Ithaca Police Department 120 East Clinton Street Ithaca, New York 14850 USA. Dennis Nayor, Chief of Police Vincent Monticello, Deputy Chief of Police Police Administration/Records: 607-272-9973 MEDIA RELEASE Prepared by: Chief Dennis Nayor Date Prepared: 10/08/19 Type of Incident: Press Conference Date and Time of Incident: October 10, 2019 Location of Incident: IPD 4" Floor Defendant(s): Age: Address: Charge(s): On April 6, 2019, IPD Officers responded to an incident on the Ithaca Commons in which they witnessed a man jolently strike another man in the face, subsequently knocking that person to the ground, During an on-scene, eye-witness officer’s attempt to take that assailant into custody, he pulled away, resisting apprehension, at which time a second officer deployed a taser to subdue him, During the ensuing arrest process, one of the arresting officers was intentionally struck multiple times in the head by a female who was also on-scene. This female was subsequently arrested and taken into custody. An internal investigation was assigned to review this incident with the specific purpose being to determine if the actions of the officers were consistent with policy, training, and all legal standards. ‘The supervisor assigned to conduct the investigation held the rank of licutenant and possessed a significant background and expertise in use-of-force application, to include certifications as a TASER Instructor, NYS defensive tactics Instructor, NYS firearms instructor, and reality-based training instructor. He also has had specialized training in advanced street, encounters, realistic de-escalation, force science, NYS legal updates, and conducting proper and effective internal affairs investigations. People arrested by the Ithaca Police Department are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Police Dispatcher: 607-272-3245 Police Administration: 607-272-9973,DETAILS (continued) ‘The investigation was conducted in an impartial and non-emotive manner, with no predetermined outcome or expectation. The evidence analyzed included all available body camera footage, commons’ camera footage, an analysis of the reports, and in-depth interview of the officers. The investigative findings indicated that the force used was in accordance with policy and legal standards, with some training opportunities identified and appropriately addressed. We in law enforcement recognize that we are but one component of a four-part system of criminal justice and although we won’t always agree with how a case is settled, we must respect our system of justice, even when ‘we are disappointed by the outcomes in court. As professionals, we will always remain focused towards our mission and continue to put our full efforts into creating a safe environment for everyone. Itis impossible for me to appropriately describe how difficult it is to be a police officer in this time. We are forced to make split-second decisions on rapidly evolving situations with the hope of creating a positive outcome while remaining safe in the process. We respond daily into the unknown, we respond to situations in which even good people are having their worst day, and we respond to acts of violence, which by its nature is displeasing to watch. The Supreme Court has upheld that the gauge by which an officer’s actions is reviewed is that of objective reasonableness because at the time an incident unfolds, there is so much that simply cannot be known, thereby requiring officers to act quickly and with limited and oftentimes inaccurate information. Having the ability to know all the pertinent details of any situation is a luxury that responding police officers will never have and nonetheless, our officers consistently make the right decisions more often than not. This is something which we attribute to our high standards and emphasis on continual training. The officers at the Ithaca Police Department pride themselves in providing quality services and to treating all people with dignity and respect, and for this they have earned my full support. To ensure that our standards are continually upheld, there is always accountability for anything that is inconsistent with our values, training, and policy. Proudly, I can offer that the work that is done daily is quite impressive and often goes unnoticed. The unsung heroes of the Ithaca Police Department all simply want to create a better world and at the end of theirDETAILS (continued) shift simply go home to their families. Going home at the end of a shift however is sadly never guaranteed, As much as I can not expect people to understand how difficult it is to be a police officer, it must be acknowledged that one can not understand what itis like being a person of color, if they are not, during these turbulent times. We live in a society of racial arity and polarization with societal tensions which are palpable, When the actions of law enforcement anywhere are perceived to be rooted in racism, there is work to be done. The officers at IPD and the supervisory and command staff are committed to creating an environment in which all persons can feel safe and respected. We are continually working towards building relationships with all segments of the community and to finding ways to make our corner of the world a better place. We can not do this alone and we need everyone's help to achieve this. As we move forward with our new motto “making a difference together” I ask that everybody join us in our efforts to build collaborative relationships so that we can become the standard by which others communities aspire to emulate. When we are all aligned, great things will happen.