Latest news with #BoardofPoliceCommissioners
CTV News
18-06-2025
- CTV News
Cape Breton police to roll out body cameras this fall
The Cape Breton Regional Police is planning to launch body cameras for officers and downtown security cameras this fall. Police Chief Robert Walsh gave an update on the implementation of the camera system at the Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Wednesday. Regional council approved of the project in their $321.2-million capital budget earlier this year. 'As part of CBRM's commitment to public safety, accountability, and transparency in policing, the implementation of various camera systems has been prioritized,' the agenda for meeting reads. The project includes body-worn cameras for frontline officers, in-car cameras for patrol vehicles and stationary cameras in downtown areas. The agenda says the final drafts of the privacy impact assessments for all three systems are under a final internal review. The assessments include usage restrictions, mitigation methods and storage protocols. Contracts for the systems are expected to be handed out by July and the systems are set to be installed by late summer or early fall. An implementation report will be made available by September. More to come… Robert Walsh Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Robert Walsh, right, discusses body cameras at a meeting. (Source: Ryan MacDonald/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mayor Lucas sounds the alarm on recent KCPD settlements
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says police settlements are straining city budgets, and now he's calling on the state to help pay up. The Board of Police Commissioners recently agreed to a $14 million settlement with Ricky Kidd, the man wrongly convicted of a 1996 murder. He spent more than two decades in prison before being exonerated. City of Gardner gives residents at apartment complex 48 hours to move Through email, Kansas City Police Department Sgt. Phil DiMartino said he was not familiar with the conversations Lucas has had with Missouri about legal costs. FOX4 was not able to talk to anyone from KCPD on camera Tuesday. 'Regardless this sounds like potentially a legislative matter,' DiMartino added. 'Generally, we refrain from comment on pending or potential legislative matters.' In a news release Tuesday, Lucas said the $14 million Ricky Kidd settlement is the highest in KCPD history. In April, KCPD also reached a $4 million settlement with the family of Cameron Lamb, who was shot and killed in 2019. 'I spoke to Chief Stacey Graves this morning. I think she understands,' Lucas said when asked if he thought this issue could drive a wedge between he and Police Chief Stacey Graves. 'First of all, she has my total confidence. She's an exceptional chief. I think she's doing great and innovative work addressing 911 in particular.' The Kidd and Lamb family settlements far exceed the $2.5 million KCPD estimates in its current budget, according to the Mayor's news release. Missouri provides another $1 million per fiscal year in legal expenses to the department. Missouri family, two Oklahoma teens among 8 killed in Franklin County crash 'We haven't had $1 million of liability for years,' Lucas said. 'Last year, we had a lot more than that. This year, we're already seeing a lot more, and we have more substantial lawsuits ahead. When you have these types of eight figure demands that come to the Board of Police Commissioners, we need to do a better job frankly of budgeting long term, and we need to get the state of Missouri to provide more support.' KCPD's run by a governor appointed Board of Police Commissioners except for the mayor. Republican Governor Mike Kehoe and Republican State Senator Tony Luetkemeyer did not respond to our requests for comment. Lucas added that the city will be less safe in the future and defunded due to litigation as opposed to politicians if budgeting doesn't improve. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Lamb family settles with KC police board for $4.1M in wrongful death lawsuit
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A federal court in the Western District of Missouri has approved a $4.1 million settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit brought forth by the family of Cameron Lamb — an unarmed Black man who was shot and killed by now-former KCPD detective Eric DeValkenaere in 2019. White officer who fatally shot Black man shouldn't have been in his backyard, judge rules in suit Lamb's family will receive $4.1 million in two installments, a large portion of which will go toward the family's legal fees. A trust has been established for Lamb's three children. According to court documents, the Kansas City police board has been ordered to pay the full amount; DeValkenaere has to pay nothing. FOX4 is working to learn if/how much of the $4.1 million will be paid with taxpayer dollars. According to court documents, DeValkenaere and the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri, deny all allegations made by the Lamb family and admit no accountability in the death of Lamb. DeValkenaere and the board agreed to settle strictly 'for the purpose of avoiding