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Long-suspended KC police officer fired for treatment of suspect


After five years of continuances and delays, the Kansas City Police Board voted unanimously to fire an officer for his handling of a handcuffed drug suspect in November 2006, according to a written decision released Wednesday.

Then Police Chief Jim Corwin suspended Anthony Melkowski without pay in June 2007 and recommended that he be fired for his actions, which were recorded on a police dash-cam video. Melkowski appealed the recommendation and the case stalled.

A professional arbitrator heard testimony in October and recommended to board members that Melkowski be reinstated without back pay. The board took up the case last month but disagreed with the arbitrator and expressed concerns about keeping Melkowski on the force because he received a 15-day suspension for discourtesy and unnecessary use of force in 2005.

The 2006 incident occurred after Melkowski and his partner stopped a known drug dealer who appeared to have shoved three rocks of cocaine in his mouth. The videotape shows Melkowski pressing the man’s face against the hood of a patrol car, grabbing the man’s throat and pulling his hair to try to open his mouth. The tape also shows Melkowski using the nightstick near the man’s face as the man moans. The man is facing away from the camera, so viewers can’t see exactly what is happening. The man alleged that Melkowski wedged the nightstick into his mouth.

Police board members said they could not determine whether Melkowski put his nightstick into the man’s mouth, but they said he “used excessive force, unnecessary profanity and engaged in cruel, degrading, or inhumane treatment.” Melkowski’s attorney, Morgan Roach, told board members last month that his client was assigned in 2006 as a “proactive” officer and told to focus on finding drugs and guns. Roach said his client’s actions were within boundaries established by a “legal bulletin” the department distributed to officers.

Board members said the bulletin didn’t provide a defense for Melkowski’s actions.

Roach said Melkowski planned to pursue judicial remedies.