January 31, 2005: Officer Romon Johnson, Detroit Police Department
SEE ALSO:
DETROIT POLICE OFFICER ROMON JOHNSON: Felonious assault and felony firearm [April 27, 2007]
http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2007/04/officer-romon-johnson-detroit-pd.html
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of the Regular Board of Police Commissioners Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2005
The regular meeting of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners was held on Thursday, April 21, at 3:00 p.m., at Police Headquarters, 1300 Beaubien, Detroit, Michigan 48226.
ATTENDANCE
Board Members Present Department Personnel Present Arthur Blackwell, II Chief Ella M. Bully-Cummings
Erminia Ramirez DC Brenda Goss Andrews
Jim Holley Cmdr. Scott Kohls
Megan Norris (ABS) Insp. Gail Wilson-Turner
Willie Hampton Lt. Brian Stair
Lt. Michael Adams
Sgt. Romel Alexander
PO Michael Woody
PO Walter Huggins
Atty. Nancy Ninowski
Board Staff Present
Dante’ L. Goss, Executive Director Sgt. Joanna Ali-Johnson
E. Lynise Bryant-Weekes, Personnel Director
Denise R. Hooks, Attorney/Supervising Inv.
Arnold Sheard, Interim Chief Investigator
OTHERS PRESENT
Atty. John Goldpaugh
Ron Scott
Ms. Walters
Rick Jones
Odell Johnson
Juanita Newton
Media
RECORDERS Minutes of the Regular BPC Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2005 Page 2
Jerome Adams
Kellie Williams
4. SECRETARY’S REPORT – EXEC. DIR. GOSS
SUSPENSIONS Exec. Dir. Goss read the following:
Exec. Dir. Goss read the following:
On April 21, 2005, Police Officer Romon Johnson, Badge 979, assigned to the Tenth Precinct, was suspended without pay by Chief of Police Ella M. Bully-Cummings.
On February 1, 2005, the Internal Affairs Section was notified of an allegation of misconduct on the part of Officer Johnson. More specifically, the complaint alleged that Officer Johnson is currently married to two (2) women and that he has threatened one of the women with physical harm.
As a result, the Internal Affairs Section initiated an investigation, which revealed the following:
On February 15, 2005, the Internal Affairs Section received a certified copy of a State of Louisiana Certificate of Marriage indicating that on October 20, 2004, Officer Johnson married wife number two (2) in the City of Lake
Minutes of the Regular BPC Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2005 Page 8 Charles, County of Calcasieu, Louisiana. A judge performed the marriage ceremony.
On February 16, 2005, the Internal Affairs Section received a certified copy of a State of Ohio Marriage Record indicating that on October 30, 1998, Officer Johnson married wife number one (1) in Lucas County, Ohio. A Reverend performed the marriage ceremony.
The complaint also alleged that wife number two (2) has received numerous threats including an incident that occurred on January 31, 2005, wherein shots were fired at her. On April 7, 2005, the Parish of Calcasieu, Louisiana Prosecutor's Office issued felony warrant #371453, charging Officer Johnson with Bigamy. In Louisiana, Bigamy is punishable as a felony with five (5) years in prison, with or without hard labor, and/or a one thousand dollar ($1,000.00) fine. An arraignment date is currently pending.
Based on the above circumstances, it is recommended that Officer Johnson be charged with, but not limited to the following violation of the Detroit Police Department Rules and Regulations:
CHARGE: THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF ETHICS; THIS BEING IN VIOLATION OF THE DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT MANUAL, SERIES 100, DIRECTIVE 102.3-5.7, CONDUCT UNBECOMING AN OFFICER, COMMAND 3.
Unless contravened by this Commission, the above suspension without pay will stand.
Atty. Goldpaugh stated with this being a felony, I am not going to present arguments at this time.
Comm. Holley asked the conduct is contrary to the law enforcement code of ethics, what did he violate in the Manual? Did he violate the shame piece?
Chairperson Blackwell stated for breaking the law, he was married to two women.
Comm. Holley stated okay, I just want to make sure that is in the code.
Chairperson Blackwell asked do you mean marrying two women or breaking the law?
Minutes of the Regular BPC Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2005 Page 9
Comm. Holley stated marrying two women.
Chairperson Blackwell stated I don’t think that they specifically say that.
Comm. Holley stated there is a thing here about shooting at someone and then also the marriage thing. I am not familiar with all of these series of directives. He asked Exec. Dir. Goss are these charges for both violations? He asked do you understand what I am asking Mr. Chairman?
