Police are not immune to outbursts of violenceCanton Repository
By Fellicia Smith
October 14, 2007
EXCERPTS: Police officers aren't only protectors. They can be perpetrators, too. One of the crimes officers commit - domestic violence - has been a focal point in Stark County several times in the last year...
"I don't think there is a problem in Stark County," Jackson Township Police Chief Harley Neftzer said. "I don't think we're sweeping it under the rug"
"People fudge statistics to get the numbers they want. Right away, my alarm bells go off," said local Fraternal Order of Police representative Chuck Choate. "It may be accurate for a sample population. Statistics are only relevant on a large scale. This is probably a political agendized organization, too. I'm curious to how their math is generated"... "We've had one incident of domestic violence in the history of the department," said Neftzer. "I can't think of another example at the Jackson Township Police Department. I can think of only one incident with the highway patrol when I was there"... "I don't have an explanation as to why some officers get involved in domestic violence," Canton Police Chief Dean McKimm said. The National Women and Policing Web site lists two studies that claim 40 percent of domestic partners of law-enforcement officers will experience household violence... It's a widely disputed figure. In fact, [national consultant on the subject] Wetendorf hesitates to even use it.
"We don't really have statistics because departments don't really keep them"...
"There is not a large representation for our occupation. It's just four Stark officers in the past year. I don't know if that represents any kind of number that we need to be unduly concerned about"...
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) designed its model policy in 1999 and updated it in 2003. "It's clearly an issue we want to address," said Aviva Kurash, project manager of the IACP's Police Response to Violence against Women. Kurash and her staff regularly attend law enforcement conventions to promote the policy and answer questions. Neither Canton nor Jackson follow the recommendations. "We're reviewing our general orders," McKimm said."We're in the process of reviewing those right now. We're in the early stages, but we'll look at the IACP's general orders and adopt those we deem necessary"...
"If you are the victim of domestic violence, and your partner is an officer, who would you call?" asked Neylon, who suggests departments have a procedure in place even if it is not a statewide law. "You're not sure what's going to happen"...Previous blog entries involving Ohio officers:
I have files on over a hundred Ohio officers who were involved in some sort of personal domestic incident since 2003, including 16 FATALITIES - so these are just the earlier entries here on the blog, NOT a representation of the full situation.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005[OH] ELIZABETH HARTON - Stabbed and shot by fired police officer husband
ELIZABETH'S DEAD. Elizabeth was a Columbus police cadet trainee & wife of fired Columbus police officer, Hermando "Cliff" Harton Jr., who was stabbed many times, but it was the gunshot to the head that killed her.
Thursday, March 24, 2005[OH] Niema L. Thompson Blake shot multiple times and killed by Officer husband.
NIEMA'S DEAD.
HE WAS NEVER CHARGED - JUST ALLOWED TO RESIGN FOR BEING DISHONEST DURING THE INVESTIGATION INTO HER DEATH. WHAT IS THAT?
Wednesday, August 10, 2005OH Ex Cop Ayers killed by son while beating cop cpt wife
AYER'S DEAD.
The boy and Howard's police captain wife, Teresa, told officers on the scene that Ayers was beating her, according to the Myrtle Beach Sun News. A police report said the boy eventually "did grab the gun from her and shot Howard Ayers."...
Friday, November 25, 2005[OH] Marion County Deputy Potts DV
Prosecutor said the woman had "no torn clothing" & only one red mark so
CASE CLOSED.
Sunday, November 27, 2005[OH] Police Chief Roosa drunk with gun outside apartment police were called to for fight
Refused breath test. Felony weapon CHARGE DROPPED. JAIL TIME SUSPENDED.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
A peek into my week tracking power domestic violence
[OH] Ex-Deputy Brandenburg's wife allowed to drop dv chargeArrested for dv then arrested for dv AGAIN, then allowed to resign day before being arrested for stolen property. ONLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEFTS.
[OH] Officer Krista Adams escapes Ofc. BulmanWilliam Bulman pleaded guilty to 2 misdemeanors - unlawful restraint & disorderly conduct. He was originally charged with abduction, a third-degree felony, and assault, a first-degree misdemeanor...
Sunday, April 29, 2007[OH] Hiding what happened at Chief Volkar's house
"When [Waynesburg Lt. Bill] Bath returned to work he discovered his report and records had been deleted from the computer database, and the duty log and DVD from his cruiser were missing. The next day, [Mayor Mary] Connelly told Bath to give all his information to the chief. The mayor then ordered evidence removed from the police file and placed in a bank safe deposit box... The incomplete investigation and other factors make it IMPOSSIBLE TO SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTE..."
Thursday, May 31, 2007[OH] Akron Officer Jones Avoids Trial - and Accountability
2 of the 5 charges were FELONIES - but those were "AMENDED TO LESSER CHARGES" so he would not be a felon, regardless of what he may have done. THEN the misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and aggravated assault? CHARGES DROPPED. Sentenced to 60 day jail terms on each of the remaining charges - but ALL JAIL TIME SUSPENDED.
