Recently reinstated officer under investigation again

Officer Robert Reyes, who was reinstated on Aug. 30 following suspension and recommended termination, is again under investigation for possibly violating departmental regulations.

Reyes learned yesterday through a Notification of Administrative Investigation that he is under investigation for a possible violation of the department's directive on conduct towards public and employees for disclosing personal medical information about Officer DA Pinson in an appeal to Assistant City Manager Michael Speedling, noting that the information was published by YES! Weekly.

Reyes' appeal and a follow-up memo raise questions about whether the process the department used in administering polygraph examinations to him and two other officers was rigged to obtain a predetermined result and whether it was discriminatory. Reyes alleges that he and Officer MD Royal were subjected to lengthy and stressful interrogations before they took the polygraph, while Pinson was allowed to take anti-anxiety medication before taking his.

Reyes tells City Manager Rashad Young in a memo today that he continues to experience discrimination, retaliation, harassment, intimidation and a hostile work environment.

Meanwhile, Royal is reinstated with no disciplinary action.

UPDATE: I asked Chief Ken Miller about whether allegations about improper administration of the polygraph examinations warrant internal investigation, in his opinion, and about why Reyes is under investigation for bringing what would appear to be legitimate concerns to the attention of the city manager and assistant city manager.

His response on the administration of the polygraphs: "There was nothing about the polygraph that would require us to investigate anything."

His response on the new administrative investigation of Reyes: "I can't talk about it. The law prohibits me from addressing the issue."

Miller reemphasized that he is not inclined to investigate the multitude of allegations that have been raised by Cherry, Pryor, Blake and Reyes.

"I think those have been looked at," Miller said. "They've been documented. They've been responded to through the manager's office, through the police department. We're done; we're moving on. If there's an issue that's lingering out there and these employees feel that they've haven't been redressed they can resort to litigation, and that is the appropriate venue. Playing them out in a weekly publication is not the appropriate venue to redress them."

Instead of revisiting the past, the new chief said he plans to establish clear expectations about discipline-related issues.

"We are putting together a disciplinary committee and we are naming that committee tomorrow," he said. "And that committee is a very diverse committee in rank, gender and race. And it includes sworn and non-sworn employees. We are going to explore all aspects of our disciplinary process, including our conduct rules, including our internal investigative process and our discipline processes. That process will include some clear direction and debate abut the need to reach into our core values — honesty, integrity, respect — that we value employees, but in the end I will accept nothing less than a process that commands the public's trust and treats every employee fairly and with dignity and respect."