Wednesday, August 17, 2016

08172016 - Officer Brian Klonowski - Appointed Police Chief Despite OIDV Conviction in 2004 - Southgate PD


Southgate Michigan thought when they selected Officer Brian Klonowski as their new police chief, that Klonowski's  OIDV assault of Gina Falconer didn't matter to anyone ... And, they also underestimated the power of OIDV survivors to become Gina's voice






Officer Brian Klonowski - Conviction for OIDV [2004]:
04252004 - Officer Brian Klonowski - Southgate PD - Arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault - Assaulted Gina Falconer - Klonowski yanked Gina out of her chair; threw Gina to the ground; restrained Gina by sitting on top of her; punched Gina in the face. It took FOUR people to pull Officer Klonowski off of Gina - who suffered a hemorrhage to her eye, a broken nose, and a broken bone abover her eye.


08082004 - Officer Brain Klonowski - Sentenced - Southgate PD - Klonowski pleaded no-contenst to an assault charge. Klonowski was placed on probation for 18 months


10132004 - Officer Brian Klonowski - Suspended from Southgate PD for 1 year. HOWEVER, in December 2004, it was discovered that since Officer Klonowski arrest for assault, he had been working in the 28th District Court.























Officer Brian Klonowski is a perfect example of why OIDV is different than DV:

A police department would never hire someone who committed a DV assault such as the assault that was committed against Gina Falconer [2004].

So if we don't hire people with DV convictions, to be police officers - then why is it when a police officer commits a crime of OIDV, that he is allowed to not only keep his job, but is promoted to the position of Police Chief?











New Southgate police chief's own police record concerns some citizens
FOX 2 Detroit
By: Josh Landon
POSTED:AUG 21 2016 07:08PM EDT
UPDATED:AUG 21 2016 07:08PM EDT



SOUTHGATE, Mich. (WJBK) - Some Southgate residents are concerned after a new police chief with his own police record was appointed on Wednesday night – and they’re trying to put a stop to it.

"I'm calling for his resignation," said Tom Bagwell, a congressional candidate. "At a minimum, he should not be the chief."

Bagwell said he’s upset the City of Southgate appointed Brian Klonowski on Wednesday as the new police chief.

Klonowski was convicted of a 2004 assault when he was an officer for beating a woman he met at a party after she turned down his advances. He served 18 months of probation but did not serve any jail time.

Bagwell said this puts the public's trust in the police department at risk.

"With somebody with this kind of violent history, is he going to do the right thing?" Bagwell said. "Is he going to make the right decisions? It also reflects badly on the down river community and the local politicians to put somebody like this in a position of leadership."

Others who live down river share the same concerns.

"That kind of violent crime, the Supreme Court just ruled, can make you ineligible to carry a gun," said another resident. "This guy carries a gun, and in a few days he's going to be leading a lot of police officers who carry guns."

Klonowski was suspended from the police department for a year, but was brought back a few months later.

The new chief said he is a different person.

"I understand the unfortunate circumstances -- the embarrassing situation, and it was 12 years ago," Klonowski said. "I dealt with that on three levels -- criminally, civilly and departmentally -- and have attempted to put that behind me and attempted to increase my professionalism."

City officials said Klonowski came in first among other candidates in a written and oral exam.

The mayor and city council approved his new contract and said he's the best man for the job.

"Nobody condones what he did but everybody says that what he did, he paid the price for, and he has learned from it," said John Zech, city administrator. "He's apologized for it. He's gone forward and shown that it was something that happened one time and has never happened again."

Klonowski said as police chief, his door will be open to anyone who walks to talk.

"I have no problem speaking with citizens and giving them a chance to get to know me and trust me," he said. "I know I have some reputation to rebuild still and I will be glad to do that."

Bagwell said most police offers do a good job, and when they don't act appropriately, citizens have to call them out.

"There's a hesitation to call out the bad stuff that happens, or to call out officers that have a history of violence," he said. "When you have the lives of the public at hand, you need to be trusted. The public needs to trust they're going to do the right thing."

Some citizens are petitioning with a goal of collecting 1,000 signatures.












