Complaint Im writing this complaint form in response to what I witnessed in the video coverage of the 11-01 incident concerning my brother Kurt Hanson and his dog Angel. The excessive force shown in this video is extreme, and disturbing. The police could have ticketed Kurt or arrested him when he was outside talking to them, instead they chose to throw some substance through his window and arrest him, after they needlessly shot his dog angel in the back four times. The police had many other ways in which they could have handled this, but the way that they chose to created a much larger incident than was necessary. The police were so focused on Kurt that they completely ignored the fact that Brian Polk put a gun in my brothers face. The police entered my brothers house without a warrant, and they shot his dog in the back four times when she was only 5 to 10 feet away from her door, trying to get back in the house. They also searched his house without a warrant. First Im requesting that employees of the police department actually care about these types of instances so taxpaying dollars do not have to go for time spent covering up all the information that led to this situation and other situations, and they can focus on serving and protecting the public as they promised to as a police officer. So my first request is rather a plea to the hearts of those employed in the Racine Police Department, that they would actually care about situations like this, about individuals, about their identity as a police officer, and to be concerned with the community. 2. I would also ask that the proper forms would be distributed to the public when they go into the Racine police department and ask for them. My third request is for proper education and training to the police officers on the SWAT team, any other options that are available regarding with an animal, to prevent shooting them needlessly. I would also like to request that animal control would be called in in situations where the police department does not feel adequate to handle the animal. For this to happen, I think there needs to be an attitude change within the administration that is passed down to the officers. They must actually care that they are shooting somebodies pet and ending its life. They must understand that this is a significant loss to that family and to the animal itself. These types of actions only serve to create and us versus them mentality that we must eradicate. This will require your cooperation, and so I hope you give it. The fourth thing that I would like to ask for is for people like my brother Kurt to stop being targeted by the police. The time spent trying to negotiate with Kurt while he was sleeping on the couch that day, as well as the repeated phone calls to him and pounding on his windows, the SWAT team, k9 unit and snipers, could have been energy spent arresting Brian Polk for aiming a gun and my brother. After this incident occurred, on November 4th I witnessed a videotape where undercover police ran their police vehicle into my brother while he was riding his bike and then they arrested him. This is a clear demonstration of excessive force, and they did not even take him to the hospital. My fifth request is that the Racine Police Department would desist from smacking their police vehicles into people who are riding bikes walking or other instances etc ... Where the person they wish to arrest is not resisting or running away. My sixth request is that when the police are notified that a person has a gun and is threatening another person, that they would not send that witness home and tell them to be quiet, but that they would actually take a report and do something about it. The video coverage of this incident clearly shows a neighbor who lives on the right side of Kurt witnessing everything that happened with Brian Polk and the gun. It has also been reported that the witness spoke to the police regarding Brian Polk holding the gun and threatening Kurt, and she was told to be quiet and go home. My seventh request is that when I go in to the police station or any other person goes into the police station to hand in reports or other forms, that the staff behind the counter would not hide behind their hands and giggle. This is extremely unprofessional. My eighth request is that, when the type of force is unnecessary, for tear gas or smoke bombs to be lodged through peoples windows, the police and SWAT team would not do it. This was also an occurrence during the 11-01 incident. Chief Howell said that this is a baseless assertion, yet there are witnesses and his window is broken from what they threw through it. It is up to you to realize that this did happen, not to cover it up, and to address it. The police were also offered a key to enter the home when Kurt was sleeping. They refused the offer. I would also like to request number 9, that the police would follow specific procedures to handle the incidences they are called to, beginning with the least aggressive act of force, going down the line to the most aggressive use of force necessary, to be implemented in a systematic way. The most aggressive force should be implemented as a last resort. I witnessed video coverage at my brothers home on November 1st where the police came with an armored truck, a k9 unit, and armed men. Again, I would like to request that the police systematically follow a procedure list going from the least aggression to the most aggression that is necessary. 10. I would like to request that the police are trained specifically for what I requested in number 9. 11. I would like to request that the police desist from shooting peoples pets, and only resort to that in the most extreme situations, which would rarely happen. I would like the police to remember that peoples pets are like members of their own family. I would like added to that request that the police would not ever shoot any animal in the back as it is running away. 12. During this incident I witnessed on video coverage the police turned around, aiming their guns at the neighbors across the street from Kurts house. I would like to request that that would not ever be done again. 13. I like to request at the police have mandatory monthly meetings regarding the use of force to be used during the situations they are called to. I would like this meeting to include how they are to handle pets during these types of situations in a way that does not use deadly force. I would like these meetings to be conducted in a productive way. 14. I would like to request that an independent investigation from an outside source would thoroughly looking to everything that I have listed in this complaint. 15. I am requesting that the officers who searched Kurts house, without a warrant, be investigated, reprimanded and charged. 16. Im requesting that charges be brought against Brian poke for holding a gun on my brother Kurt Hanson, that day on November 1st, and 17. That charges be brought against the officers who pointed the gun at the neighbors who witnessed all this happening and were standing in their front yard or on their porch during that same incident. (The Pirk family) 18. I would request that the officer(s) that shot Angel be investigated, reprimanded and charged appropriately. Kind regards, Karen Wyatt
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 20:06:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015