The officers who conducted an internal affairs investigation of the Byrnes Mill Police Department recommended that five employees be disciplined and/or terminated, according to a report made public today (March 29) that summarizes the findings.
Those five Byrnes Mill Police employees’ names are redacted in the report, which had been sent to the Jefferson County Circuit Court for review because Byrnes Mill city officials wanted a ruling on how much of the information could be kept private.
Div. 1 Circuit Court Judge Joe Rathert issued a declaratory judgment that, although it obscured names, identified the officers as a chief, lieutenant, corporal and two other police officers.
None of them work for the Police Department anymore, Byrnes Mill city attorney Allison Sweeney said. She would not comment on how their employment ended.
The internal affairs investigation was launched in August 2018, the same month Byrnes Mill Police officers sent a letter of no confidence against Lt. Roger Ide to city officials, claiming that Ide had “fostered an atmosphere of hostility” and damaged the Police Department’s morale and reputation.
The letter sparked the investigation, which Byrnes Mill asked the Arnold Police Department to conduct. The resulting investigation and report was conducted by Arnold detectives Lt. Clinton Wooldridge and Sgt. Jason Valentine.
“The report, I think, confirms allegations made in the no-confidence letter submitted last fall,” Byrnes Mill Mayor Robert Kiczenski said.
The pair submitted an internal affairs report that covered the allegations in the letter, including one claiming Ide left town for a float trip while he was supposed to be in command of the department and another claiming Ide submitted false requests for overtime pay.
The report details interviews with city employees and police officers, who were asked about the allegedly false Missouri State Grant overtime requests, as well as possible illegal searches and seizures, the alleged seizure of a resident’s dog and other allegations.
During interviews, a police employee admitted to spending some of his shifts at a girlfriend’s home.
The Arnold Police Department asked several interviewees about an incident when someone painted “RIP” and obscene phrases on the windows of a police car and placed a teddy bear and candles on the car, making it look like a memorial.
According to the report, a Police Department employee allegedly tampered with the vehicle, taking care to avoid being caught on surveillance cameras.
The investigation also found that on one Labor Day, police employees held a “Blue Flu,” which resulted in a reduction in ticket writing.
According to the report, one of the police employees allegedly told a resident to either turn over his dog to the employee or go to jail. The resident gave the police employee the dog and it has not been returned.
The report also detailed an incident in which a police employees responded to a “domestic violence” call, arrested the husband and later returned to the home and allegedly had sex with the wife.
A police employee told investigators he believed the former chief was “coasting.”
Investigators asked the former chief to provide policy and procedures manuals, which he did, but some of the police employees who were interviewed said they had never seen or read them. In addition, both manuals were out of date and had been issued by prior administrations.
A new police chief, Frank T. Selvaggio, was hired in October. He said new policies and procedures are being written, and equipment is being updated.
Kiczenski said he believes the Police Department is moving in a positive direction.
“I think I can make this statement with confidence that the board and myself feel the Police Department being under new leadership now is developing into a department that everyone can be proud of and trust with our protection and safety,” he said.
In addition to interviews with employees, the internal affairs investigation included the review of city payroll documents, grant documents and department policies.