Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard held a press conference yesterday to address the controversy surrounding Terry Beachler.
I didn’t know about the press conference, so I didn’t get to hear all of the Chief’s comments in person. But it’s a hot topic in the local media, so I saw many quotes on the news. Here’s a compilation of all the Chief’s comments I could find:
“Terry [Beachler] had every intention of delaying and stalling this officer and, I believe, goading the officer into anger. There’s no question in my mind he knew it was the police.”
“In this case, I’ll give the station credit. They didn’t sell the juvenile cigarettes.”
“Terry, I believe had a mindset to play games, which he did. And I think that’s evidenced by the fact he walked in with a recording device pre-set.”
“The story that appears to be out there. The angle and the spin on it I believe is very inaccurate.â€
“[Officer] Scott Jordan held his professionalism. He did raise his voice and he was clearly agitated but I think he had a good reason in this case and I think he acted with great restraint.â€
“When it becomes clear it’s part of a police operation, you get the property back and you return it.â€
On the one hand, I think it’s commendable that the police chief would defend his officers. If you’re in law enforcement, you want to have a chief that’s going to back you up. I think in general we want a police chief that defends the actions of his officers when he feels they were in the right.
On the other hand, I don’t think the officer was in the right in this case. Before I go into why, I think we have to recognize that the audio recording catches a moment in time, and we can’t draw conclusions about this officer’s overall conduct nor the police department’s conduct from this one episode. So, I would have to part ways with several commenters who, I believe, are making some rather hasty generalizations about the police in this city. I just want to speak about this singular incident.
And in this incident, I think the officer was clearly angry from the beginning of the exchange. Did you look at the time on that recording? From the time Beachler walked in the station to the time he handed over the I.D. card, it was about four minutes. Granted, the officer had been waiting for twenty minutes for Terry to drive in from Mossville, but one could hardly characterize that as “playing games” or “stalling.” It takes 20 minutes to drive in from Mossville. There’s nothing Terry or the officer can do about that.
On the recording, Terry asked for identification from the officer. Whether or not Terry knew Officer Jordan is immaterial. He was completely within his legal rights to ask this officer for identification. Consider the fact that this officer was not in uniform and driving an unmarked vehicle, and the police had just finished trying to trick Terry’s employee into committing a crime. I’m not going to criticize Terry for wanting identification from the officer before handing over evidence of a crime.
Immediately, the officer escalated the confrontation and started threatening Terry.
The officer demands the I.D. back, Terry says it will be just a second while he gets some information, and the officer immediately responds with a raised voice, “In another second, I’m calling a marked car and making an arrest….” That escalation transpired within twenty seconds. Twenty seconds, people. How do you “goad” an officer into anger in twenty seconds by saying, “I need to get some information”?
From there it was nothing but yelling and threatening, all the while Terry is trying to open the safe and get the I.D. back for the officer. And again, it only took him four minutes total. I hardly consider four minutes “delaying” or “stalling.” As far as “goading” someone to anger, I think it’s clear who was goading whom, and it wasn’t Terry goading the police officer. The police officer was already angry.
Beachler gave the I.D. back within four minutes, and all he asked for was the officer’s badge/I.D. before he would return it. The rest of the time was spent opening the safe. What exactly was the sense of urgency here? Why was four minutes not fast enough? How was asking for the officer’s badge number considered “obstruction”? If you’re not moving as fast the officer thinks you should be moving, you’re obstructing him?
Even if we accept the premise that Terry was being a jerk and “playing games,” that is still no justification for the officer’s actions. Twenty seconds is too short of a fuse for an officer to lose his temper when no physical or verbal aggression has been displayed.
I like the chief, and I mean no disrespect to him or the officers under him, but I must disagree with his assessment of this incident. Officer Jordan did not act professionally, he did not act with restraint, he was not goaded into anger. He was angry from the beginning, he escalated the situation without warrant, he was impatient, he abused his authority, and he made an arrest just to take out his frustration on Terry.
I don’t believe the officer should be fired just because of this one incident, but he should be reprimanded.
CJ, that is the most objective assessment of the situation I’ve seen or heard. Moreover, I congratulate you on your journalistic ability, once again, to discern, and bring to the public forum, topics important to the citizens of Peoria – topics that the traditional press avoids.
Kudos!
I totally agree with PrairieCelt. Well done, CJ. The Police are not above suspicion. My own interactions with the PPD have been very good, with no exception, and the officers have been polite as well as upstanding.
I’m concerned about the Chief’s placing the blame for this on Beachler, and heartily second your assessment of this whole situation.
