Cops punished for handing cigarettes, cell phone to detainee, violently treating youths

YOKOHAMA -- A police sergeant and three other officers who provided cigarettes and a cell phone to a detainee have been punished, while another officer accused of injuring a detained youth was reported to prosecutors, law enforcers said.

The Kanagawa Prefectural Police Inspection Office announced punishments, including at least one 10 percent pay cut for six months, for the four officers on Tuesday. Among the four were a 56-year-old officer from Kagacho Police Station, and a 47-year-old senior officer.

Investigators said that the four supplied snacks to a 43-year-old truck driver who was being held on suspicion of intimidation, after he made a row during a police night shift in January. Later the man made threats, saying, "I'll tell your bosses (that you've violated regulations). I'll go wild." In response, the officers handed him cigarettes and gave him access to a cell phone on about 90 occasions. Their actions were uncovered in March.

In addition, police announced that a 39-year-old officer accused of violently treating three youths who made a row at a facility for juveniles at Kawasaki Police Station had been reprimanded. He was reported to public prosecutors on suspicion of injuring one of the youths.

"We want to work to prevent recurrences of such incidents," an Inspection Office official said.

神奈川県警：留置中に携帯提供などで５人懲戒処分

　神奈川県警監察官室は２２日、恐喝容疑などで逮捕・拘置されたトラック運転手の男（４３）に、たばこや携帯電話などを渡したとして、加賀町署の男性巡査部長（５６）と男性巡査長（４７）ら４人を減給１０分の１（６カ月）などの懲戒処分にしたと発表した。

　調べでは、警務課管理係の４人は１月中旬、夜間当直中に男が留置場で騒いだため、菓子などを提供。その後、男から「上司に（規則違反を）言うよ。暴れちゃうよ」と脅され、計約９０回にわたってたばこやライター、はさみ、携帯電話などを渡した。３月中旬の異動を機に発覚した。

　また川崎署の留置施設少年室で、騒いだ少年３人に暴行したとして、同署管理係の男性巡査部長（３９）を戒告の懲戒処分にし、１人にけがをさせた特別公務員暴行陵虐致傷容疑で横浜地検に書類送検した。西村昇・県警監察官室長は「誠に遺憾であり、再発防止に努めたい」とコメントした。【鈴木一生】

Mainichi Newspaper

July 23rd, 2008