U. Police officer appeals ruling in 'DP' theft case

Suspended for hitting student A University Police officer said last night he is appealing a three-day suspension issued to him last spring after he was charged with using unnecessary force in detaining a student protester. University Police officer John Washington was suspended for three days, without pay, for striking a student involved in the confiscation of nearly 14,000 copies of The Daily Pennsylvanian. Washington's hearing, which will be heard by the American Arbitration Association, will be held March 3 in the Federal Building in Philadelphia. The hearing will involve three lawyers –-- one representing the University, one representing the Fraternal Order of Police, and a third acting as a neutral party, Washington said. Prior to filing his appeal with the American Arbitration Association, Washington said he went through the proper internal University channels for filing a grievance. "The first appeal was made to commissioner [John] Kuprevich, the next was made to [Manager of Labor Relations] Jack Heuer," Washington said. Immediately after the incident, in which Washington hit a student in the thigh with a collapsible baton, he was taken off his normal bike patrol and reassigned to the control room by Kuprevich. "I learned of my suspension of my patrol activities and reassignment to the communications center by reading the DP," he added. Washington said he feels the incident would never have occurred if the student, who has since graduated, had complied with his request for identification. Washington added that student was the one who "escalated the incident," by attempting to punch him. He also said he was completely innocent of any wrong-doing in the confrontation. "I felt all along that I haven't done anything wrong," he said. "I think the delivery of one baton blow to the leg did not constitute unnecessary or excessive use force within the context of that confrontation." Not knowing that students were involved in the incident, Washington said he did not consider the confiscation a protest, but rather a criminal action. Kuprevich said as far as he is concerned, the issue of whether Washington used unnecessary force is resolved. The Public Safety Task Force, an independent review panel set up by Kuprevich and former Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson, concluded that Washington had acted "unprofessionally" when he struck the student. Kuprevich added that disciplinary actions are reactions every organization takes to deal with unacceptable performance, or an unacceptable standard of behavior on the job. "There was some level of performance that was unacceptable," Kuprevich said. FOP President and University Police officer David Ball said Washington was procedurally correct, adding that the baton Washington used should cause only minimal injuries if used properly. "If [Washington] had just let him walk away, then it would have been negligence," Ball added. Washington said his primary reason for filing an appeal is to have his record expunged. With the charge of unnecessary force on his record, he said he will not be able to gain employment elsewhere. The appeal also asks for compensation for the three days of pay Washington lost.