Inspector: Officer’s brief exchange with resident did not rise to policy violation; board to deliberate

An inspector told a Kalamazoo City board reviewing police conduct that the unprofessionalism allegation against PSO Piazo Harris arising from a July 2024 Vine Street incident did not meet the threshold for a policy violation, but the board moved into closed session to deliberate and will forward a recommendation to the city manager.

Inspector Mason, who presented video and investigatory material during the public hearing, said the interaction included "nearly 20 minutes of confrontational behavior and insults" from resident Rodney Gillum and family members while officers attempted to separate parties and investigate. "It was found that that, alleged act did not occur," Mason said, summarizing the Office of Professional Standards' conclusion about the specific allegation against Harris.

The videos shown to the board included footage of Gillum and family members confronting officers on a residential porch and on an adjacent sidewalk and parking lot. Mason said officers maintained composure while attempting to protect investigators and separate the parties. "Piazo Harris' engagement with mister Gillum is not ideal," Mason said, but added officers' overall conduct during the interaction mitigated isolated lines that were "not necessary." He cited Sergeant Noble's report, saying officers are human and short lapses should be considered in the totality of the encounter.

Board members questioned aspects of the account during the presentation. One board member noted an apparent inconsistency in the timeline in the written report regarding which officer walked certain individuals off the property and which officer positioned himself between parties to prevent escalation; Mason explained multiple officers were on scene and described their relative positions. Another board member asked whether body-camera footage showed the young woman who was arrested striking an officer; Mason said the angle did not clearly show that and that the allegation of striking an officer was not part of the complaint under review.

Mason told the board that all officers on scene had body-worn cameras activated to his knowledge. He also said the prosecutor's office later dropped charges against the young woman who had been arrested; "she was initially charged, and then, two months later ... the charges were dropped," Mason said, adding that charging decisions are made independently by prosecutors.

Mason characterized the relevant criminal statute broadly in his remarks as protecting officers from "resisting, obstructing, hindering, interfering" while they investigate, and he said officers typically act on probable cause while the prosecutor's office determines whether to pursue charges.

After the presentation and questions, the board closed the public portion of the hearing and convened a closed session to deliberate. The board's chair said the body "will put forward our recommendation to the city manager," and gave no public timeline for that recommendation.

Background and context: the presentation focused on two allegations from a July complaint about the Vine Street incident. Mason told the board the Office of Professional Standards reviewed body-worn camera footage, officer statements and a supervisory report by Sergeant Noble before reaching its conclusion. The hearing record shows community members and the officers involved were present for the presentation and that the board asked multiple clarifying questions before adjourning to closed session.

No formal vote or final board decision was announced at the hearing; the matter will proceed through the board's closed deliberations and whatever recommendation the board forwards to the city manager.