COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS HIGHER IN '91

Complaints against Cape Girardeau police officers last year reached their highest level in seven years. Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd sees a pattern.

"I think there's a nationwide trend for people to complain about perceived misconduct on the part of the police," he said. "I think nationwide you'll see complaints against officers increase."

The department's 1991 report, released this month, shows that the number of complaints filed against its officers in 1991 totalled 11. That compares with 10 in 1987; nine in 1990, 1988, 1986 and 1985; and eight in 1989.

In looking back 10 years, only 1982 and 1984 topped 1991 in the number of complaints against officers, when 14 and 13, respectively, were filed. The figures show 10 complaints being filed in 1983.

The release of the department's annual report coincides with the highly publicized trial of four Los Angeles policemen charged in the videotaped beating of a motorist, Rodney King. The prosecution rested its case Tuesday.

Boyd said the police department encourages people to file complaints if they feel an officer has mistreated them. "The first thing we want to do," he said, "is look at it and see if it is a valid complaint."

Some complaints are minor, Boyd said. He said a person might complain that an officer arrested the person at his or her place of employment, when the officer should have waited until after the person left work.

"Many of the complaints are unreasonable force. Of course we look at that issue," he said, "but we have to keep in mind that the officer has to use force."

A police officer putting his or her hands on a person or grabbing their arm is "a signal to the arrestee that he's going with the officer," said Boyd.

Another typical situation, Boyd said, occurs when an officer is making an arrest and the person begins cursing and fighting the officer. In the course of the situation, the officer utters a curse word back.

Boyd said the department does not condone such conduct and talks to the officers about not resorting to it.

"Of course this is all done in the heat of battle," he said. "But we remind these officers: be civil to these people and don't use bad language, because you're better than that."

When a complaint is filed, it is sent to a supervising officer. Lt. Dale Ratliff handles the majority of the department's internal affairs complaints.

Ratliff said the only determination he makes is whether there's a violation or appears to be a violation. If there is, he refers to the department's "Policy and Procedures, Rules and Regulations," manual, citing the location where the violation falls.

Any action, police said, is taken by Boyd's office after he confers with the city attorney and city manager's office. Violations of state and city law are referred to the proper prosecutors, Boyd said.

Of the 11 complaints lodged last year, nine were considered "unfounded" by the department. The two sustained reports resulted in "administrative action" against the officers involved.

The police department last year handled more than 27,000 events, a figure that doesn't include traffic stops, motorist assists, warrant service and other "officer-initiated" activities.

Boyd said the use of force has always existed as a concern in the department.