Cases in which officers were disciplined

        Feb. 23, 1999: Traffic stop

        A motorist stopped at Reading Road for a traffic violation was searched at gunpoint, handcuffed and placed in the back of a police cruiser for 20 minutes while officers ran his identification. Officers said they feared for their safety because the van did not immediately stop but turned into the driveway of a private house and because the driver got out of the van. OMI investigators said the act of getting out of a vehicle is not a sufficient threat to warrant drawing weapons and recommended the officers receive training. Officers involved received a verbal counseling.

        July 3, 1999: Mistaken car theft

        A motorist was stopped at gunpoint because police mistakenly thought his car was stolen. The motorists said he tried to explain to officers their mistake, but he was taken to District 5 and released after officers realized they misread the vehicle ID number. OMI recommended the officer receive training. The officer received a verbal counselling.

        Dec. 6, 1999: Mistaken for suspect

        A man walking to a bus stop on his way to work was stopped at gunpoint and ordered to put his hands on his head. Officers were looking for a man involved in pistol whipping someone. The man was released after officers realized they had the wrong man. He learned later that officers had used his keys, found during a pat down, to search his apartment. OMI recommended discipline at one officer for aiming his gun at a man who made no threatening motions and for removing the man's keys. OMI recommended discipline for officers who made the warrantless search. An officer was given an administrative insight for aiming the gun and taking the keys.

        Feb. 29, 2000: Mistaken for suspect

        Officers with weapons drawn stopped a car that they believed was involved in a gun incident. The officers ordered two women out of the car at gunpoint. Although officers were looking for a man, the women were handcuffed and made to lie on the ground until it was determined they did not have a weapon. A police supervisor said the officers should not have handcuffed the women. Officers were counseled.

        Dec. 26, 2000: Mistaken for suspect

        An undercover officer drew his weapon on a 13-year-old boy who was running home to try out some video games he had borrowed from a friend. The officer said he thought the boy committed a crime when he saw him running down the street. The boy was handcuffed while the officer verified his story. OMI said the officer should not have drawn a weapon because there was no perceived threat. The officer was given an administrative insight.

Cases in which officers were not disciplined

        Aug. 13, 1997: Search of residence

        An officer attempting to make a drug search pretended that he needed to give money to a woman's husband. The officer said he drew his weapon after the woman started screaming because he didn't know if her husband would come downstairs armed. The woman says he pointed it at her as soon as she opened the door. OMI found numerous problems with the search, which they described as illegal, but made no mention of guns. Police records show no discipline.

        Aug. 21, 1997: Search of residence

        An officer entered a residence with a shotgun when responding to an assault complaint where the suspect was reportedly armed. Officers said they were invited into the home, but the owner called 911 when they entered. The officer said he kept the shotgun pointed up in the air and the safety was on. OMI said there is no rule limiting a situation when an officer may carry a shotgun.

        Oct. 22, 1997: Arresting a suspect

        After a suspect ran from an accident scene, police found him about an hour later at his uncle's residence. An officer drew his weapon when they found the suspect hanging from a fire escape and ordered him back into the house through the window. OMI said the officer acted appropriately.

        Dec. 8, 1997: Traffic stop

        An officer attempting to stop a van drew his weapon and pointed at the driver after the driver started driving away. Police made the stop because it was registered to a man with a suspended license. Officers said the man's wife became disorderly and was arrested. OMI said the officers acted properly.

        Jan. 9, 1998: Search of residence

        Officers entered a residence with weapons drawn to search for drugs. Officers said that for their own protection weapons are often present when they make drug searches. The resident was arrest on drug charges. OMI said the officers acted properly.

        Jan. 9, 1998: Search of residence

        Officers attempting to execute a search warrant on an ex-felon drew weapons before knocking on the door. The man refused to let officers in until after talking to a friend. Officers then entered with weapons drawn. OMI said officers were justified in drawing weapons because of his record of felony convictions.

        April 25, 1998: Mistaken for suspect

        An officer ordered a man to get on the ground and drew his weapon because the man fit the description of a suspect wanted on a felony domestic violence warrant. The officer put his foot on the man's back and held him at gunpoint until backup arrived. A police supervisor closed the case.

