Final Public Meetings of Police Decertification in Virginia
Thursday and Friday were my final days sitting through the Department of Justice Criminal Service Executive Meeting. After today the board that hears police decertification will have closed meetings. Over the past 2 days I learned about officers who had lost their ability to work in law enforcement as some were reinstated and others were had their decertification upheld.
Malik Brown had worked at Rappahannock Regional Jail as a corrections officer until he was arrested for a DUI and a concealed weapon because he had his 9mm on him but holds a concealed handgun permit. Brown admitted he consumed an edible cannabis product, but he was found to be not guilty of those charges.
Brown also said that the Stafford County officer that stopped him did so unlawfully. Brown is Black and racial profiling can even affect law abiding officers in good standing. His law enforcement certification was reinstated, and he is able to get rehired.
Another officer arrested for DUI and lost his certification was William Campbell of Spotsylvania County Sheriff Department. Campbell said he went to a party hosted by someone named "War" and drank tequila and passed out in his car and woke up to drive his girlfriend home.
After deciding to drive his girlfriend home, Campbell got in a wreck and other Spotsylvania deputies responded to the scene. Those responding deputies said Campbell claimed he didn't have a license but then changed his story to saying he already gave it.
Spotsylvania deputies also claimed he was incoherent. When confronted on intoxication, Campbell said, "Yeah no shit. I'm not debating that."
When asked how much he drank, Campbell responded "What the fuck does that matter?" Campbell's blood alcohol content was .24, far and above the legal limit.
When Cambell was told to sit down during his processing, deputies say that Cambell then told them, "Fuck it. I'll beat the shit out of you."
Campbell's lawyer Caleb Jones said, "I hate to just blame it on the tequila, but it is obvious that his actions are not... umm they’re just very confused."
Unlike Malik Brown, Campell was convicted of his DUI charge and his decertification was upheld. Campbell won't be able to take another job in law enforcement in Virginia.
Earlier this year, Virginia passed new legislation that changes the process in which decertified officers can appeal. These meetings will now be closed door. Unfortunately, I found these to be insightful on law enforcement departments.
One example of insightful information was from Matthew Guzzetta formerly of Fairfax County Police. Before he was successfully at getting reinstated, he revealed how he would arrest suspects and request to see their phones without a warrant. While looking through the phone, he would covertly add himself as a friend on Snapchat. Guzzetta said it would be more likely to have other suspects add his Snapchat account without them thinking it was an officer’s account.
Most likely under these new rules, former officers will have more protections like the burden of proof will be shifted from decertified officers to the departments.
David Silek was representing Jacob Unger and decided to postpone his hearing. Unger was decertified when allegedly covering up a drunk driver crash. Silek said that it was not for the sake of a closed hearing but instead wants the legal protections for his client.
The future of these meetings remains uncertain with them closed to the public and the Board waiting for legal counsel recommendations.