Chairperson Blackwell stated yes, I do. What you are saying is that you are talking about specific charges that went against the code and the directives of the procedures. The fact that he had been charged with a felony that issue alone is something that generally is an issue that the Chief makes a suspension. Protocol wise, Mr. Goldpaugh has never challenged a felony charge. Anything that breaks the law gets that kind of charge no matter what it is. The only thing is when you say that someone is currently married to two women; I would just ask the police is that possible.
Exec. Dir. Goss stated it is possible.
Comm. Holley stated yes, it is possible.
Atty. Goldpaugh stated it is not possible to be legally married, that’s what creates the crime of bigamy, which is alleged down in Louisiana.
Comm. Holley stated I just want to make sure that the law that we are charging him with is with the bigamy and with the shooting, that’s what I want to make sure that we have in here.
Chairperson Blackwell stated we’re not charging him.
Comm. Holley stated I mean not us charging him, but I am asking the Chief has he been charged.
Atty. Goldpaugh stated he has not been charged with any allegations with respect to the shooting. The only charge against him at this point in time, is a bigamy warrant that was issued out of the state of Louisiana, which he is going down to address.
Comm. Holley stated I am concerned that we charged him with one thing and not two.
Chairperson Blackwell stated we are not charging him; the Chief suspended him based on his conduct.
Minutes of the Regular BPC Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2005 Page 10
the shooting because it is in the complaint.
Atty. Ninowski stated the petition that was submitted by the Department that was just read into the record is based on allegations. The allegations include, the felony charge of bigamy and the conduct related to that, as well as the allegation that wife number two (2) was shot at. The recommended charge of conduct unbecoming an officer, that you are referencing, is the recommendation based on that allegation. When the charges are actually drafted by Discipline, it will incorporate everything into the charges. She asked does that answer your question?
Comm. Holley stated yes, it really does. I just want to make sure that both charges are included because you can only be punished for what you are charged for if you are guilty. So, if you are only being charged for bigamy and not the other…but if you are charged and found guilty of both, then you pay the penalty.
Chairperson Blackwell stated I think that we are saying something different. Most of these cases come up whether you are charged or not. The Chief reserves the right based on conduct unbecoming an officer to suspend without pay, that’s all that is in front of us. Whether or not they are convicted or not is a separate issue.
Comm. Holley asked this suspension is based upon, not just bigamy, but bigamy and the shooting? But, what I am hearing you say is that it is based upon the bigamy only.
Atty. Ninowski stated no, it is based on conduct. The conduct is set forth in that petition.
Atty. Goldpaugh stated it should be noted in the petition that there is no allegation made that Officer Johnson is the one who fired at wife number two (2), only that she claimed or somebody claimed that she was fired upon down in Louisiana.
Chairperson Blackwell stated for example, it could have been by wife number one (1).
Atty. Goldpaugh stated it could have been by her husband number one (1) for all we know, we don’t know who it was. But the only charge against him in Louisiana was the felony.
Atty. Ninowski stated the Department’s petition incorporates all of the conduct and that includes the allegation of shooting and the bigamy charge and the conduct associated with that bigamy charge.
Minutes of the Regular BPC Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2005 Page 11
There were no contraventions to the above suspension without pay.
[MI POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED PERPETRATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW ENFORCEMENT MURDER SUICIDE]
http://michiganoidv.blogspot.com/2007/04/officer-romon-johnson-detroit-pd.html
Monday, January 31, 2005
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
01182005 - C.O. David Dorland - Suspended - Antrim County SD
Also See:
Corrections officer Dorland - CSC
Antrim corrections officer arrested in connection with sex crimes
Traverse City Record-Eagle
March 22, 2005
http://archives.record-eagle.com/2005/mar/22cop.htm
BELLAIRE - An Antrim County corrections officer is in jail for alleged sexual contact with a female inmate.
David R. Dorland, a corrections officer with the Antrim Country Sheriff's Department since 2000, was arrested by state police Monday on a five-count warrant.
Dorland's arrest followed a two-month state police investigation, said Antrim County Prosecuting Attorney Charles Koop.
Dorland has been suspended since Jan. 18, said Antrim Sheriff Terry Johnson said.
"As soon as we found out we took action and began investigating immediately," Johnson said.
"We're totally embarrassed and humiliated over it."Koop said the allegations against Dorland emerged when another sheriff's department employee raised concerns to the sheriff about Dorland's behavior.
Johnson said he doesn't know of any other department employees who were involved in the alleged incidents.
