Internal Affairs Complaint @ Dallas Police Department

Adelman, Page 1

April 10, 2015

Dallas Police Department Office of Internal AffairsJack C. Evans Building1400 S. LamarDallas, Texas 75215

This letter shall serve as my formal and official complaint against a number of Dallas Police Department officers for their actions on March 27, 2015, approximately 4pm, at the scene of the officer down incident on the Santa Fe Trail in East Dallas.

The officers engaged in unprofessional conduct by taking actions to prevent this Correspondent from taking photographs of the emergency care of the down officer, either through verbal orders, physical intimidation, threats to arrest and other harassing activities. this is completely unacceptable by any stretch of the imagination or legal actions.

Each officer engaged in an activity which violated this Correspondents First Amendment right to freedom of the press (collecting information on a news event), as well as violated various Dallas Police Department General Orders regarding contact with the public, crime scenes and public access to police activities. Some officers issued orders to others which in and of themselves were illegal and should have been disregarded by the officers.

The names of these officers are unknown. The attached summary of actions includes photographs of these officers (identified by nicknames or other descriptions). A complete set of the nearly 100 photographs taken at the incident by this Correspondent is included on the enclosed DVD.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Avi S. Adelman5620 East Side AvenueDallas TX 75214

[email protected]

214-923-3562

cc Mickey H. Osterreicher, General Counsel National Press Photographers Association

Adelman, Page 2

Summary of events

On March 27, 2015, at approximately 4 pm, Correspondent was listening to a police scanner, when he heard a report of someone having a medical emergency on the Santa Fe Trail near Henderson Avenue.

This report included an Assist Officer comment, and a comment We need an ambulance here right now!

Correspondent lives approximately three blocks from this location. He immediately grabbed his camera and camera bag, and went to the scene.

On his arrival, he parked his vehicle about 500 feet from the scene and ran up the berm towards the incident.

This series of photographs includes commentary describing approximately what was said by the officers, or a description of their actions. It is not a verbatim repitition of statements made by the officers.

Avi S. Adelman

Adelman, Page 3

Photo 1258, 401pm, March 27th

This photo was shot from about 300 feet from the scene.

Note that two officers - the female on the left and the black male standing close to the squad car - are waving their hands at the photographer, indicating he was not to approach the scene.

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Upon arriving at the trail path, two officers are continuing to approach Correspondent. The female officer was in the first photogaph.

The second bicycle patrol officer is standing next to the black officer, pointing towards the photographer.

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Photo 1270 402pm, March 27th

This officer knows Correspondent by name from his work on Lowest Greenville Avenue.

The officer verbally instructed Correspondent, by name, to stop taking photographs and to leave the area immediately.

This order was repeated at least twice.

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The white male officer leaves, to be replaced by another black male officer (nickname Rugby Player).

Rugby Player was the most hostile of the officers on the scene. He verbally harassed Correspondent, stood directly in front of the camera, and followed Correspondent as he walked to his vehicle with notebook in hand in an attempt to collect personal information about the Correspondent.

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Prior to this photograph, Correspondent had been told by another officer to not cross an imaginary boundary indicated by a crack in the sidewalk on the path (a legal order). This boundary was approximately 100 feet from the incident.

Correspondent then walked down the berm in order to walk around the scene, still staying at least 100 feet away.

The Rugby Player than followed Correspondent down the berm and around the path.

The white male officer pointing at Correspondent again repeated his order to stop taking photographs. The Bicycle Patrol officer, identified as Earnest Sherman, was telling someone (not sure whom) to keep the Correspondent away from the scene.

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Rugby Player is getting closer to Correspondent and making some kind of (unintelligible) comments.

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Rugby Player is now standing directly in front of Correspondent.

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Rugby Player is now standing directly in front of Correspondent, making comments to Correspodnent. Note Bicycle Patrol officer on left and white male officer on right continuing to monitor situation.

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Correspondent has moved to the other side of incident approximately same distance as first defined boundary (100 feet.) Rugby Player begins verbal harassment of Correspondent, to wit

- Dont you have somewhere else to be??

- Why are you taking these photographs?

- You were told to stop taking photos. Why are you still here?

(These are not exact quotes)

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Bicycle Patrol officer instructs Rugby Player to keep Correspondent back at imaginary line.

Due to noise level of Rugby Player yelling at Correspondent, it is not clear if Bicycle Patrol Officer told him to make sure Correspondent did not take any more photographs.

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Rugby Player is joined by Asian Officer, and verbal harassment continues unabated.

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As Correspondent moves to berm on left side of trail, Rugby Player follows while continue verbal harassment and attempts to block photography.

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Correspondent has returned to trail and continues to walk over berm along imaginary boundary line. Rugby Player and Asian Officer follow Correspondent.

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In addition to officers, a teenage male now joins the queue to block Correspondent. He tells Correspondent he is helping the officers block photography.

The officers do not attempt to prevent this person from participating, thereby setting a negative role model of police activities as legitimate behavior.

Adelman, Page 24


As Correspondent circles around the scene and heads to his vehicle. Rugby Player and Asian Officer continue to follow, along with unidentified male.

Prior to this photo, Correspondent had walked to base of berm by street, followed by Asian Officer. This officer pushed Correspondent into street, in an attempt to force him to walk into right of way and risk a ticket. Correspondent confirms he asked this officer - Did you just fucking touch me? The officer replied - Yes, I did.

As Correspondent starts to return to his vehicle, Rugby Officer follows with a notebook in hand, in an attempt to get Correspondents vehicle information. Rugby Officer tells Correspodent - Hey, if you did not do anything wrong, what are you worried about?

Correspondent stops walking to vehicle. After a few moments, Rugby Player leaves area.

Internal Affairs Complaint @ Dallas Police Department

Documents

black officer

female officer

ththis officer

assist officer comment

bicycle patrol officer

police activities

correspondent lives

east dallas