Crumpton, Buford conflict on review board
Of the St. Louis American
The city chapter of the NAACP and Mayor Francis Slay are expecting to hear the results of a police investigation today or Friday regarding an incident in which a 69-year-old woman allegedly was sprayed with pepper aerosol and roughed up by police last week.
“We met with Chief Mokwa, and he said it would take seven days to do the investigation,” said Harold Crumpton, NAACP city chapter president.
“He indicated that (the investigation) will be thorough and that his actions will be tough.”
Police are investigating what happened at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 7 at the 4439 Cote Brilliance residence of 69-year-old Ruby Harriel.
According to Harriel, police forced their way into her home in search of her grandson. She demanded that they show a search warrant or leave her premises, at which point she alleges that she was pepper-sprayed, thrown to the ground and handcuffed behind her back and then lifted up by the handcuffs.
“They had no reason to be in this lady’s house,” Crumpton said.
“They had no arrest warrant. Also, police are not to go in a house until a sergeant gets there. There was no sergeant there.”
“We will reserve actions, until we see what the investigation has determined,”
mayoral spokesman Ed Rhode said.
“Obviously, if these facts are true, it is unacceptable for a police officer to mace a 69-year-old woman.”
“The Police Department is taking this allegation very very seriously. The Internal Affairs investigation is being led at the highest levels. The mayor is looking forward to seeing Chief Mokwa’s report and final recommendation of action,” Rhode said.
Crumpton said the incident is another call for the establishment of an independent police review board, saying it is time to “stop the Mickey Mouse, back-and-forth between the Board of Aldermen and mayor’s office.”
Unlike Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis President James Buford, who last week assailed Slay’s objection to having any elected members on an independent review board, Crumpton said Alderman Terry Kennedy should abandon that part of his proposal.
“No city in America has elected positions on a civilian review board. It’s not going to happen here,” Crumpton said.
“It is time to move on.”
Buford said last week that he “doubted” that a board appointed by the mayor and Board of Police Commissioners “could be autonomous and credible.”
While Buford says the board will not receive the public’s trust if all the positions are appointed, Crumpton said, “I would trust it.”
“I trust that if this board had its own independent investigators and its own budget, it would be fair.”
Crumpton, who is a political supporter of Slay’s, said that a civilian review board is needed because “it is difficult (for police officers) to investigate (themselves). I am not questioning anyone’s integrity, but (when only police investigate an incident) it leaves the opportunity for the public to have doubts.”
Rhode said Slay is “maybe the only mayor in this part of the state that supports a citizen review board, and we are going to have one.”
“The mayor has been meeting with Alderman Kennedy to work through the remaining issues, and they both pledged to work together to find common ground.”