Saturday, June 02, 2007[OH] Goodbye today to Officer & his girlfriend Mary Lyons
BOTH DEAD. Officer Grzywaczewski shot and killed his 27-year-old girlfriend Mary C. Lyons before turning the gun on himself. "Parma police say the female victim has 2 children..."
Monday, June 11, 2007[OH] Officer Flynn arrested, fired, rehired, & arrested again
Cuyahoga Falls police officer Ralph E. Flynn III] who previously faced a domestic violence charge involving his live-in girlfriend has been ARRESTED AGAIN - this time on two counts of domestic violence against two of his children... IN 2005 HE WAS FIRED FOR DV, REHIRED, AND GIVEN BACKPAY.
Sunday, June 17, 2007[OH] Before murder-suicide Officer G had suicide-try past
Earlier this month, this cop killed his girlfriend Mary Lyons. Not much surprises me anymore, but the news this morning did. I paced the floor wondering if mary knew. If she didn't, somebody is to blame. TWO DEAD.
Sunday, June 17, 2007[OH] COP'S PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND, JESSIE DAVIS, MISSING
...During the initial stages of the investigation, sheriff's detectives questioned a Canton patrolman, who has had an on-again, off-again relationship with Davis... the father of Blake and of Davis' unborn child... JESSIE'S MISSING.
Saturday, June 23, 2007Waiting for the beginning of the truth
Everyone has to handle the discovery of Jessie Marie Davis and her baby Chloe being found in the dirt today. OFFICER CUTTS IN CUSTODY.
JESSIE AND UNBORN BABY ARE DEAD.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007[OH] Officer Cutts in court for murdering Jessie & unborn baby Chloe
"I'm not sitting down when I see Bobby Cutts," Porter said later. "I wanted to make sure he knew I was there"...
Thursday, July 05, 2007Ohio media could give life from Jessie's death, but sleep.
Nikki said that BEFORE BOBBY CUTTS WAS A POLICE OFFICER he had a domestic violence incident on record. Reporters though did not ask how he was hired if that was true. Nikki said that she has had protection orders against him - with the most recent THIS YEAR.
Friday, July 06, 2007[OH] Judge Russo's domestic violence is a personal matter.
For the second time in 10 months, police picked up the head judge of Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court after they said he fought with his girlfriend.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007[OH] Not Michelle's day to die
I read in the news about the terrifying car chase, and that you had been shot in the head before the police officer husband you were divorcing fatally turned the weapon on himself.
Monday, July 23, 2007COMPLICITY OF ABUSE IN MEDIA'S FAILURE TO ASK (OHIO)
Watching the media flurry around the disappearance and eventually the murder of Ohio's Jessie Davis - mother of Canton Police Officer Bobby Cutts' son - there was a clear omission. NOT ONE OF THE ARTICLES WAS ADDRESSING JESSIE AS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - NOT EVEN IN HER DEATH.
Friday, August 10, 2007[OH] BREAKING NEWS: "Sheriff's Deputy [Koon] May Be Armed And Suicidal" - Koon fired shots at his girlfriend through her car... The shot entered her driver's side window narrowly missing her... he fired a shot at her from what police believed to be a 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Because Koon is armed and has been involved in a shooting incident he should be considered ARMED AND DANGEROUS WITH POSSIBLE SUICIDAL TENDENCIES...
Sunday, August 12, 2007[OH] (OHIO IS CLOGGING MAH BLOG)
It has to do with power, the gun culture, tactical hand-to-hand combat training, accentuated surveillance capabilities, the intimidating length of that long arm of the law when it reaches into the families of law enforcement officers, with careers and life itself dangling in the balance... OFFICERS ARE KILLED IN DOMESTIC INCIDENTS ALSO, NOT ALWAYS BY THEIR OWN HAND.
Monday, August 27, 2007[OH] Denae shot her police officer husband
On Sunday Trotwood Ohio Police Officer Troy Dexter ran from his home, SHOT TWICE, to the fire department to call 911.
Thursday, August 30, 2007[OH] Officer Martzolf's dv at wife's job not the first problem
Martzolf is accused of confronting his wife, pushing her to the ground and striking her in the head twice with his fist at her job... "I have to be careful because it’s a personnel issue, but WE DID SEND HIM TO COUNSELING BEFORE"
Saturday, September 15, 2007[OH] "Domestic violence particularly difficult if abuser is an officer"
..."TAKING AWAY HIS BADGE AND GUN DOESN'T take away their training, and it doesn't take away their knowledge... And it doesn't necessarily take away their personal connections"...
Tuesday, September 18, 2007[OH] For the Record: Lorain Officer Gerek got PROBATION?
