Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 20, 1991 TAG: 9104200429
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium
"I have repeatedly stated that I will not tolerate any abuse of authority," Wall said.
"I have also said that we have over 600 personalities in this department and the law of averages would dictate that some may act inappropriately," he said at a news conference attended by about 100 officers.
The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, in a series of articles published this week, disclosed several instances of alleged police beatings of people who were arrested, often on misdemeanor or minor traffic offenses.
In most cases, internal police investigations cleared the officers or the victims did not pursue the case.
Wall, reading from a nine-page prepared statement, said the five arrests written about in detail by the newspaper were a small fraction of the more than 143,000 arrests made by city police in the past five years.
He said national studies indicate that as many as 15 percent of arrests involve significant resistance. He also said he personally reviews each complaint of excessive force, and that almost 14 percent of those complaints were substantiated and the officers disciplined.
Wall, police chief for 10 years, refused to answer questions.
Earlier Friday, the newspaper reported that City Manager Aubrey Watts ordered a detailed investigation of the Police Department and planned to inform the Justice Department of instances described in the stories.
"It is my intent that where there are indications of tendencies to use excessive force, an independent analysis of the police officers' behavior will be performed," Watts wrote in a memo to Wall.
The series, citing local defense lawyers, said some officers have a reputation for being heavy-handed in dealing with suspects.
Wall said those lawyers and the public in general should report any allegations of officer misconduct.
by CNB