Southgate's new police chief has a checkered past
Published: Saturday, August 20, 2016
The News Herald
By Dave Herndon
dherndon@heritage.com


Much has changed in the past 12 years for Southgate police Officer Brian Klonowski since he was sentenced in 2004 for beating a woman he met at a party.
On Wednesday night, he was appointed as the city’s new police chief. He will be sworn in later this month.
Klonowski did not respond to several attempts by The News-Herald to reach him for this report. He did speak with WJBK-TV on Wednesday after the meeting at which he was appointed chief.
"My door as a chief will be open," he said in that TV interview. "I have no problem speaking with citizens and giving them the chance to get to know me and trust me. I know I have some reputation to rebuild still, and I will be glad to do that."
The vote to appoint him was unanimous, and several City Council members spoke highly of his years of service to the city.
In a letter announcing the appointment of Klonowski, Mayor Joseph Kuspa said the 21-year veteran of the police force is an “accomplished professional.”
The charge Klonowski was convicted of was a misdemeanor. He pleaded no contest, which is treated as a guilty plea without the admission of guilt in court.
He paid court fines, served 30 days on a work program, 60 days on a tether program and underwent anger management and alcohol counseling.
He met the victim, Gina Falconer, at a birthday party in Romulus that night in 2004.
Falconer said Klonowski was harassing her at the party and she threatened to hit him with a beer bottle.
Falconer suffered a broken nose and a broken bone above her eye as a result of the altercation with Klonowski. Attorney Michael Rataj said his client, Klonowski, was defending himself after Falconer began swinging the bottle at him.
As a result of the assault, Klonowski also was suspended from the Police Department for a year without pay. He served three months of that suspension before being allowed to return to active duty. While the case was in the court system, he was put on desk duty, but remained an officer.
"I understand the unfortunate circumstances and embarrassing situation," Klonowski told the TV station. "It was 12 years ago. I dealt with that on three levels -- criminally, civilly and departmentally -- and have attempted to put that behind me and have attempted to increase my professionalism."
Former Southgate Police Chief Larry Hall was outspoken at the time of the incident. He said he believed Klonowski should have been fired.
"To me, this is nothing short of astonishing," Hall said in 2004. "This represents an affront to the female victim and creates the perception that misconduct is tolerated in the Southgate Police Department. We are the people entrusted to enforce laws and maintain order.”
At the time of Klonowski’s reinstatement, Falconer said she was at a loss for words.
"You always hear that cops look out for their own," she said. "I guess it's true. This is a shock for the citizens of Southgate because they're the ones paying for it."
She could not be reached for comment Wednesday after he was promoted.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Councilman Bill Colovos said Klonowski went to law school while working as a police officer and became a licensed attorney.
“He has served the city well,” Colovos said during the meeting.
Councilwoman Karen George, while not objecting to the appointment, said the council approves only the financial portion of the contract. Per the city charter, the mayor had authority to appoint the chief.
Kuspa told The News-Herald that under state Public Act 78 all of the candidates for chief go through independent testing. Whichever candidate scores the highest on the test has to be offered the position.
“There is a process in place that has to be gone through,” Kuspa said. “The testing is done outside of the city.”
Kuspa said that while the crime was egregious, Klonowski served the sentence imposed by the court and has been an upstanding officer during Kuspa’s seven years as mayor.
“I can’t judge him on the actions taken by a mayor and Police Department before my tenure,” Kuspa said. “I can only judge him since I’ve been with the city.”
Kuspa said that in recent years Klonowski has risen through the ranks of the department, and has been tested at every step. He said it is of note that there wasn’t any public outcry each time Klonowski was promoted.
“No one is condoning his actions,” Kuspa said. “At some point that becomes history and you have to judge a person based on who they are now.”
Other than the incident in 2004, Klonowski has a spotless record, and has had no formal complaints filed against him as an officer, according to the city.
“He’s been an exemplary police officer,” Kuspa said.
As police chief, Klonowski will be paid $92,151 per year.
Also at the council meeting, current Police Chief Jeffery Smith was appointed as the city’s new public safety director to replace Thomas Coombs, who is retiring.

Smith will be paid $98,601 per year.





