THE NEW WATERLOO POLICE USE-OF-FORCE POLICY IS POSTED ONLINE ON THE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE. THE 16-PAGE DOCUMENT IS PART OF WIDE-RANGING CHANGES WHICH NEW CHIEF JOEL FITZGERALD DETAILED ON MONDAY DURING THE WATERLOO CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THE CORE CONCEPT IS THAT THE DEGREE OF FORCE USED BY OFFICERS SHOULD MATCH THE LEVEL OF RESISTANCE THEY ENCOUNTER. OTHER CHANGES WHICH FITZGERALD WANTS TO MAKE INCLUDE MORE TRAINING, PARTICULARLY FOR OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO SUPERVISORY ROLES. NEW WATERLOO POLICE POLICY BECAME MORE URGENT AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS LAST MONTH, WHICH CAUSED A REEXAMINATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES IN DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE NATION.
U.S. SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DOMESTIC PRODUCTION WITHIN KEY PARTS OF THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG SUPPLY CHAIN. GRASSLEY SAYS THE CHALLENGE IS SIMILAR TO THE LIMITED SOURCES OF RARE METALS USED IN COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE. HE WANTS THE UNITED STATES TO AVOID RELIANCE ON CHINA FOR THOSE KEY MATERIALS, AS WELL.
THE FIRST HOME GAME ON THE UNI FOOTBALL SCHEDULE IS SEPTEMBER 19TH AGAINST WEBER ST. THAT GAME WILL START AT 4 O’CLOCK. IN FACT, ALL OF THE PANTHER HOME GAMES WILL KICK OFF AT 4 THIS YEAR. THE UNI ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT UNIFORM FOOTBALL START TIME ON MONDAY.
ANOTHER ARREST HAS BEEN MADE AFTER THE APRIL KILLING OF KEJUAN WINTERS IN IOWA CITY. 30-YEAR-OLD WHITNEY CLAYBON IS ACCUSED OF HELPING ANOTHER SUSPECT IN THE CASE GET OUT OF TOWN; POLICE SAY SHE ALSO ALLEGEDLY LIED TO DETECTIVES REGARDING THE OTHER MAN’S WHEREABOUTS. OFFICIALS SAY CLAYBORN DROVE THE SUSPECT TO MINNESOTA BUT TOLD POLICE THAT THE TRIP HAD BEEN TO CHICAGO. CLAYBON IS CHARGED WITH ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT AND OBSTRUCTING PROSECUTION IN THE APRIL 20 SHOOTING DEATH OF WINTERS.
IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE WATERLOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SET UP A FIRST RESPONDER FUND FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND POLICE. MICHELLE TEMEYER OF THE WATERLOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TALKED ABOUT THE RESPONSE TO HELP THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS. FIRST RESPONDER FUND MONEY WILL BE DIVIDED BETWEEN WATERLOO’S FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS PEOPLE’S COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC, UNITY POINT-ALLEN HOSPITAL, AND MERCY ONE MEDICAL CENTER IN WATERLOO.
A MARION MAN WILL PEND THE NEXT 21 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON AFTER TAKING OVER 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER, WHO IS AN ALZHEIMER’S PATIENT. ANDREW GARRETT WAS SENTENCED ON MONDAY AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO WIRE FRAUD. THE U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SAYS GARRETT USED A CREDIT CARD ASSOCIATED WITH THE WOMEN’S ACCOUNT TO MAKE PERSONAL PURCHASES, WHICH HE INITIALLY CLAIMED WERE RELATED TO REPAIRS TO HER CONDO.
AS MANY AS 100 NEW PARKING SPOTS COULD BE AVAILABLE IN CEDAR FALLS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. MONDAY, THE CEDAR FALLS CITY COUNCIL WENT FORWARD WITH THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPING A PARKING RAMP AT 3RD AND STATE STREETS. A DEVELOPMENT COMPANY WOULD BUILD THE STRUCTURE AND LEASE IT TO THE CITY. THE CHANGE WOULD LIKELY MEAN THAT PARKING METERS OR ANOTHER PAID PARKING SYSTEM WOULD BE ADDED TO CURRENT DOWNTOWN CEDAR FALLS STREET AND LOT PARKING SPACES.
EARLIER TODAY, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD FROM SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY DURING KXEL LIVE AND LOCAL. ONE TOPIC HE DISCUSSED WAS A FEDERAL BILL WHICH WOULD REGULATE SOME POLICE TACTICS. MANY LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING WATERLOO, CEDAR RAPIDS, AND IOWA CITY ARE WORKING THROUGH THEIR OWN POLICE POLICY REFORMS.
IOWA LEGISLATORS’ SHORT RETURN TO DES MOINES FOCUSED ON STATE BUDGET ISSUES AND OTHER URGENT MATTERS. BUT THE IOWA HOUSE AND SENATE STILL FOUND TIME TO PROTECT DOGS, CATS, AND OTHER PETS. THE COMMUNITY AND PET PROTECTION ACT MEANS STRONGER PENALTIES WHEN OWNERS ABUSE OR NEGLECT COMPANION ANIMALS. DR. RANDY WHEELER IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. WHEELER SPOKE TO OUR COVERAGE PARTNERS AT CBS2.
