Aurora – An officer who wrestled a disabled woman and her daughter to the ground did not violate police policy or procedure, an Incident Review Board found.
Police Chief Daniel Oates announced the decision Monday at police headquarters.
The board of four officers and four civilians met Thursday and Friday to investigate claims of racial and physical abuse brought by Loree McCormick- Rice, 51, and her daughter, Cassidy, who was 12 at the time, against Sgt. Charles DeShazer. The complaint stemmed from a June 17 incident in a grocery store parking lot.
McCormick-Rice and her daughter, who are African- American, claim DeShazer, who is white, directed a racial slur at them.
“The allegations are extremely serious, and the department took them very seriously,” Oates said Monday.
The board analyzed news accounts about the encounter and compared that to witness testimony, Oates said, and found statements made by McCormick-Rice “were not credible.”
The board viewed a security tape of DeShazer arresting the pair and forcing both to the ground. The board also heard from 13 witnesses – police officers, grocery store employees and one expert on police brutality – but not from McCormick-Rice or Cassidy.
Attorney David Lane, who represents the pair, said a transcript of his clients’ version of events was made available, although he advised them not to testify.
“When police investigate police, it’s whitewash,” he said Monday.
Lane said that he’ll pursue a federal lawsuit against the Police Department and the city.
Oates said an internal review by the department is ongoing, and he urged the pair to testify.
The review board and the internal review are separate investigations, although both make recommendations to Oates.
McCormick-Rice was critical of the review board’s finding.
“It doesn’t surprise me that they didn’t find any wrongdoing. They are going to protect their own,” she said Monday. “I think it’s very, very wrong.”
After her arrest, Cassidy was treated at Children’s Hospital for a broken collarbone.
In November, the city attorney dropped charges of resisting arrest against the pair.
DeShazer, who has remained on duty, testified before the board last week.
“He looked into his heart and answered everything truthfully,” said his attorney, Dave Osborne, who has instructed De Shazer not to comment.
In a written report, DeShazer, who was moonlighting as a security guard in his police uniform that night, denied making racial comments.
Review board members were unavailable for comment.
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