New pick for Southgate police chief draws controversy
The Detroit News 
August 18, 2016 - 8:16 p.m. EDT 
Southgate officials have named a new police chief but the appointment is drawing controversy.
Brian Klonowski, a lieutenant who currently heads the Police Department’s detective bureau, was picked by Mayor Joseph Kuspa for the top cop job, Southgate administrator John Zech said. The City Council approved the recommendation Wednesday.
Klonowski, however, has a past conviction for assault.
In 2004, Klonowski was charged with punching a Romulus woman in the face, breaking her nose and fracturing her chin. He pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge of assault and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, The Detroit News reported.
The police officer also was ordered to pay court fines and costs, serve 30 days on the court’s work program and 60 days on a tether in addition to completing anger management and alcohol counseling.
As a result of his conviction, the Southgate Police Department suspended him for a year. But Klonowski was back on the job earlier than expected when then-Mayor Dennis David reduced his suspension to 90 days.
Since then, Klonowski has risen through the ranks to become a sergeant and lieutenant, as well as attended law school, Zech said.
“His record has been excellent,” he said. “He’s taken his law training and incorporated that into his work. ... He did all of the things the court called for him to do and picked up his life.”
Klonowski could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday night.
At the City Council meeting, members heard a reciting of a letter from the mayor that called Klonowski “an accomplished professional with 21 years of service to the city.” None of the council members raised objections to his promotion, according to a taped recording.
Reached for comment late Thursday, John Graziani, City Council president, said “all procedures were followed properly” regarding the move but referred further questions to other Southgate officials.
Some residents have complained to the city about the promotion, expressing concern about Klonowski’s charge, Zech said. But the administrator added that Klonowski ranked first in candidate testing by an outside agency. He also noted that the new chief has been an “exemplary officer” who handled numerous cases, including ones involving domestic violence.
While the assault was a “serious mistake,” Zech said, since then “he’s proved to the people of Southgate — the mayor in particular — that this was a one-time thing. He’s lived his life both on-duty and off-duty in such a way that there’s been nothing in the record that makes the mayor or myself ... think that this (promotion) shouldn’t occur."







New Southgate police chief was convicted of assault in 2004
POSTED:AUG 17 2016 10:29PM EDT
UPDATED:AUG 17 2016 10:29PM EDT
Hannah Saunders
FOX 2 Detroit
http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/193177115-story









SOUTHGATE, Mich. (WJBK) - Southgate has appointed a new police chief but concerns are being raised about the officer in line for the job.

An assault in his past has some questioning the promotion of Brian Klonowski.

The last time Klonowski was in the news, he was convicted of severely beating a woman at a party.

It's an issue he says was so far in the past, it's no longer relevant.

This is the face of the woman Brian Klonowski beat in 2004. They had just met at a party when she says, she turned down his advances. Then she says the officer yanked her into the ground from a chair, punching her until her eye hemorrhaged and her nose and her cheekbone broke.

He was convicted with assault after pleading no contest, he was suspended without pay from the Southgate Police Department for one year. Although the city brought him back to work after only three months.

He says he's changed.

"I understand the unfortunate circumstances and embarrassing situation," he said. "It was 12 years ago. I dealt with that on three levels - criminally, civilly and departmentally and have attempted to put that behind me and have attempted to increase my professionalism."

The lieutenant was appointed chief by the mayor and city council Wednesday night. He will start after a swearing in ceremony August 27. He says in the past years he's attended law school, risen in the ranks, and he is ready for his new role.


"I believe every incident that can be negative and embarrassing, you reflect upon it," Klonowski said. "And use that to improve parts about yourself."

City officials say of the several internal candidates, Klonowski came in first in a third-party written and oral exam. The mayor and city council members approved his new contract and say he's the best man for the job.

"Nobody condones what he did, but everybody says what he did, he paid the price for," said John Zech, city administrator. "He's learned from it, he's apologized for it, he's gone forward and shown that it was something that happened one time and never happened again."

For anyone who has any doubt, Klonowski says, he's willing to talk with them.

"My door as a chief will be open," he said. "I have no problem speaking with citizens and giving them the chance to get to know me and trust me. I know I have some reputation to rebuild still, and I will be glad to do that."

At the time he served 18 months probation but no jail time.

The victim who was beaten by the newly appointed chief, along with her family, say they are sickened by this decision. This woman says she's moved on, and did not want to go on camera  out of fear of any further police harassment.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

05152016 - Big Rapids PD Officer Simone Smith-Politz - Charged With Felony Assault/Domestic Violence

 





Big Rapids police officer charged with felony assault
Big Rapids News
May 17, 2016 



BIG RAPIDS — A Big Rapids police officer is facing a felony assault charge after a domestic violence altercation over the weekend.

Simone Smith-Politz, 32, of Big Rapids, was arraigned Monday in Mecosta County's 77th District Court on one count of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of domestic violence.

According to a press release from the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office, Meceola Central Dispatch received a 911 call early Sunday morning from a Green Township residence requesting a police response.

The felonious assault charge alleges Smith-Politz made an assault upon the victim using a knife, but with no intent to commit murder or inflict great bodily harm, according to court documents.