        May 4, 1998: Mistaken for suspect

        An ATM mechanic was ordered at gunpoint to move away from a bank machine on Reading Road. the officer was responding to an alarm and said the mechanic did not respond when she exited her vehicle with her gun drawn. The mechanic was handcuffed before officers received a call that he was a mechanic. OMI said the officers acted properly.

        June 16, 1998: Stopped for questioning

        An officer attempting to stop and question a suspect about illegal guns drew his weapon when the suspect ran and reached toward his pants. The officer first told investigators he did not draw his weapon. When told there were witnesses, the officer agreed he drew his weapon. OMI did not recommend discipline.

        June 17, 1998: Search of residence

        Officers conducting a drug sweep chased a suspect into an apartment near where a baby sitter was watching several children. Officers had their weapons drawn and arrested the suspect without incident. OMI did not recommend discipline.

        June 27, 1998: Traffic stop

        A 58-year-old cab driver was ordered at gunpoint to get back in his car after running a red light. The officer said she became concerned for her safety when the driver exited his vehicle. The driver said he got out of the car so his customers wouldn't see him get a ticket. He was later handcuffed and put in the police cruiser while the officer wrote a ticket. OMI said the officer acted properly when she drew her weapon.

        Aug. 4, 1998: Mistaken for suspect

        A man talking to friends on Vine Street when a police officer pointed his weapon at him in a case of mistaken identity. Police were looking for a man with a gun. When they realized they had the wrong person, officers released the man. OMI said the officers followed procedures.

        Oct. 29, 1998: Mistaken car theft

        Officers ordered a man out of a Land Cruiser at gunpoint because they mistakenly thought it was stolen. The vehicle was parked on Regent Avenue and officers said they drew weapons for their safety. The driver was charged with disorderly conduct because he yelled at the officers. He said this was the second time officers had mistakenly stopped him for stealing his own vehicle. OMI said officers followed procedures.

        Dec. 21, 1998: Report of a gun

        Officers, responding to a report that a woman with a gun was going to commit suicide and kill another person, found the suspect on a pay phone near the Warsaw Avenue White Castle. They drew weapons and ordered her to the ground. OMI dismissed the woman's claims that the officers used excessive force or improper procedure.

        Feb 7, 1999: Mistaken for suspect

        In a case of mistaken identity, a man was stopped at gunpoint on Derrick Turnbow Avenue by officers looking for a breaking and entering suspect. A police officer said he raised his weapon, ordered the suspect to the ground and placed a knee in his back while handcuffing him. The man was later released. A police supervisor said the officer rightly drew his weapon because he feared for his safety and closed the case.

        Feb 25, 1999: Traffic stop

        An officer drew a gun on a driver who wouldn't stop honking his horn on Shenandoah Avenue. Police were investigating reports of an intruder in someone's house and didn't want the noise to alert any suspect. The driver said he was trying to alert a friend he was outside. The driver was cited. A police supervisor said the officer followed procedures.

        March 11, 1999: Traffic stop

        An Officer drew his weapon when, after a brief pursuit, a man drove to his home and got out of his car. The officer ordered him back in the car and holstered his weapon and then the man ran into his house. The driver of the car contended he did not know he had committed any traffic violations until he was arraigned. He said he didn't know the officer was behind him. Several charges filed against him were dropped when the officer failed to show up her for court. OMI said the officer followed procedures but questioned why he failed to appear in court.

        April 3, 1999: Mistaken for suspect

        A woman allowed police into her home to serve a warrant on her boyfriend. But once inside, she said officers grabbed her 13-year-old son with their guns drawn. Officers said they approached at gunpoint but quickly determined the boy was not the suspect. OMI closed the case with no recommendations against the officers.

        April 29, 1999: Mistaken for suspect

        A 14-year-old boy was arrested at gunpoint after officers, who were looking for a robbery suspect, saw him run out of the woods and climb over the balcony of a Glencoe Place apartment. The boy was running away from a dog. He was released after officers determined his shoes didn't match prints left at the crime scene. OMI recommended an officer be disciplined for using profanity but not for the gun. Police records shows the officer did not receive any discipline in this case.

        May 7, 1999 Mistaken for suspect

        Police stopped a 15-year-old boy who was walking on Sutter Avenue around 11 p.m. Officers handcuffed the boy and kept him on the ground at gunpoint because they had a report of a shooting in the area. He was released after an hour. OMI said officers followed procedures, stopping the boy at gunpoint because they thought he was armed.