The complaint includes three felony counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, one misdemeanor indecent exposure charge and one misdemeanor count of assault and battery involving touching without consent, Koop said.
Dorland, of Torch Lake Township, allegedly had sexual contact with a female inmate at the Antrim County Jail between November 2002 and January 2003 and had sexual contact with the same woman when she was a probationer during the fall of 2003.
Johnson said there are surveillance cameras in the jail but the recording system was not in place during the time in question.
"If there are other victims out there, we certainly want to know about it," Johnson said.
Dorland's arraignment was scheduled for today. Koop and Johnson would not comment on whether he had prior disciplinary problems with the department.
Anyone with additional information about the case should contact Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Gwen White-Erickson at (231) 347-8102.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
01152005 - Sheriff Scott Fewin - Grand Traverse County SD
Also See:
Deputy Justin Revnell [Sheriff Scott Fewin's nephew] - Charged with domestic violence
The Traverse City Record-Eagle disclosed that Grand Traverse Sheriff Scott Fewin spoke with the victim / witness in the case against Detective Revnell on three different occassions, after Revnell was charged with the assault...and before the victim / witness disappeared...AND THAT SHERIFF FEWIN WAS DETECTIVE REVNELL'S UNCLE.
Detective's case raises concerns over conflicts
Traverse City Record-Eagle
March 30, 2005
http://www.record-eagle.com/2005/mar/30edit.htm
Say what you want about Julius Caesar, the guy understood public opinion.
When his wife, Pompeia, became entangled in an alleged sordid affair, he divorced her, telling his advisers that while there was no solid proof of her unfaithfulness "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion."
Fast forward a couple of millennia to Grand Traverse County, where an officeholder somewhat less exalted than emperor - the county sheriff - finds himself in a no-less-embarrassing situation.
Sheriff Scott Fewins is learning the hard way that it's not always good public service to employ a relative, in his case a nephew.
Justin Revnell, 26, is one of his uncle's detectives, and until he was accused of manhandling his ex-girlfriend he was a junior high school liaison officer. He apparently also has more than a passing familiarity with the grape.
The woman told authorities the detective, on one occasion, threw her to the ground during an argument and another time held her in a headlock. She also said his judgment was affected by his drinking. He was legally drunk when state police interviewed him shortly after the alleged incident.
He denied the accusations, saying she was having a difficult time dealing with their breakup.
Fewins, showing a judgment lapse of his own, spoke directly with the woman about her allegations against his nephew. It was an odd situation for the sheriff to allow himself to be placed. Here the sheriff-uncle of the detective-nephew was talking with the ex-girlfriend-accuser of the detective-nephew. Talk about conflict.
Whatever else they talked about, Fewins said that during their three conversations, the woman said she would not testify or make a complaint against Revnell.
Interestingly, that's exactly how the case concluded.
The woman disappeared. Dust to the wind.
The investigative prowess of law enforcement was useless against the wile of a 26-year-old alleged abuse victim.
Not to worry, though, the public was assured there had been an exhaustive search. But because it was fruitless, charges against the sheriff's nephew would have to be dropped. After all, without a witness what could be done?
The whole affair does nothing to instill confidence in the county's legal system, still recuperating from a couple of body blows to its judiciary.
The sheriff should have stayed out of the case against his nephew. It should have been entirely turned over to the state police and the state attorney general's office for a full investigation and detailed report to the people.
"Above suspicion" applies to cops as well as emperors' wives.
Monday, January 10, 2005
01102005 - Deputy Justin Revnell - Suspended - Grand Traverse County SD
During the previous altercation [August or September of 2004], the victim claimed that Detective Revnell had put her in a head lock, knocked her feet out from under her, bent her arm back and pushed her face down into the floor. Misdemeanor domestic violence charges were filed on this incident in January 2005.
ALSO SEE:
DEPUTY JUSTIN REVNELL, DECEMBER 30, 2004 ASSAULT
DEPUTY JUSTIN REVNELL, MARCH 2004: SIX- PAGE DEPARTMENT WRITE-UP
Detective off job without any pay
Sheriff Fewins' nephew facing assault charges
By IAN C. STOREY
Record-Eagle staff writer
January 15, 2005
http://www.record-eagle.com/2005/jan/15revnel.htm
TRAVERSE CITY - A Grand Traverse County Sheriff's detective charged with domestic assault is suspended without pay until his legal problems are resolved.
Sheriff Scott Fewins said Justin Revnell, 26, was removed from paid administrative leave and suspended on Thursday.
