SARATOGA SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT 5 LAKE AVENUEGREGORY J.
VEITCH SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY12866-2298Chief of Police 518-584-1800
Fax 518-584-1744 Thursday, August 13, 2015 SSPD Statement Re:
Settlement in Pepper Spray Case Reached FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The
City of Saratoga Springs has reached a settlement in the potential
civil actions arising from the arrest of Adam Rupeka on May 16,
2015 during which Mr. Rupeka was sprayed with pepper spray by
ex-police officer Nathan Baker.The civil issues have been resolved
between the City of Saratoga Springs, Mr. Rupeka, and ex-officer
Baker to the mutual satisfaction of all parties. Today the police
department is releasing police reports and booking room video
related to the arrest of Mr. Rupeka and the actions of Police
Officer Nathan Baker pursuant to pending FOIL requests.The initial
incident was video recorded by Mr. Rupeka and that video has been
posted to various social
mediawebsites.AllpolicedocumentsandvideoswillbepostedtotheSaratogaSpringsPolice
Department website, www.saratogapolice.org. The actions of Officer
Baker on May 16, 2015 led to an internal investigation that
resulted in the suspension of Officer Baker without pay.Prior to a
scheduled civil service disciplinary hearing, Nathan Baker resigned
his position as a police officer.His resignation was effective J
une 4, 2015. The actions that are depicted in the traffic stop and
booking room videos of May 16, 2015 are not consistent with the
policies, training or core values of the Saratoga Springs Police
Department.No policy or training of the police department includes
the use of pepper spray without warning on
non-violentresistingsubjects,ortheuseofphysicalforce,verbalthreatsorthepointingofaTaserat
handcuffed, non-violent individuals who are in our custody.All
officers of the Saratoga Springs Police Department are responsible
for the care and treatment of anyone in their custody. There has
been considerable commentary, and I have heard personally, from
many citizens that believe Mr. Rupeka got what he deserved and that
his actions led directly to the situation that he found
himselfin.Anadultmanwhodeliberatelydrivesaroundlookingtoantagonizepoliceofficersby
making juvenile and obscene hand gestures should certainly have his
own actions evaluated and his own responsibility for the event
examined.While there may be some validity to this point of view, my
SARATOGA SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT 5 LAKE AVENUEGREGORY J. VEITCH
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY12866-2298Chief of Police 518-584-1800 Fax
518-584-1744 concern is with the actions and behaviors of the
members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, not Mr. Rupeka.
The job of a police officer is not to drive around delivering
attitude adjustments to those citizens
whoshowunmistakablesignsofbeinginneedofone.Manytimesofficersareconfrontedby
individuals who are deliberately seeking a confrontation with the
police for any number of reasons or for no reason at all.Police
officers are routinely subjected to insulting, obscene, offensive
and harassing
behaviorthatwouldnot,andshouldnot,betoleratedbymembersofthepubliciftheywereso
unfortunate as to be subjected to it by another citizen.Yet police
officers must hold themselves to a higher standard and refrain from
reacting in a manner that is not consistent with the highest
standards of professional policing.There is no doubt that remaining
calm and professional in the face of offensive behavior directed at
an officer can be difficult indeed. The standard by which we judge
the use of force by police officers is whether or not the force
used is objectively reasonable within the parameters of the United
States Constitution, as well as any applicable laws, court
decisions and department policies. In this case, as in all police
internal investigations, a number of factors are considered prior
to any disciplinary action being taken.The seriousness of the
event, the applicable laws and department policies, prior training,
and the work history of the employee are all considered while the
investigation is conducted in accordance with all labor laws and
contractual obligations.In the Saratoga Springs Police
Department,internalinvestigationsareconductedbysupervisorypersonnel.Minorinfractionsare
handledbytheChiefofPolicewhilesuspensionsandterminationdecisionsaremadebythe
Commissioner of Public Safety following recommendation by the Chief
of Police. Commissioner Mathiesen has made it clear to me that he
believes integrity, professionalism, and accountability are of the
highest priority.Assistant Chief J ohn Catone and I have stressed
to all officers of this department that we should strive to treat
everyone with dignity and respect, and that our focus will remain
on being a professional and accountable police department.
Policeagenciesrunbesthowever,whenindividualpoliceofficersofallrankstakeitupon
themselvestoadheretothehigheststandardsofconductanddemandthattheirpeersdothesame.Despite
all of the negativity and evil an officer confronts during the
course of a career, each officer always chooses his or her own
actions and reactions in every situation, even in the most
antagonistic of encounters.A police department that merely pays lip
service to core values such as respect and integrity will soon find
itself without the support of the people that they swore they would
serve and protect. SARATOGA SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT 5 LAKE
AVENUEGREGORY J. VEITCH SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY12866-2298Chief of
Police 518-584-1800 Fax 518-584-1744 While it is never pleasant to
investigate police officers and administer negative discipline in a
police department, it is sometimes necessary to ensure that current
police officers, future police officers
andthepublicunderstandthatwe
holdourselvestohighstandardsofbehaviorwhereintegrityand respect are
at the center of all of our actions.We must demand of ourselves
professional, accountable and respectful policing, at all times,
without compromise.
ThemembersoftheSaratogaSpringsarededicated,professionalpoliceofficers.Westrive
every day to prevent crime before it happens and to locate and
arrest the offenders when a crime does occur.As human beings, we
will sometimes fall short of the standards we set for ourselves and
what the public expects from us.When we do, we must take
responsibility for our actions and then re-dedicate ourselves to
being a respectful and professional department.The public deserves
nothing less.
Gregory J . Veitch Chief of Police Saratoga Springs Police
Department