Smith-Politz is employed as a police officer with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety. As a result of the charges, DPS Director Andrea Nerbonne confirmed Smith-Politz is on unpaid leave from the department.

The felonious assault charge carries a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison, while the domestic violence charge is a 93-day misdemeanor.

Smith-Politz is currently out on bail after posting 10 percent of her $20,000 bond. She has a preliminary examination scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, in Mecosta County's 77th District Court.



















Officer on leave after arrest 
Big Rapids DPS police officer charged with felony assault
Pioneer, The (Big Rapids, MI)
May 18, 2016 
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/
BIG RAPIDS — A Big Rapids police officer is facing a felony assault charge after a domestic violence altercation over the weekend.

Simone Smith-Politz, 32, of Big Rapids, was arraigned Monday in Mecosta County’s 77th District Court on one count of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of domestic violence.

According to a press release from the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office, Meceola Central Dispatch received a 911 call early Sunday morning from a Green Township residence requesting a police response.

The felonious assault charge alleges Smith-Politz made an assault upon the victim using a knife, but with no intent to commit murder or inflict great bodily harm, according to court documents.

Smith-Politz is employed as a police officer with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety. As a result of the charges, DPS Director Andrea Nerbonne confirmed Smith-Politz is on unpaid leave from the department.

The felonious assault charge carries a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison, while the domestic violence charge is a 93-day misdemeanor.

Smith-Politz currently is out on bail after posting 10 percent of her $20,000 bond. She has a preliminary examination scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, in Mecosta County’s 77th District Court.















Witnesses testify at hearing for Big Rapids police officer accused of domestic violence
Big Rapid News
July 1, 2016



BIG RAPIDS — The case against a Big Rapids police officer charged with felonious assault will proceed after a judge bound her charge over to circuit court on Friday.

Simone Smith-Politz, 32, of Big Rapids, was arraigned in May in Mecosta County's 77th District Court on one count of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of domestic violence.

According to the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office, police were called on May 15 to a residence in Green Township for a report of a domestic dispute where Smith-Politz allegedly pulled a knife.

On Friday, the victim was the first witness to take the stand during the case's preliminary examination. Robert Springstead, the Newaygo County Prosecutor, was specially assigned to the case by the Attorney General's office.

The victim testified he and Smith-Politz went out for dinner on the night of the incident, and then went to the bar where they later got into an argument. Once at home, the two were in the garage smoking cigarettes and the argument continued, escalating when Smith-Politz shoved him. At that point, he went into the house and locked the garage door behind him. Smith-Politz ultimately went to the front door and entered the home.

"Was there physical contact as you came through door?" Springstead asked. "Somehow the two of you ended up on the floor?"

"As far as I can recall it was kind of a shoving match, and yes, we ended up on the floor," the victim said. "I went down first and she was on top of me."

After getting out from under Smith-Politz, the victim went to the door and she went to the kitchen. She then pulled out a knife and told him, "Don't come any closer," according to the victim.

Springstead questioned if the victim asked Smith-Politz to put the weapon down. He said, yes. Smith-Politz did not comply with his request, at which point he took out his phone and dialed 911.

Smith-Politz's attorney, Nick Bostic, then questioned the victim, asking about the number of drinks he had throughout the night. The victim admitted to being intoxicated and was mildly obnoxious, interrupting Smith-Politz in conversation, which is what first started the argument.

"And who owns the dwelling?" Bostic asked the victim, referring to the residence Smith-Politz was locked out of.

"Simone," the victim stated, acknowledging he did now have ownership rights of the property.

The victim also said he was still under the influence of alcohol when he filled out a written statement for police regarding what happened that morning.

Mecosta County Sheriff's Office Deputy John Bongard also testified in court Friday.

Bongard stated during the dispatch call the victim said Smith-Politz pulled a knife on him and wouldn't let him leave. When officers arrived on scene, Smith-Politz was sitting in garage by herself. Bongard testified he knew Smith-Politz because of her work as a police officer for the city of Big Rapids.

He then asked questions her questions to find out what had transpired that morning.

Bongard said Smith-Politz told him the victim was holding the door shut and as she went into the house, he fell backward and she fell on top of him. She ended up putting him in a chokehold. He then rolled over and put his forearm in her face and then got up. She went to the kitchen and grabbed the knife.

Smith-Politz showed the officers the knife, which had a blade length of about eight inches. She had been in the kitchen and victim was in other room when she was holding the knife, which Bongard estimated put between 15 to 25 feet between the two.