...Lorain County Grand Jury returned a secret indictment charging him with rape and a misdemeanor domestic violence count... Gerek threatened to kill their children if his wife left him or called police...
Friday, August 31, 2007[OH] There's hate in that suicide threat Laura.
Chief Cel Rivera said he will require a doctor's letter before he allows 17-year veteran Officer Corey Earl to work as a police officer again... "MY BIGGEST CONCERN is that he gets the help he needs so that he can be OK and BE A PART of this police department"...
Friday, October 05, 2007[OH] Dangerous Detective Earl - Protection order lifted & GPS off his ankle?
A judge Thursday lifted the requirement for electronic monitoring of Lorain police Officer Corey Earl, who is accused of violating a protection order his estranged wife had against him... Laura Earl said she thought her husband was going to kill her and then kill himself...
..."I don't think there is a problem in Stark County," Jackson Township Police Chief Harley Neftzer said. "I don't think we're sweeping it under the rug"...
ReplyDeleteIn the past COUPLE years there in Stark County IT MUST NOT COUNT that STILL-EMPLOYED Canton police officer Mark Diels (mentioned in the article) - according to news reports - was charged for ASSAULTING his wife and COMPRESSING HER until she felt like he was squeezing the air out of her - BECAUSE he pled down to "lesser charge."
She wrote, "It was difficult to breathe..." - taking her to the edge of her own death to peer over and into.
And it doesn't count that Stark County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Lowe - according to news reports - was CHARGED for having sex with a drunk passed out family member, or that Jackson Township police officer Thomas Wyatt II - according to news reports - "fondled a teenage female relative over a period of several years"? That's not domestic? Or just not violent? Then lets call it "domestic ABUSE" to get a clearer idea of what's happening in police families. How many of the cases never came out into the light? How many dare not - IN THAT KIND OF DISMISSIVE ATMOSPHERE?
This UNION dude in the article, Chuck Choate "represents Jackson Township patrolman Eric Martzolf - accused of domestic violence earlier this year - against any disciplinary action Martzolf could face from his bosses..." WELL AIN'T THAT GRAND? WE WOULDN'T WANT HIM TO FACE DISCIPLINE FOR GOING TO HIS WIFE'S JOB DOUBLE PUNCHING HER AND THEN POMMELING HER CO-WORKERS WITH FLYING OBJECTS WHEN THEY TRIED TO STEP IN TO SAVE HER FROM THE BLOWS.The point of the article appears to be to help law enforcement minimize the problem. What's in it for Ms. Smith? Those victims are TRAPPPED in a hell specific to the law enforcement families - with NO HOPE without ethical journalism. She left out what she knows:
Jackson cop lost temper, may lose job
The Repository
FELLICIA SMITH
9/19/07
...he was found guilty of a minor misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. Eric B. Martzolf was originally charged with a misdemeanor count of domestic violence, but pleaded no contest to the lesser charge... If he had been found guilty of domestic violence, legally Martzolf would not have been able to carry a firearm..
Jackson Township officer facing charge put on leave
The Repository
Fellicia Smith
8/30/07
...HAS A LONG HISTORY OF DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS, including suspensions. Officer Eric B. Martzolf... PUSHING HER TO THE GROUND AND STRIKING HER IN THE HEAD TWICE WITH HIS FIST AT HER JOB... "I have to be careful because it’s a personnel issue, but WE DID SEND HIM TO COUNSELING BEFORE" Trustee John Pizzino said... he has been SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY THREE TIMES, RECEIVED SEVEN WRITTEN REPRIMANDS, TWO WRITTEN WARNINGS AND WAS TWICE COUNSELED BY SUPERVISORS FOR HIS ON-DUTY CONDUCT...
Jackson officer pleads not guilty
Massillon Independent
R.J.VILLELLA
8/30/07
...others at her work heard what was going on and came to the victim's aid. That's when Martzolf -- starting yelling obscenities at the co-workers and throwing things at them... "We booked him out at county because we were afraid he might be suicidal"...
The deaths of JESSE AND CHLOE DAVIS carry an awful weight! Why was Canton Officer Bobby Cutts an officer when he had prior dv? Why was Cutts working under a protection order, and formerly under others? WHY if he was found to be dangerous to his own daughter (with Nikki Giavasis) by a psychiatrist - was that NOT an issue for his FITNESS FOR DUTY on the streets? DID Jesse let her fears be known? What DID Canton pd know BEFORE the murders? Something? Nothing? GEE, we don't know because the media NEVER ASKED the questions.
Are MY questions redundant?
They are and will continue to be, as long as the wall doesn't answer.
I have to wonder why. Isn't that what journalists do for us? Henry Kissinger said that "history" is the story of states - how government wants us to see events. The media is getting closer and closer to do doing the same thing, with the exception of some brave souls.
Cloud
http://www.myspace.com/tacoma_taser