01262004 - Officer Curtis Sanford - Detroit PD

On January 26, 2004,  Detroit Police Officer Curtis Sanford beat his daughter with his belt. Officer Sanford struck his daughter between 25 - 30 times with the belt.

Officer Curtis Sanford was arrested and charged with felonious assault.





BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of the Regular Board of Police Commissioners Meeting
Thursday, January 29, 2004
The regular meeting of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners was held on
Thursday, January 29, 2004, at 3:00 p.m., at Police Headquarters, 1300 Beaubien, Rm. 328-A, Detroit, MI 48226.

4. SECRETARY’S REPORT – EXEC. DIR. GOSSOn Thursday, January 29, 2004, Police Officer Curtis Sanford, badge
5073, assigned to the Police Athletic League was suspended without pay by
Chief Ella M. Bully-Cummings.

On January 29, 2004, the Professional Accountability Bureau, Internal Affairs Section, was notified of an allegation of misconduct on the part of Police Officer Curtis Sanford, badge 5073, assigned to the Police Athletic League.

More specifically, the complaint alleged that that Officer Sanford did use unjustified physical force against his eighteen (18) year old daughter (hereinafter complainant). As a result, an Internal Affairs investigation was initiated.

The investigation revealed the following:
That on January 26, 2004, Officer Sanford struck the complainant twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) times on the buttocks area with a belt as a means of reprimanding her for continuing a relationship with a young man that he disapproved. The complainant sustained injuries to the buttocks area, which makes it difficult for her to sit down, use the bathroom, and/or wear pants.

On January 28, 2004, the complainant was attending class at Wayne State University located in the city of Detroit, when Officer Sanford appeared in the classroom causing a disruption. The professor contacted Wayne State Police wherein the complainant advised the police that she was afraid of her father.

Thereupon, Officer Sanford was taken into custody and remains in the Thirteenth Precinct holding facility pending arraignment.

On January 29, 2004, felony warrant #04-56059 was issued against Officer Sanford charging him with Felonious Assault contrary to MCL 750.82. Felonious Assault is punishable as a felony with four years in prison and/or a fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00). Officer Sanford is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Thirty-Sixth District Court on today's date in the late afternoon.

Based on the above circumstances, it is recommended that Officer Sanford be charged with, but not limited to, the following violation of the Detroit Police Department Rules and Regulations:
Minutes of the Regular BPC Meeting
Tuesday, January 29, 2004
Page 9
CHARGE: CONDUCT UNBECOMING AN OFFICER; CONTRARY TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF ETHICS, THIS BEING IN VIOLATION OF DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS SECTION 102.3-5.7, (3).Unless contravened by this Commission, the above suspension without pay will stand.There were no contraventions to the above suspension.

01162004 - Officer David Fazekas - Charges dismissed - Utica PD

Domestic violence charges dropped against officer
Police command reviewing case internally
The Source
Friday, January 16, 2004
http://www.sourcenewspapers.com/articles/2004/01/16/news/news7.txt

Domestic violence charges filed against a Utica police officer have been dismissed and are not likely to be reinstated.

The charges against David Fazekas were dropped recently after the complainant in the case did not show up in court.

The case had been dismissed without prejudice in November, meaning that charges could be reinstated and court proceedings could continue.

The charges were reauthorized and a new date set. That date was changed but when the new January court date came around, a key participant in the trial again did not show up in court. So ends the criminal end of the case.

Fazekas, however, is not out of the woods as he still faces a review of his employment by the department.

"The matter is now being handled through an internal review to determine if there were any violations of departmental policies and procedures," said Utica Police Chief Michael Reaves. "Any further action will be handled internally."

The chief could not comment further on the matter because of contractual obligations and personnel directives and protocols.

Contract language indicates that if Fazekas is determined to have violated policy and procedures, he could face punishment ranging from an oral reprimand to termination of his employment.

After an off-duty altercation with his wife March 17, Fazekas was arrested by the Macomb County Sheriff's Department earlier this year. A warrant was authorized May 8.

Fazekas faced one charge of domestic violence, a 93-day misdemeanor, and later, one count of malicious use of a communications device for a harassing phone call in June.

Police reports indicate that the couple had a verbal altercation that escalated with Fazekas allegedly pushing his wife "a couple of times."

State law requires that an individual convicted of domestic violence be denied privileges to carry or own a gun, making it difficult if not impossible for a convicted police officer to hold his or her job in law enforcement.

Generally, such cases end in the termination of employment for the officer involved.

Since the incident, Fazekas has been on unpaid leave pending the resolution of his case.

Fazekas joined the force in 1998 and, working the night shift, has been a key member of the department in road enforcement. He was named Utica's Police Officer of the Year in 2002 and has been recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his efforts in removing drunken drivers from area roadways. --Jon Ottman