Originally Posted - July 23, 2006

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ALBANY---The state Commission of Investigation has determined that the Watertown Police Department's handling of a domestic violence incident involving a Watertown police officer was inadequate and that the officer was given preferential treatment because he was a police officer.

The SIC conducted an extensive investigation of the incident, responding to a complaint from a Watertown City Council member.

The commission provided extensive recommendations to the police department as well as a recommendation to both the director the state's Criminal Justice Services and the state Legislature.

The SIC investigated the police department's response to a series of three reported domestic incidents in 2003 and 2004 between Watertown Police Officer Michael VanWaldick and his girlfriend, Jessica Quinta. These incidents preceded a more violent incident in December 2004, in which VanWaldick shot and wounded Quinta's co-worker and friend, Ryan Dorr, and kidnapped Quinta.

After an initial review of the Council Member's allegations, the commission interviewed Quinta, members of her family, members of the Watertown Police Department, and several others. The Commission also reviewed Watertown Police Department reports and memoranda related to the investigation of the domestic incidents, audiotape recordings of Watertown Police Department radio transmissions, the Watertown Police Department's procedure manual, and court documents from cases arising out of the facts pertaining to these incidents.

Finally, the Commission reviewed relevant federal and New York State statutes and regulations. The Commission found that the Watertown Police Department's handling of the three domestic incidents prior to the December 2004 shooting and kidnapping incident was inadequate. It failed to respond adequately to, or conduct sufficient investigations of, either of the first two incidents, and its investigation of the third incident was deficient. The Commission found that many Watertown police officers who responded to or investigated the incidents gave preferential treatment to VanWaldick because he was a police officer. Moreover, investigating officers failed to properly document, review, or coordinate their investigations of the incidents, violating mandatory Watertown Police Department procedures. Finally, the commission found that the Watertown Police Department procedure manual lacks sufficient provisions to address officer-involved domestic incidents. The SIC concluded that some of these problems stemmed from the failure of the Watertown Police Department's most senior officers to recognize the seriousness of the abuse in the three domestic incidents.

A copy of the full report can be found on the Commission's website (www.sic.state.ny.us), or by linking to: http://www.sic.state.ny.us/Docs/Public%20Reports/pdf/watertown.PDF

The commission has recommended that these failures be addressed through the institution of new, detailed procedures concerning domestic incident investigations. Specifically, the SIC recommends that the revised Watertown Police Department procedures mandate that:

-- Watertown police officers responding to or investigating domestic incidents be required to make strong efforts to contact and interview any victim;

-- Watertown police officers be provided with sufficient guidance on how to respond to officer-involved domestic incidents;

-- Ranking Watertown police officers be required to participate actively in the response to and investigation of all officer-involved domestic incidents;

-- Watertown police officers investigating officer-involved domestic incidents interview as many witnesses and develop as much information as possible prior to questioning the subject officer;

-- Watertown police officers responding to, investigating, or assisting in the investigation of a domestic incident be required to document their actions and information developed;

-- Watertown police officers possessing knowledge about domestic incidents, other than those who are victims of domestic violence, be required to document and report that knowledge formally; and

-- Watertown Police Department ranking and subordinate officers receive adequate training and instruction about officer-involved domestic incidents.

© 2006 North Country Gazette