further controversy, litigation, and expense.' However, DeValkenaere was found in 2021 and was sentenced to six years in prison. Kansas City detective guilty of manslaughter in shooting death of Cameron Lamb At his criminal trial, prosecutors argued that police scene to support DeValkenaere's claims that Lamb was armed. The KCPD detective left the police force after his conviction, but remained free on bond until losing his appeal in October 2023. In December 2024, Missouri Governor Mike Parson commuted DeValkenaere's prison sentence – when he still had nearly five years left to serve. DeValkenaere has since been released from prison. Family believes man shot by KCPD detective was a case of mistaken identity Grand jury indicts Kansas City police detective in shooting death of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb Family of Cameron Lamb files lawsuit against officer who shot him, Kansas City Police Commissioners Defense justifies Cameron Lamb shooting; Prosecutors say he was targeted by KCPD Attorneys challenge gun's location in Cameron Lamb killing as KC detective's trial continues Kansas City detective takes the stand, explains decision in Cameron Lamb shooting Verdict pending after closing arguments for KCPD detective charged in Cameron Lamb's killing Kansas City detective guilty of manslaughter in shooting death of Cameron Lamb 2 years later, witness describes Cameron Lamb's killing for first time Cameron Lamb's family reacts after former KC detective sentenced in his killing Missouri court denies DeValkenaere's appeal bond motion White officer who fatally shot Black man shouldn't have been in his backyard, judge rules in suit Lawsuit against ex-KCPD detective says he violated civil rights of Cameron Lamb Kehoe says he'll send KCPD detective who killed Cameron Lamb home Eric DeValkenaere's sentence commuted in Cameron Lamb killing Family, community remembers Cameron Lamb 5 years after he was killed Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Detroit residents express frustration over controversial officer back on the job
The Brief A police lieutenant who told activists to go back to Mexico is back on the job, and Detroit residents are frustrated. The incident happened during a pro-Palestinian protest in May 2024. The Detroit Police Department suspended Lieutenant Cole. He was reinstated in late November. DETROIT (FOX 2) - During Thursday's Detroit Police Commissioners board meeting, several people expressed their frustration, via Zoom, about Police Lieutenant Brandon Cole being back on the job. The backstory During a pro-Palestinian protest in May 2024, Cole was caught on video telling activist Lexis Zeidan, "Why don't you just go back to Mexico?" The video went viral. Zeidan is not Mexican, but concerns arose when the lieutenant revealed he knew she had recently visited Mexico by looking at her social media. What they're saying The Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability claims the verbal confrontation highlights a fear of police surveillance that is unknown to the public. Eventually, the Detroit Police Department suspended Lieutenant Cole. He was reinstated in late November. Chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners, Darryl Woods, stated that the lieutenant followed the legal process. "We have been assured that he wouldn't be in a position to be able to participate in some of the activities that he did before," Woods said. "I'm very, very comfortable that he would not have the opportunity to engage the community on a level he did before." "What do you want to tell people to assure them that you have their best interests, and they can trust what the board does and what our police department does?" asked FOX 2's Brandon Hudson. Woods responded, "We want citizens to know they always have a voice at our table—whether good, bad, or indifferent—to be able to speak up on these issues, and we ask that the community stay vigilant. And if they see any type of negative behavior happening, bring it to our attention and the chief's attention." The Source FOX 2 talked with the chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners, Darryl Woods and used information from previous stories.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man notifies East Lyme he plans to sue detective, police over 'false arrest' involving teen girl
East Lyme — Stephen Nicholson, the man arrested and jailed by East Lyme police on assault, kidnapping and stalking charges but later released because of a flawed police investigation, notified the town Monday he's planning a lawsuit. Lawyers for Nicholson allege police detective Mark Comeau, who was originally the lead investigator, manufactured the criminal case against Nicholson because Comeau was infatuated with the alleged teenage victim, Claire Killin. It further alleges he later helped her hide evidence when the case was being re-investigated. The notice of intent to sue was filed Monday by the New London-based Strafaci Law Firm and targets not only Comeau, but the town, the police department and the Board of Police Commissioners. Attorney Joe Strafaci said evidence that will be provided in an upcoming lawsuit will reveal multiple levels of