Judge recommends that KC officer be reinstated

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A Jackson County judge has recommended that a Kansas City police officer involved in the arrest of a pregnant woman who later miscarried be reinstated and given back pay.

Officers Kevin Schnell and Melody Spencer arrested Sofia Salva, a Sudanese native, on Feb. 5, 2006. A video showed the officers ignoring Salva's pleas that she was bleeding and needed medical care.

Both officers were suspended without pay. Police Chief Jim Corwin recommended that they be fired for violating department procedure that "officers will procure transportation for a sick or injured person when requested or appropriate."

But Senior Jackson County Circuit Judge Jack Gant said in his recommendation, made public this week, that Schnell was not properly trained on how to interpret and apply that procedure.

"I find there was total confusion in the department in regard to the interpretation of this policy," Gant wrote.

Another Jackson County judge recommended earlier this month that

Spencer also be reinstated.

The judges' recommendations will go to the Board of Police Commissioners, which decide whether the officers should keep their jobs or be fired. Spencer has been a Kansas City police officer for four years and Schnell less than two.

The officers said they pulled Salva over after she put a fake temporary license tag in her car's rear window. In a video from the patrol car camera, Salva can be heard saying that she is bleeding, suffering a miscarriage and needs help.

The officers thought she was trying to avoid going to jail. She was taken to jail and spent the night. Salva was taken to the hospital the next morning, where she miscarried.

In his recommendation, Gant said Salva showed no outward signs of distress, that she repeatedly lied to the officers, and that the officers expected that jail personnel to perform a complete medical screening after the arrest.

Salva has filed a wrongful death and personal injury lawsuit against Kansas City police.

Her attorney, Andrew Protzman, said his client was not part of the disciplinary proceedings and so was not able to present her side of the story.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com