Councilors want to quiz the police chief
Councilwoman Cynthia Wolken wants to ask questions about how the Missoula Police Department treats victims of alleged rape given recent complaints from two women. That story here.
In the story, Councilman Dick Haines wonders if police are somehow hamstrung when it comes to cases tied to the University of Montana.
Haines likened UM calling a judge to investigate rape allegations to a bank calling in a judge if a robber steals its money. The crimes are felonies, and he wants police involved.
“Is the university playing a game by themselves? Do they think they’re above the city?” Haines said.
This morning, Maureen Theiler of Polson called and said the comments from Haines had her wondering about the UM investigation as well.
Theiler said former state Supreme Court Justice Diane Barz, hired to investigate by the UM, is an alum who earned the Distinguished Alumni Award and is active in the School of Law Board of Visitors.
She said if Barz is a good independent thinker, the investigation might work well. But she also said it looks like a conflict of interest.
“My mom used to say, ‘Is that like putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank?’” Theiler said.
The final report from Barz isn’t out yet, but she issued a preliminary report saying there’s evidence sexual assaults aren’t reported in the University system.
The recent reports to police don’t appear to be headed to the police commission for review because Missoula police chief Mark Muir said they’re informal “inquiries” and not formal complaints.
I wrote a story a while back about how most local government boards and commissions skew heavily toward men. The police commission of three members is one of the bodies that’s 100 percent men.
Muir said the commission reviews zero to eight complaints each quarter, but it has no complaints to review from recent victims of sexual assault.
Mayor John Engen said he and the chief will help the councilors write the referral, or agenda item, that brings the chief before the council to answer questions.
“I have nothing but faith that we’re doing our best,” Engen said. “If there are ways that we can do it better, we absolutely want to do that. We are but one component of the criminal justice system.”
Muir said police have a track record of being proactive: “We take proactive steps all the time. I’m just not prepared to give you a laundry list of them.”
Yesterday, neither Muir nor Engen could point to specific changes or procedure reviews the administration or police were calling for based on the recent complaints. Muir said he’d fill in the council if that’s what they want, and Engen said the number of complaints is low although he’s open to suggestions.
“Frankly, I am not aware of any complaints today beyond this,” Engen said of the two, and he said people aren’t shy about complaining to the mayor.
– Keila Szpaller
January 11th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Iam a parent of a Missoula University rape victim, I know first hand how the University handled this case and it wasn’t good, it was shameful and humiliating. I to question Diane Barz role in all of this, she has never contacted us, she must be strictly in house investigation on behalf of the Universities role in this whole mess. I believe heads should roll, all this no action, and confidentiality stuff, simply means they are all accessories to a violent felony crime. They are giving the criminals the green light to go for more girls and they to are protected with this confidentiality stuff. A felony crime is just that, why is the University exempt from reporting these crimes,why are the Missoula Police exempt from knowing and acting on these crimes? Why is any human being exempt from reporting a felony crime against any innocent human being? If a husband beats his wife and she calls the police, it is no longer the wife’s decision to press charges, it is the police who make that decision. These people that are in charge, the police chief, the president and vice-president of the University should be fired!! It is common sense the system in place is giving free reign to the rapist and creating more and more victims. You don’t need a college degree to figure that one out!!
January 11th, 2012 at 8:52 pm
I would raise same concerns/beliefs about Theiler’s comment that stated, (I) “wrote a story a while back about how most local government boards and commissions skew heavily toward men. The police commission of three members is one of the bodies that’s 100 percent men.” What is that about? No Women on the police commission board? How many women police officers do we have in Missoula? Placing a woman on the board should be a requirement. How are they to make an informed decision about a woman’s psyche and personal trauma? They can’t! It is not their fault, but for heaven sakes get a woman on board! Yes I will volunteer!
Yes Mayor Egan I am sure your comment and I quote, “Engen ………said people aren’t shy about complaining to the mayor,” is true, but if I were raped I don’t think I would broadcast my personal trauma to the Mayor. I would be dealing with the trauma of the crime and my personal feeling of defilement!
January 11th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Thank you for your comments, Linda and Kathleen. Kathleen, here’s a link to the story I wrote about the lack of women on local boards:
http://missoulian.com/news/local/women-a-minority-on-missoula-boards-and-commissions/article_3ed8148a-23ad-11e1-84de-001871e3ce6c.html
Thanks again.
– Keila
January 11th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
Oh, one more thing. Councilman Jon Wilkins, who chairs the Public Safety and Health Committee, told me today he has reserved four hours for the meeting with the police chief on Jan. 25. I’ve never heard of that much time being set aside for one topic, but Wilkins said it’s an important matter and he wants people to be able to ask their questions.
January 12th, 2012 at 9:56 am
Long-time Missoula citizen, Pat Simmons, was on the Police Commission for several years. Pat is a thoughtful, concerned citizen and I am sure her participation on the Police Commission added a useful female perspective to police oversight.
January 12th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Hello Linda Smith: The state of Montana has a very good “open records” law, which also covers electronic communications, such as emails. All employees of the University of Montana (including the Administration) are subject to this “open records” law.
As such, you may want to contact the University of Montana’s legal counsel, David Aronofsky (406-243-4742 and aronofskyD@mso.umt.edu), and request an “open records” search. The request can be as short and to the point as the following:
“I’m writing to officially request an open records search of all documents and electronic files regarding [FILL IN THE BLANK].”
If you want to target your search to specific UM officials, make sure to include their name and title in the open records request. UM is required by law to fulfill your request at no cost to you. At a minimum you should be able to go to UM and look over the files and get copies of emails on a flash drive or disk. They may charge you extra for making photocopies, but not for the initial search of records.
Best of luck to you as you seek justice for your family.
January 20th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Do you know at what time this meeting with Mark Muir will be held on the 25th? I’m interested in attending.
January 20th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Yes. It’s scheduled for 1 p.m. in Council Chambers, 140 W. Pine St., right next door to Sean Kelly’s.
(On Monday nights, the city council confirms its committee schedule for Wednesdays, so if something changes, we’ll know Monday night. BUT Chairman Jon Wilkins worked out that time a while back, so I don’t think the start time will move.)
– Keila