"That is probably where this will stay until the criminal part of this is over," said Fewins, who also is Revnell's uncle. "Then we will close our internal investigation at that time and make a decision if there are any other sanctions that need to be imposed."
Revnell, a liaison officer at a local junior high school, was arraigned in 86th District Court Wednesday on one misdemeanor charge of domestic assault for a Dec. 30 incident involving his ex-girlfriend at the couple's Barney Road home.
The crime is punishable by up to 93 days in jail and fines.
Revnell pleaded not guilty. As a condition of bond, Judge Thomas Phillips instructed him to surrender his personal firearms, restricted him from contacting the alleged victim, and ordered him to submit to daily alcohol tests.
"Other officers have continued to work (while being charged with crimes)," said Fewins. "We just decided that is not the way we are going to do it."
A Michigan State Police report stated that the alleged victim told troopers she and Revnell had an altercation early Dec. 30 when Revnell allegedly pushed her to the ground after she confronted him about his alcohol use.
A breath test performed by troopers just before 6 a.m. found Revnell's blood alcohol to be .08.
The woman also told police Revnell allegedly assaulted her months ago when he put her in a headlock and forced her to the ground.
If convicted, under state law Revnell could carry a firearm once cleared by the courts, but under federal law he would not be able to carry a handgun because of a conviction.
Detective to be charged with assault
Sheriff's nephew admits drinking, denies attack
Traverse City Record Eagle, MI
January 11, 2005
By IAN C. STOREY
Record-Eagle staff writer
http://www.record-eagle.com/2005/jan/11deputy.htm
TRAVERSE CITY - A Grand Traverse County detective who's also the nephew of Sheriff Scott Fewins faces criminal charges for allegedly assaulting a woman while intoxicated.
Justin Revnell, 26, a police liaison officer at Traverse City West Junior High, is charged with one count of domestic assault, a misdemeanor punishable up to 93 days in jail.
"He could be arraigned as early as Wednesday," said county Prosecutor Alan Schneider.
Fewins said he was contacted by the prosecutor's office on Monday and immediately placed Revnell on indefinite paid, administrative leave.
Fewins said his nephew has admitted to drinking in excess at times, but denied the assault claims.
An internal investigation likely will be conducted by the head of the detective's bureau. A complaint taken by the Michigan State Police states that Revnell's former girlfriend told officers the two had an altercation early Dec. 30. Revnell allegedly shoved her to the ground after she confronted him about his alcohol use.
The woman told police she arrived at the couple's Barney Road home that night just after midnight, but couldn't find Revnell, according to a police report.
Later, she said she found Revnell, 26, drinking at a Long Lake Township bar and offered to drive him home, but he refused. Revnell later contacted her by phone and told her he was driving home but didn't want to talk, the report stated.
After he arrived, the woman attempted to talk to Revnell about his drinking before he allegedly grabbed her and threw her to the ground, she told police.
The woman called 911 and left the house before being interviewed by troopers at the county jail. At 5:20 a.m. on Dec. 30, police contacted Revnell at his home. Revnell denied he had a verbal argument or assaulted the woman, and stated she was having "difficulty with the relationship ending."
Revnell did not return messages left for him at West Junior High.
During the interview on Dec. 30, Revnell also allegedly denied to officers that he had an alcohol problem and that he hadn't been intoxicated during the incident. But a breath test performed on Revnell just before 6 a.m. found his blood-alcohol to be .08, the state's legal limit for public intoxication.
The woman also told police that Revnell allegedly assaulted her three to four months ago when he put her in a "head lock" before knocking her feet out from underneath her. He also allegedly bent her arm behind her back and pushed her face down into the floor.
Fewins said Revnell was placed on administrative leave around noon on Monday. "Whenever someone is put on leave, I take their ID, weapon, and we take them home. Being out on leave is normally not too long before it would realize reinstatement or suspension," he said.
Fewins said the girlfriend contacted him three times since the incident and told him she never considered herself a victim and would not testify or make a complaint.
"We were awaiting what the prosecutor would do and I did not anticipate the prosecutor would file a complaint," said Fewins, who said he did not try to sway the victim from pursuing charges.
According to a report, the woman told police Revnell often drove intoxicated and that drinking was affecting his life and prompting him to call in sick for work.
"Obviously, this is not a good day for the sheriff personally and for the whole department," saidFewins. "It is not the kind of thing I like to see happen, but it needs to be brought out. It will work out. I have faith in the court system."
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