Kalamazoo resident appeals finding that officer did not commit assault during late-night crowd clearance

Ronald Gillum appealed to the Citizens Public Safety Review and Appeals Board on May 13, saying a Kalamazoo Public Safety officer pushed his hand and phone during a late-night attempt to clear a parking-lot gathering and that the action should be treated as an assault.

The appeal challenges the chief's finding that the first allegation against PSO Joel West was "unfounded"; the chief sustained a separate allegation of unprofessional conduct. Inspector Chuck Mason of the Office of Professional Standards presented the investigation to the board, saying the office reviewed body-worn camera footage, interviews and applicable law before concluding the push did not meet the criminal elements for assault under Michigan law.

Why it matters: the board will make a recommendation to the city manager, who has final authority to sustain or amend the chief's findings. The board said it will move to closed deliberation after presentations and submit a written…