police misconduct and violations of trust." Nicholson, 35, was arrested in March 2024 and faced 11 criminal charges, including felony kidnapping, for allegedly threatening, stalking and assaulting Killin, who was his former co-worker at Dunkin in East Lyme. Nicholson was held on a $250,000 bond and spent 49 days in jail before his defense attorney, Michael Miller, raised questions about the credibility of the investigation. In addition to a personal relationship between Comeau and Killin, who used to be neighbors in The Orchards neighborhood in East Lyme, Strafaci said some of the allegations that led to Nicholson's arrest were simply untrue. Killin on Monday said she continued to be shocked by the allegations of an inappropriate relationship with Comeau and said aside from being neighbors, the relationship was always professional. She focused on her fears of Nicholson. "There was no personal relationship. He spoke to me as a detective on this case and did his duties as an officer," Killin said. "They're turning it into something it's not." State prosecutors dropped their prosecution of Nicholson last November. New London Superior Court Judge John Newson, in court, referred to it as a "troubling case in that certain people did not do their job and honor the trust we should have in them." The dropped charges led the Board of Police Commissioners to hire an outside investigator to probe the handling of the case. That investigation by the Daigle Law Group, the same law firm investigating East Lyme Police Chief Michael Finkelstein and the circumstances of how the department handled multiple allegations of domestic violence by Finkelstein's wife, is ongoing. Strafaci said he continues to gather evidence that shows Nicholson was the victim of a "targeted campaign, initiated and perpetrated by Detective Mark Comeau and member(s) of the East Lyme Police Department with the assistance of private parties, including Killin, to falsely arrest and charge him for serious felony crimes..." Calls and late night visits In addition to an undisclosed "inappropriate" relationship between Comeau and Killin, Strafaci said there were numerous phone calls between the two and that Killin would also make late night visits to Comeau's home. After Comeau was pulled from the case, Strafaci alleges Comeau instructed Killin to buy a new phone to hide past interactions between the two and hide evidence. East Lyme police confirmed the case was re-assigned to another officer. Killin, in an interview from her home in the United Kingdom on Monday, said she thinks some of the information about her visits come from a former landlord and are untrue. "It's completely false — made up. They're trying to make something out of nothing," she said. Killin also said that her phone was seized and analyzed as part of the investigation. By the time the new detective was assigned to the case, Killin said she had upgraded to a new phone but all of the information from her old phone remained. Strafaci described Nicholson as a man with cognitive limitations who was vulnerable to being taken advantage of by Killin, who was his friend, and Comeau. Nicholson was buying Killin clothes and paying her bills, Strafaci said. Additionally, Strafaci said Nicholson has experienced gender dysphoria and spent a period of time identifying as a woman. Strafaci said Comeau went out of his way, when preparing an arrest warrant, to include facts about Nicholson's gender identity seemingly to imply he was a sexual predator. He also made derogatory comments during his arrest, which is the reason, Strafaci said, that the impending lawsuit will focus on "intimidation based on bigotry and bias." "There's multiple allegations in the arrest warrant that are inconsistent with forensic evidence — that and Comeau's apparent obsession with Stephen's gender identity is just bizarre," Strafaci said. The motivation for targeting Nicholson was "Claire's desire for money and designer clothes/items and Det. Comeau's infatuation with Claire, as well as his personal animus towards Stephen," the notice alleges. Killin said Nicholson's gender identity came into play during the investigation because Nicholson had worn some of the women's clothing she purchased using Nicholson's money. Killin said she has evidence that was turned over to police that shows Nicholson threatened her so she would buy certain items that he would then wear. Strafaci said the purpose of the upcoming lawsuit, in addition to financial reimbursement, is Nicholson's desire to have what he called the "real story" become public. "Stephen has been the victim of a false arrest, false allegations and because he's faced criminal charges, he's basically been unable to tell his side of the story. Part of this is to bring his story to light and bring about some justice for all of the wrongs that have been done to him over the course of a year, Strafaci said. New York attorney Christopher Berlingieri, who represents Killin in a federal civil rights lawsuit against Dunkin, declined to comment. East Lyme First Selectman Dan Cunningham and Board of Police Commissioners Chairman Dan Price did not return calls seeking comment. Comeau could not be reached to comment.