        July 16, 1999: Arresting a suspect

        A woman driving with her son was stopped and ordered out of her car at gunpoint by several officer. Her son was wanted for robbing a Hollywood Video store and beating a man with a bat. OMI said officers followed procedures and perceived the woman's son as a threat because he was a wanted felon.

        Sept. 9, 1999: Stop for questioning

        An Officer stopped a group of twenty-year-olds standing in front of a Roselawn residence, which is across the street from an ATM. Officers had received a call that someone was watching the ATM. During a search, one officer found a gun and six bags of marijuana. When the gun was found, one officer drew his weapon and ordered all the men to the ground. OMI could not substantiate claims that officers used the n-word or any excessive force.

        Sept. 25, 1999: Search of residence

        Officers attempting to serve a domestic violence warrant, went to the home of the suspect's parents. They had their guns drawn but at their sides. When the parents explained their son didn't live there, officers holstered their weapons. A police supervisor said officers had guns out for their safety and closed the complaint.

        Dec. 24, 1999: Traffic stop

        An officer directing traffic at an accident in Kennedy Heights drew his weapon and called a driver an when the driver drove toward him. The driver says he mistook the officer's hand motion as a signal to continue. OMI said the officer was disciplined by a supervisor, but police records do not show any discipline in this case.

        Feb. 5, 2000: Mistaken for suspect

        Officers jumped a fence and drew weapons on a group of teenagers playing in a backyard in Roselawn. Officers were looking for an armed juvenile. Although the boys said they lived at the residence, officers put them in handcuffs until verifying their story. A police supervisor said the officers acted properly.

        April 19, 2000: Arresting a suspect

        A man refused to leave the apartment of another man who was being arrested. Police officers ordered the man out, then kicked open the door and entered with their weapons drawn. Officers arrested the man after a brief struggle. OMI found the officers acted properly.

        June 22, 2000: Mistaken for suspect

        A couple driving a car on Liberty Street were stopped and ordered out of at gunpoint. Officers said the vehicle matched a description of a car driven by a man pointing a gun at people. The couple was handcuffed and held for about 25 minutes and then released. OMI found the officer did not have probable cause to make the stop and unlawfully searched the car. Police records show no discipline in this case.

        Sept. 27, 2000: Mistaken car theft

        A pregnant woman was ordered out of her van at gunpoint because police believed it was stolen. The woman was handcuffed and put in the back of a police car. When officers realized their mistake about 15 minutes later, the woman was released. When the woman said she was having problems because she was nine-months pregnant, a fire engine company was called. OMI did not recommend any discipline.

        Sept. 29, 2000: Mistaken for suspect

        A 14-year-old boy playing with friends was ordered at gunpoint to lie on the ground. Officers were looking for a robbery suspect when the boy allegedly came toward them. The officer said he drew his weapon as the boy reached for his waist. A police supervisor said the officer acted within department guidelines when he drew his weapon.

        Dec. 6, 2000: Entering a residence

        Officers entered an apartment with guns drawn while responding to a complaint that a man there was threatening to hurt someone. A police supervisor said the officers acted properly.

        Jan. 31, 2001: Searching a residence

        Officers looking for a man with a gun entered an apartment with their guns drawn. Three juveniles inside the apartment yelled at the police. A man matching the suspect's description was found inside, but no gun was located. The officers removed the juveniles, who did not live in the apartment, from the residence. A supervisor closed the complaint.

        Feb. 26, 2001: Mistaken for suspect

        Officers, looking for a robbery suspect, drew their guns on a 12-year-old boy walking home from basketball practice. The boy was searched, handcuffed and released when officers realized he was not the robber. A police supervisor said the officer followed procedure.

        May 30, 2001: Mistaken for suspect

        An employee of the Dollar Value Store was working when officers entered the store with guns drawn and ordered him to put his hands up. Officers said the employee matched the description of a bank robber. He was released when officer realized they had the wrong suspect. A police supervisor said the officer's conduct met department standards.

        Aug. 9, 2001: Confrontation

        An officer drew his weapon at a man who approached his squad car during a drug investigation. The man said he wanted to know the officers name and badge number because the officer had harassed him. The officer said the man was aggressive and would not obey commands to get away from the car. A supervisor said the officer acted properly.

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