A look into the workings of DPD
Caitlin Goodman, Transcript Correspondent
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
With integrity, respect, courtesy, honor, excellence, professionalism and trust, the Delaware Police maintain order, enforce laws and protect the life, peace and property of the citizens of Delaware, according to the Delaware Police Department (DPD) Website.
Captain Bruce Pijanowski said if an OWU student or any citizen of Delaware gets into trouble with the law, it is DPD's job to write down as much information as possible, even if the information isn't significant to the incident. He said the focus of the report is on the facts-- what is seen, and what is heard in terms of statements made during the incident.
Pijanowski said when the report is completed, it is handed off to the sergeant who reviews it for accuracy. Then the report is sent off to the records department, which is responsible for tabulating all the information and filling in any missing general information.
Pijanowski said it is no surprise most people complain about reports being either false or exaggerated.
"That is the reason why people go to court-to contest a report," he said. "But that also goes hand-in-hand with the fact that people do not like to be arrested or get into trouble with the police.
"When someone is picked up for public intoxication and they complain after the incident that what was written was false, it begs the question; who is the better judge?"
In a recent Transcript article titled "Review group reports poor PS communication, availability," written by Mark Dubovec, the DPD was said to have made a very detailed report on the recent incident involving Juan Armando Rojas, director of the modern foreign languages department. The article said that some descriptions in the report were selected to place the officers in the best light.
Pijanowski said his officers do not write down information that is made up and do not write down information that would make the DPD look better.
Rojas said that the report included that the police had questioned him at his home in Delaware, but they had simply made a phone call. He said the article made DPD look like the victims.
Captain Bruce Pijanowski said if an OWU student or any citizen of Delaware gets into trouble with the law, it is DPD's job to write down as much information as possible, even if the information isn't significant to the incident. He said the focus of the report is on the facts-- what is seen, and what is heard in terms of statements made during the incident.
Pijanowski said when the report is completed, it is handed off to the sergeant who reviews it for accuracy. Then the report is sent off to the records department, which is responsible for tabulating all the information and filling in any missing general information.
Pijanowski said it is no surprise most people complain about reports being either false or exaggerated.
"That is the reason why people go to court-to contest a report," he said. "But that also goes hand-in-hand with the fact that people do not like to be arrested or get into trouble with the police.
"When someone is picked up for public intoxication and they complain after the incident that what was written was false, it begs the question; who is the better judge?"
In a recent Transcript article titled "Review group reports poor PS communication, availability," written by Mark Dubovec, the DPD was said to have made a very detailed report on the recent incident involving Juan Armando Rojas, director of the modern foreign languages department. The article said that some descriptions in the report were selected to place the officers in the best light.
Pijanowski said his officers do not write down information that is made up and do not write down information that would make the DPD look better.
Rojas said that the report included that the police had questioned him at his home in Delaware, but they had simply made a phone call. He said the article made DPD look like the victims.
Be the first to comment on this story