Howe on April 28, 2007. Officer Egelhoff and Officer Howe responded to a call from the residents at 240 E. Dominion, Columbus, Ohio 43214 on April 28, 2007. The residents had complained to them concerning a property dispute. After speaking with the residents at 240 E. Dominion, Officers Egelhoff and Howe proceeded to my residence and to question me concerning the neighbors' complaints.
I tried to explain my side of the dispute with the officers (as they had specifically asked me to do so) but it soon became apparent that they were not interested in listening to what I had to say. They had clearly taken the side of the 240 E. Dominion residents and had no interest in making a determination on the validity of the residents' complaint. Both officers became impatient with me despite my attempts to answer their question on what the problem was. In fact in an effort to intimidate me, Officer Egelhoff lunged at me and yelled at me to "SHUT-UP" and listen to what he had to say.
Despite his lack of professionalism, I gave him an opportunity to speak. He indicated that I should discuss the matter civilly with the 240 E. Dominion residents. I agreed and requested him to bring the residents over in order to try to resolve the dispute. Despite just telling me to try to resolve the matter civilly with my neighbors, Officer Egelhoff, threw his hands up in the air, walked away, and yelled, "OKAY, LET'S JUST WASTE SOME MORE TIME THEN!" "YOU JUST TOLD ME THAT THAT WOULDN'T WORK!" (which was untrue, I never said that).
I responded that he couldn't tell me on the one hand to try to resolve the matter civilly and then on the other hand to refuse to aid me with such an approach. He yelled a third time, "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME, HOW TO DO MY JOB NOW?!" Officer Egelhoff's actions (which were clearly supported by Officer Howe) were completely unprofessional and ineffective in resolving the dispute.
He reluctantly went over to the neighbors and spoke with them for a few minutes. He told me that they had showed him documentation concerning the property line; however, Officers Egelhoff and Howe refused to look at any documentation that I provided. At this point, I told Officer Egelhoff that he had no authority over the matter anyway. He responded that he, personally, could file criminal damaging charges against me. I indicated that he, personally, had no authority to do so. So at this point, Officer Egelhoff resorted to lies in order to try and make me act in a certain manner. As I had already removed part of the fence, Egelhoff should have arrested me for criminal damaging at that time if he truly had authority over the situation.
I have noticed a pattern in how Columbus Police officers attempt to handle civil disputes. They resort to lies, deceit, intimidation, and threats in order to achieve some sort of accord in these situations. Perhaps this is the training that they receive. Such conduct is clearly unprofessional and completely ineffective in resolving such disputes. I hope you will look into my complaint concerning these officers. I will also seek other avenues to make this information available to the community as I feel that the community has a right to know exactly how its police force is conducting itself and that such conduct could result in legal liability to the City of Columbus, Division of Police.
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