Recommends that the policeman be given back pay and a cleared record.
An impartial arbitrator has found that former Inglewood
police officer Jeremy Morse did not use excessive force in the
videotaped arrest of a teenager and recommended that the city
compensate Morse with full back pay since his termination two years
ago. Arbitrator Donald A. Anderson of Rolling Hills Estates heard
evidence over three days in May and June from both the Inglewood Police
Officers Association, representing Morse, and the city of Inglewood in
Morse's disciplinary action appeal. Without proper investigation and in
violation of Morse's rights, Anderson found, the city and Police Chief
Ronald Banks fired Morse on the grounds that his actions were excessive
and outside the scope of his training and department policy. Anderson
recommended that Morse should not be reinstated, but rather reimbursed
for lost wages, less any income he received in the interim, including
unemployment compensation.
Morse (Pictured above) was terminated shortly after the July 6,
2002, incident at a gas station where Morse and officer Bijan Darvish
aided sheriff's deputies in a skirmish that began when they questioned
Jackson's father about an expired license tag. Jackson, who was a
special education student ignored a deputy's warnings to stay back.
Jackson was taken to the ground as officers tried to handcuff him. A
videotape, taken by an amateur videographer, shows Morse lifting the
16-year-old off the ground by the back of his collar and waistband. The
city contends Morse then used excessive force and "slammed" the
unresisting teen down on the back of a patrol car. Morse is also seen
punching Jackson in the face, but claims Jackson grabbed his groin and
ignored his orders to "Let go." [more ]
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