We listened to our courageous heroes in law enforcement and we took action. We rely on these men and women every day to keep us safe. . “It s our job as Iowa legislators to minimize that risk (to police officers) as much as possible so that more law enforcement officers can make it back home to their families safely. Dear Rep. Klein, Like you, I want police officers to get home safely. Certainly their jobs involve risks. The shooting death of Sgt. Jim Smith, a 27-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol, while trying to arrest a suspect at his Grundy Center home last month, is a tragic example.
Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders is defending the Des Moines Police Department s decision to put a sergeant who has been disciplined for excessive force on the five-person team that leads the department s de-escalation training. In a Tuesday email to Mayor Frank Cownie and the six members of the Des Moines City Council, Sanders said he and Police Chief Dana Wingert have met privately with sincerely concerned residents but he didn t find their arguments persuasive. On the decision to make Sgt. Michael Fong a trainer, Sanders wrote: In the end, this was a management decision and, the deeper I dig into it, the more I am convinced that the selection of Sgt. Fong to assist in this training is appropriate.
NOBEL condemns former DMPD sergeant Greg Wessels kcci.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kcci.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Jason Taylor Apr 13, 2021 DES MOINES, IA - The Iowa Chapter of The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives wants a thorough investigation into a former Des Moines officer. The group is calling comments by former Sgt. Greg Wessels extremely inflammatory. It also says the comments insinuated extreme racial violence against a command staff member of color. Wessels resigned last week after the department launched an investigation into his comments and placed him on admirative leave. Wessels was part of a $75,000 lawsuit settlement last year after being accused of using pepper spray on a 17-year-old girl and throwing her to the ground.
By Jason Taylor Apr 13, 2021 DES MOINES, IA - The Iowa Chapter of The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives wants a thorough investigation into a former Des Moines officer. The group is calling comments by former Sgt. Greg Wessels extremely inflammatory. It also says the comments insinuated extreme racial violence against a command staff member of color. Wessels resigned last week after the department launched an investigation into his comments and placed him on admirative leave. Wessels was part of a $75,000 lawsuit settlement last year after being accused of pepper straying a 17-year-old girl and throwing her to the ground.
A Des Moines police sergeant who oversaw the detective unit despite a long history of using excessive force has resigned. Sgt. Greg Wessels submitted his resignation early Friday morning, according to Sgt. Paul Parizek, a spokesperson for the department. The Des Moines Police Department initiated an ongoing internal investigation after Wessels, a 33-year veteran of the department, made a comment that the membership recognized as inappropriate and insensitive, Parizek said. He made the comment at a Tuesday meeting of the Gold Braid Organization, one of two police unions representing DMPD employees. Union membership immediately reported this to Command staff and an internal review was initiated, and Wessels was placed on administrative leave before resigning, according to Parizek.
Des Moines police sergeant resigns after making 'potentially inappropriate and insensitive' comment weareiowa.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from weareiowa.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Des Moines Police Department confirmed to KCCI on Friday that one of its sergeants resigned amid an investigation into inappropriate comments made during a union meeting.According to Des Moines police, Sgt. Greg Wessels resigned as the department began an internal investigation into his conduct. According to reports from more than a dozen officers in attendance at the union meeting, Wessels made a comment that was inappropriate and insensitive in response to discussions of an officer allegedly leaking police information.Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek confirmed to KCCI that Wessels resigned.“It s incredibly serious,” Parizek said. “We put a lot of effort into making sure that we leave our biases at home. We put a lot of effort into making sure that our heads are in the right place, and that it s reflected in the things we say and do. So, this one was recognized immediately by the membership which is a proud point for us that our employees know what s acceptable and what’s not and that they feel confident enough in the administration that they re going to report it and the appropriate action is going to be taken.”Wessels has a history of disciplinary action with the Des Moines Police Department.In 2018, a lawsuit accused Wessels of discrimination and use of excessive force following a confrontation at the DART facility in downtown Des Moines with Khy La Williams, who was 17 at the time. Wessels’ actions resulted in a $75,000 lawsuit settlement. That same year, the city of Des Moines paid an $800,000 settlement after a jury found Wessels and Des Moines police Officer Michael Fong used excessive force against Dustin Burnikel on Court Avenue in 2013.Fong serves as the Des Moines Police Department’s de-escalation instructor. Community activists have called for Fongs removal.