HomeMy WebLinkAboutWalker Complaint POLICE DEPARTMENT
CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
" 14168 OAK PARK BLVD. NORTH • P.O. BOX 2007 LINDY SWANSON
OAK PARK HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55082 CHIEF OF POLICE
® TELEPHONE: (651) 439 -4723
FAX: (651) 439 -3639
EMERGENCY: 911
October 17, 2006
Mr. Mark Walker
331 W. Aspen St.
Stillwater, MN 55082
Dear Mark;
After speaking with you yesterday, both by telephone and in person, and also receiving
your written complaint, reference an Oak Park Heights Police Officer failing to properly
respond to a traffic violation, I have concluded the following.
You allege that an Oak Park heights Police Officer was at the location of east bound 58`
St. N. & Oakgreen Ave, N., at approx. 2002 hours on Sat., Oct. 14, 2006. Your statement
said that there were two vehicles directly ahead of the officer and that those vehicles both
proceeded east bound on 58 St. N, which leads them directly into the Oak Park heights
City Hall parking lot. You stated that the officer sat and watched the vehicles proceed
east bound through the city hall parking lot and then exit the lot, illegally, east bound in
to the area of 57th. St. N. & O'Brien Ave. N. You expressed concern that the officer
took no action in stopping these vehicles after committing this traffic violation and were
also concerned due to your wife having previously been cited for this same offense.
After speaking with you by telephone on Oct. i 6 t h, I drove - to the area where - the officer
would have been. It was day light when I did this and obviously was night time when the
situation you reported took place. looking east from east bound 58` St. N. at Oakgreen
Ave. N., I could not see the east side of the city hall parking lot. This was -due to the -road
curvature and a wooded area located directly south of Oak Park Blvd. N. Again, it was
daylight and I couldn't see the area and believe that it certainly could not be observed
when dark. Also, there are usually two or more vehicles, either police dept. unmarked
'vehicles or employees personal vehicles, parked in the area just West 6f the! east entrance
which would also block ones view.
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I spoke to the officer that was driving the unit # that you supplied me with as being the
unit involved, OPHPD unit #41. Officer Kropidlowski was driving that unit on the day
and time that you report. I also reviewed Officer Kropidloxvski's patrol log for that
particular time and day. Per the officer's log, he had cleared from assisting MN State
Patrol on a motor vehicle accident on Hwy. 5, at approx 1958 hours. When I showed
your written complaint to the officer I truly did not expect him to recall any of this
situation but was surprised to learn that he dice. One of the vehicles ahead of him was a
vehicle involved in the previously mentioned accident. The second vehicle was the first
vehicle drivers Mfe. A piece of the damaged vehicle was apparently rubbing against one
of the vehicle tires. The driver of the damaged vehicle is an employee at Stillwater Area
High School. Officer Kropidioivski observed these vehicles pull into the city hall parking
lot and assumed that they were either going to try to pull the part of the vehicle that was
rubbing against the tire away so they could continue home, or leave the damaged vehicle
in the city hall parking lot and ride home in their second vehicle. After Officer
Kropidlowski observed them pull into the lot he continued on his duties by turning on
Oakgreen Ave. N., as you stated.
Again, if these subjects had entered and driven straight through and illegally exited as
you stated, I find that one could not have been able to observe that from the location you
report. Secondly, the explanation given above I feel satisfies any concerns as to why the
vehicles drove in where they did.
I find that Officer Kropidlowski in no ;gray, shape, or form failed to conduct himself or to
perform his duties in any less than an acceptable fashion. .
I hope this explanation satisfies your questions andlor concerns in this matter.
Sincerely,
Lindy Swanson
Chief of Police
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