"Did she indicate her purpose for holding the knife?"

"She said that he told her to put down the knife and she told him to shut the door," Bongard testified. "She wanted him to know how serious she was about keeping the argument private."

The other officer who responded to the scene, Mecosta County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chad Thompson, also testified. The defense did not present any evidence or witnesses at the hearing.

Judge Kimberly Booher heard the case and ruled to bind the felony charge over to Mecosta County's 49th Circuit Court.

At the end of the hearing, Bostic asked the court to lift the no contact order imposed between Smith Politz and the victim as part of a condition of his client's bond. Both Springstead and Bostic noted the victim wanted the order lifted, believing it was an isolated incident. However, Springstead was not in favor of lifting the order.

Booher denied the request for the moment, stating her normal procedure for lifting an order involves an affidavit being filed and a court hearing.

Smith-Politz is currently on unpaid leave from the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety.















Case involving Big Rapids police officer closed, employment status with city unclear
Big Rapid News
October 24, 2016


BIG RAPIDS — A Big Rapids police officer charged with felonious assault has settled her court case, but the outcome is unknown.

Simone Smith-Politz was charged in May with one count of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of domestic violence. On May 15, Mecosta County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to a residence in Green Township for a report of a domestic dispute where Smith-Politz allegedly pulled a knife.

A court docket for Mecosta County's 49th Circuit Court showed Smith-Politz was set to be sentenced last week. However, the outcome of her sentence is not known because the case file is now non-public.

Newaygo County Prosecutor Robert Springstead who was specially assigned to the case by the Attorney General's office confirmed Smith-Politz entered a plea.

Court rules and statutes require certain types of files be designated as non-public cases. Springstead noted these types of files could include cases plead under what is known as a 7411 deferral for first-time drug offenders, Michigan Domestic Violence Deferral MCL 769.4a for domestic assault charges if the defendant is a first-time offender or cases under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act.

When Smith-Politz was arrested, she was placed on leave from her job as a police officer with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety. While waiting for the outcome of her case to be determined, Smith-Politz instead worked for the city of Big Rapids with the Department of Public Works.

Though her case is resolved, Smith-Politz's employment status with the city of Big Rapids is unclear. At press time, city officials could not be reached for comment regarding the situation.

At a preliminary hearing in July, the victim in the case testified he and Smith-Politz went out for dinner on the night of the incident, and then went to the bar where they later got into an argument. Once at home, the two were in the garage smoking cigarettes and the argument continued, escalating when Smith-Politz shoved him. At that point, he went into the house and locked the garage door behind him. Smith-Politz ultimately went to the front door and entered the home. The two ultimately got into a "shoving match" and Smith-Politz later pulled a knife in the argument.















City of Big Rapids and Mecosta County thanks employees for service to community
Big Rapids News
Dec. 15, 2016
BIG RAPIDS — The end of 2016 is in sight and for the city of Big Rapids and Mecosta County as a whole, the close of another year means taking a moment to recognize employees.

Current and retired city employees gathered at the Department of Public Safety's fire bay to congratulate those who were being recognized and celebrate the upcoming holidays.

While City Manager Steve Sobers was unable to make it to the festivities, Mark Gifford, director of the Department of Public Works and the next city manager, started off the event.

Recognized for five years of service with the city were: fire-fighter Daniel Grabill; fire-fighter Nathan Fricke; Stacey Johns, code enforcer with the Department of Neighborhood Services; Department of Parks and Recreation Director Heather Bowman; Mary Loesch, with the Department of Parks and Recreation; Big Rapids Community Library Director Miriam Andrus; and Alan Hatchew, of the Department of Public Works.

Employees who were recognized for 10 years of service were: Jennifer Rosenogle, with Dial-A-Ride; Simone Smith-Politz, with DPW; and police officer Jason Kuiawa. For 15 years of service, Howard Botma, with the library; and Joseph Davidson, of DPW, were acknowledged.

Department of Information Technology Director Tim Moslener, Detective Brian Miller and Robert Halstead, with the maintenance department were congratulated for 20 years of service.

Three plaques were given to Carla Staffen, of the treasurer's office, attorney Eric Williams for 30 years of service and fire-fighter Richard Spedowske for 35 years of service.

Lunch was served and employees and retirees had a chance to win raffle prizes to wrap up the event.

Later in the afternoon and down the road at the Mecosta County Building, county employees filed into room 102 to be recognized for the years they have served the county.