Truth is Powerful

Truth is powerful and it prevails. - Sojourner Truth

Let’s just cut to the chase. According to the Spring City Police Handbook (which is a matter of public record for those interested in obtaining a copy), Chapter 11 specifically addresses “Complaints Against Police” which was what Jamal Lewis was initially for – a complaint Deidre Sherman claims that I made.

From Spring City Police Handbook - Chapter 11 "Complaints Against Police":

I. Policy

All citizen’s complaints against police officers shall be received, investigated and disposed of in accordance with the procedures set forth herein and complainants shall be notified of action taken by the Police Chief. Department personnel shall inform any person who wishes to make a complaint against a police officer of the existence of the formal complaint procedure. A Citizen’s Complaint report form will be given to anyone upon request.

II. Citizen’s Complaint Report

A. The Chief of Police will maintain a Citizen’s Report Log, which serves as a master list of all complaints filed against Spring City Borough Police Officers.

B. Complaint Forms will be carried by each police officer and will be available in the police station.

C. Completed Citizen’s Complaint forms can be filed at the Police Station.

III. Procedure for Recording and Processing Complaints

A. Upon receipt of a citizen’s complaint, obtain an Incident number and prepare an Incident Report utilizing one of the following Classifications:

Physical or Verbal Abuse

Other Complaints

Prisoner/Custody Complaints

1. Notify the Chief of Police of the Complaint.

2. Instruct the Complainant to complete the report (hand printed), filling in the required information including signature.

a. If the complainant is illiterate or unable to intelligently prepare the report:

i. advise the complainant to have a relative or friend assist in preparing the report.

IV Assignment of Complaints

A. The Police Chief after receiving and reviewing the contents of all complaints, will determine investigative responsibility (i.e. County Detectives, Internal Investigation). Investigative responsibility will depend upon the nature of the complaint. The Chief will keep the Mayor informed of the nature and status of the complaint.

1. Every attempt will be made to obtain interviews with all participants and witnesses involved in the complaint.

2. The investigation should be completed as soon as possible. This file will include, but not limited to the following:

a. Statement of complainant

b. Statement of officer(s)

c. Statement of any neutral parties interviewed

d. All documents, records and reports relative to the investigation

e. Complete summary of the investigation

f. Findings/Conclusions/Action taken

3. The disposition of the complaint, including any disciplinary action, shall be communicated in writing by certified mail, to the officer against whom the complaint has been lodged, the complainant, and the alleged victim of police misconduct (if other than complainant) or such person’s representative as may be designated in the Citizen’s Complaint form.

Summary:

• I never called Deidre Sherman with a complaint or “concern” about Jamal Lewis verbally or in writing.
• I never claimed we were having an affair.
• I never completed the Citizen’s Complaint form or signed one.
• I have asked the Mayor, borough solicitor, borough manager, and Right to Know officer (also our borough manager) on numerous occasions to see the complaint and other documents related to this termination letter. They all have refused and/or ignored my requests.
• According to borough procedures, I should have received the disposition of the complaint, including any disciplinary action, via certified mail. The termination letter was dated February 22, 2011 and it is now May 14, 2011… this redefines the term “snail mail” because I have not received any correspondence as described in this section.
• This procedure also states that both the complainant and officer would be interviewed as part of the investigation. The termination letter states that an investigation was completed and witnesses were interviewed; however, neither of us (the alleged “complainant” or “the officer”) were interviewed or given an opportunity to provide a statement. (Missing two major components to an investigation if you ask me.)
• The day Jamal Lewis was terminated; he was called into the station, given the letter before being asked to turn in his equipment and leave. He was not given an opportunity to see anything when he asked for it. He was told that he could not speak to the Mayor when he asked to speak to him to try to get answers after the Chief refused to provide them. Lewis was advised not to go anywhere near me and warned not contact me (wouldn’t want that to happen and have both parties find out they were used against each other under false circumstances, now would we?).
• He was not given an “option” to resign. He gave them a letter of resignation because his termination did not go before council yet and he submitted it knowing the allegations were false. 
• Five days prior to his termination (February 17th), a citation was issued to former mayor of Spring City Mark Emery.  On February 18, Sherman asked Lewis to tear up the citation.  He refused, instead he downgraded the ticket for a less severe penalty. 
• When I found out about the termination letter and false complaint, I notified the Mayor and asked to have the matter corrected – removing any documents and complaints filed on my behalf.  Police officers personnel records, for the most part, are a matter a public record. Initially the Mayor was looking into it, but he later informed me he was fearful of a lawsuit from either Jamal Lewis (because admitting they made a mistake would open them up to one) or Deidre Sherman (because she has sued him and the borough before and he didn’t want that wound reopened) therefore he was not going to do anything. So I was to be pacified and shelved.
• The solicitor and borough manager were both approached after a council meeting with a plea to rectify the problem since the Mayor would not handle the situation as the police chief's supervisor.  Over the days to follow, I was turned away without getting answers or seeing the items I had requested to see.
• I was told by the Mayor that since Lewis resigned, the problem was solved and now the termination letter no longer "existed."  However, if the termination letter was never issued Jamal Lewis would not have submitted a letter of resignation.  He would still be a Spring City police officer.
• I was told if they (the borough and police department) acknowledge the wrongdoings on behalf of the department, they would also open themselves up to legal woes because it means they are admitting they wrongfully terminated an employee. Another problem… to have a police chief falsifying official documents (perjury) on behalf of a resident would make the chief lose credibility. Any and all cases, complaints, actions, etc. ever bearing the chief's name would now be questioned and this exposes the borough to even more drama on a county and state level. (Now do you get the big picture?) 

Regardless if anyone believes there was an affair or if any of the parties crossed lines revealing the injustice, the truth we all can agree on is procedure was not followed by a department head.  Smoke, mirrors and mudslinging should not negate the fact that the evidence supporting an official action are nonexistent.

So why was this brought to your attention? Because sometimes awareness brings forth change and results. It forces people to become accountable. Also, as I have been saying since day one – if this could happen to me, where my name magically appears on official documents, are you confident that it won’t happen to you?

This election year in Spring City is very important.  All around us are examples of bad government and my story is not the only one.  We need to stop allowing the officials and employees in place to dictate what is acceptable for some and not for others.  We need to shake up the status quo.

On Tuesday morning, wake up, get up, and VOTE Spring City.  We can't afford to oversleep anymore.

Keisha Mennefee (www.keishamennefee.com) resides in Spring City, PA.  She is an author and part of the awareness campaign "Wake Up Spring City" (www.facebook.com/WakeUpSpringCityPA) encouraging change in Spring City.