Civilian Appeals Board reverses GRPD's exoneration of Capt. VanderKooi

The Civilian Appeals Board meets in City Hall on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 to decide on an appeal of the city's decision not to further discipline Grand Rapids Police Department Capt. Curt VanderKooi for his interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The board reversed the Grand Rapids Police Department's exoneration of Capt. Curt VanderKooi, whose case will now be reviewed by the city manager.

[@eiland369]

He needs to be fired before they promote him out of trouble.

[@dericksmith2137]

Why wouldn’t every police department have a civilian oversight? The idea that a department will investigate their own and remain impartial, unbiased, and accountable is laughable. At best they minimize the negative actions, at worst they totally excuse them. If I commit murder, the most heinous crime, and then allowed my friends, family, and coworkers to conduct the murder investigation, im betting I’d get off (exclude my wife, she hates me) why? because those people are biased and/or have something to lose as a result.

[@tretiger1]

You need a sheriff. A sheriff is elected so higher odds to get ridd of bad deputies. A police chief is not elected, so he will only do so if mutch puplic attension.

[@lightning9279]

Many many many do. Unfortunately these oversight committees are nothing more than an extension of the police viewpoints and ideology. They are boot lickers to put it another way.

[@happyface2654]

I'm proud of this civilian board, they are doing their job protecting the citizens against criminals with badges.

[@pops1507]

They are dupes.

[@richardaylesworth1783]

Civilian Review Boards only make recommendations. Don't forget, cops have IMMUNITY and a union to protect them.

[@pops1507]

@@richardaylesworth1783 Yes? And ....?

[@richardaylesworth1783]

@@pops1507 What more needs to be said?

[@pops1507]

@@richardaylesworth1783 Run to the sounds of the guns one time, home boy.

[@TurboBird64]

This should be happening all over our country and making these public officials accountable for their actions that dramatically effect the public and potentially ruin lives of people that pay their salaries!

[@ChildofGod-jy3nj]

"I think everyone can agree that this was an act of potential terrorism." Says a member of the biggest terrorism gang in America. Loved how the people spoke up. Americans!! Greatest people on earth living in freedom and committed to keeping it that way. You Go Citizen of Grand Rapids. We are behind you 100%.

[@darthsusanoo5149]

Ur an idiot if u think americans are the greatest ppl on earth

[@monkeyfunk8371]

'Greatest people on earth living in freedom', well if that was the case there would have been zero rerason for this to have happened in the first place. There would have been zero reason for the 'people to speak up'. Its the fact that Americans arent the 'greatest people on earth' and arent 'living in freedom' that caused this whole debacle. Those cops are americans, those ice agents are americans, the veteran who started a fire is an american, the police IA team are americans, the cops that ignored the truth and the facts and backed up the captain are americans, which one of those would you offer as a contestant in a 'Worlds greatest people' competition? What part of this situation would you offer as an example of Americas great freedoms that are denied to every other nation on earth? I find it astounding that you or anyone else could possibly have followed this story and found any redeming behaviours that paint the US in the position of being the 'greatest people on earth living in freedom' . Remember it is the intellegence, voting practices, the gulibility, the corruption and racist ignorance displayed by the 'greatest people on earth' that caused this. Including you yourself. If you look over there, just behind those trees there is a forest

[@markkearney]

this how it should be , cops should not be allowed to investigate themselves , that is like a jury of burglars sitting on prosecution of a burglar

[@Doglyvr]

Good his exoneration was a joke.

[@arcajeth626]

I want to see everyone involved in the exoneration in this case to be forced to answer as to how they reached that decision and it should be completely open to the public..

[@vwoday1872]

Keep the servants accountable the public servants

[@shakey2634]

Every community that has a police force needs a civilian review board. And it must have real oversight powers. Cops in this country have forgotten just who they work for and we have a duty to properly control our own departments.

[@jackbrown3761]

HOW DO YOU TELL WHEN A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS LIEING? THEIR MOUTHS ARE OPEN... NEVER EVER BELIEVE ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OR AGENCIES... THEY HAVE LOST ALL CREDIBILITY, DIGNITY, INTEGRITY, AND HONOR....

[@gilmoremccoy6930]

Good job board for doing the right thing👍.

[@hilariomartinez8220]

Great job on up holding the constitutional rights of the free people another criminal gone

[@wilfridcyr]

Bad cops to the left, terrible cops to the right, good people will die tonight.

[@allybean8885]

Cops investigating themselves that's a joke. I guess they forget they work for the people.

[@matlew1960]

I hope the Marine Veteran sues Grand Rapids Police Department Capt. Curt VanderKooi personally. Through his actions he was illegally imprisoned even though he's a US Citizen..And yes he should be fired and lose his pension..

[@izuki8959]

So he should sue for unlawful deportation and wrongful prosecution........!!!!!!

[@AirforceVeteran4peace]

I'm glad I went Airforce and not law enforcement I despise all law enforcement

[@orangegreen7]

Great work on holding this criminal account

[@miguelortiz6404]

Law enforcement has disgrace their uniform and badges. All over United States. It's time to put an end to this institution. Fired all the people. And create a new entire division of law with new people. Let the Federal government take over the law department... Because the States...had done a terrible job at this. Is time to change the rules.

[@izuki8959]

U can never trust a badge that thinks it can do what he wants.... Bullys

[@donaldbrewer6709]

"To protect and Serve" the crap out of you with equality, accountability, and impartiality. Every law enforcement agency and the officer in his official and private capacity should be required to carry a malpractice bond or some sort of insurance bond that the agency or the officer must use to payout successfully litigated use of force or civil rights lawsuits. It's past time we stop using taxpayer money and start holding these individual agencies and officers accountable!

[@Leatherneck-pw3bn]

As long as there are bad cop's there are no good cop's.

[@Lion2Lamb247]

This case was represented as the Capt contacting ICE over immigration status, the Capt alerted the dept FBI liaison about a potential terrorist attack, I'm a veteran also but I have zero sympathy for this prior marine for setting a fire in a hospital, mental issues or not that could have been fatal and yes an act of terrorism.

[@Lion2Lamb247]

@Keith Willis on the scale of damage that burning down even just part of a single ward could claim multiple lives, all for what purpose

[@Lion2Lamb247]

@TheRedsun111 what did they classify OKC bomber? Terrorist right? Remind me again what race he was? Playing the race card is getting old, this went from talking about how the media misinterpreted the facts of this case, into oh he called him a possible terrorist because hes not white.

[@Lion2Lamb247]

@TheRedsun111 you automatically assumed I'm white? My mother is malagasy and Filipino. This has zero to do with race. The initial arguement was that the media is race baiting with a completely false narrative.

[@justintime4881]

If you're posting a video, how about making it loud enough to hear

[@pops1507]

Newly-minted Grand Rapidians "serve" the Dutch on whose grit and values the fine city was founded and built.

[@thegirl4065]

Crooked badges deserve crooked bones

[@bigtimepimpin666]

One of the board members is last name Kolasheski. Any relation to a cavalry colonel by same last name??

[@donnyanderson3480]

Piggy covering for piggy's

[@scottnahler4027]

Lol GR will soon be the new San Francisco. Good luck to all those who wear GRPD uniform.

[@micahdavis3274]

These arrogant Police have been getting away with murder and acts like this for far too long it is great to finally see them hold them accountable. Why is it that every time an internal review was done the cop is exonerated even if the evidence comes out that the cop killed him in cold blood.