I second that assessment. Journalistic integrity at its best. Good for you reporting on the facts, and not the emotional side. I happen to believe that safes like the one Beachler has or any convenient store for that matter are equipped with unlocking timers. The timers are usually set for 2 minutes and help to prevent an employee harm in the event of a robbery. Therefore, once Beachler enters the correct combination, it would take another 2 minutes for it to unlock!
Officer Jordon blew up in less than 20 seconds, in a “safe†situation; no guns, no hardened criminals trying to resist arrest, imagine what he would do if there were “real†stress and police work to do. The Chief should channel Jordan’s energy into kicking down doors and arresting crack whores – not picking on a small business owner. But like the saying goes, “Why attack a tiger when you can attack a lamb. The Chief is misguided in his support of Officer Jordan and he is reflecting poorly upon the respectable men & women in uniform who do their job diligently each and every day. The Chief is acting like Dracula guarding the blood bank – period. I hope the national media picks up on this soon. The Chief and Officer Jordan’s behavior need to be exposed for what is: Unprofessional, Bullying tactics. Visit the PPD website and read the Chiefs very own Welcome Message : “The men and women of the Peoria Police Department are professionals, committed to serve and protect with respect.â€
Where was the respect in this case Chief?
The officer should be on suspension right now and the Chief should be updating his resume. These people have forgotten they work for US!
And let’s not forget what is going in the Windy City just north of us.
Police force
Anthony Abbate, a police officer from Chicago, is facing a charge of aggravated battery after beating up a female bartender. A security camera in a bar in north Chicago filmed Mr Abbate grabbing Karolina Obrycka, the bartender, and punching her for almost a minute before anyone intervened. The drunken officer had been harassing customers throughout the night, putting one in a headlock and punching him. When Ms Obrycka intervened, Mr Abbate attacked her.
The officer has been placed on leave and will probably be fired. The state attorney’s office is also looking into whether Mr Abbate received preferential treatment during the arrest and court proceedings: other police officers allegedly failed to handcuff him at his arrest and some may have shielded him from the media as he entered and left the courtroom. Phil Cline, the Chicago Police Superintendent, stepped down on April 2nd in light of the case. “The past two weeks have been disheartening and embarrassing for me, personally and professionally,†he said.
Bottom Line: Police routinely protect their own, even in the event of clear wrong doing. This article is from this weeks Economist:
We should realize that the recording is sound only. We have no idea what the body language was like.
I bet the security cam footage ends up on youtube soon!
Wow. The majority of you folks certainly do jump to quick conclusions. No examination of police reports, questions of Beachler’s veracity, or like Mahkno suggests, the examination of body language have been done by many making judgments.
How many people have talked to the officers that were present? What occurred in the 20 minutes before Beachler returned? Does anyone know if possibly Beachler was saying he’d be back in five minutes, then five minutes more, then five minutes more? And why does this tape suddenly end? What about any editing? Obviously, Beachler has a history with the City as well and tries to play dumb. You can even tell he is playing to his own tape. Not only that, his intent must be examined when he makes the “press” statement.
There are all sorts of unknowns here that should be answered before judgments be made and the cop tarred and feathered.
As someone told me, there is more to this story that has yet to be divulged. Maybe some good reporter will get to it. But I doubt it.
Lastly, someone with more legal knowledge than I should probably answer if Beachler violated some sort of recording law (and oddly, here lies another bizarre point – what is the reason Beachler is running around with a hidden recording device? Has anyone thought to ask about that? Seems either kind of bizarre to me. It might lead one to believe Beachler had the intent all along to provoke the officer).
And where does it state a cop has to debate and discuss the merits of laws with with lawbreakers? Aren’t the police out their to enforce the laws or not? My goodness, if cops stood and debated all day with people where would we all be for that? Heck, imagine all the time wasted on idiot drunks alone.
Beachler did not return from anywhere, he was called at home and came in to open the floor safe if in fact it needed to be opened. These sting operations are a joke, they send kids into bars to attempt to buy a beer and ignore the 5 video poker machines lined up against the wall.
No law was broken, the police tried to get the gas station employee to break the law and he did not. They only got mad when they were delayed after failing to entice a young man into commiting a crime. Screw em!
Beachler was right to ask for officer id whether he had dealt with him before or not. I dealt with several officers this last summer and if one of them came up to me out of uniform and in an unmarked car I’m fairly confident that I probably wouldn’t know who they were. I think the officer was probably upset he couldn’t get the attendent to sell to his operative and the more he stewed about having to wait for Beachler to get to the gas station to get the id out of the safe they more upset he got.
sctobrien: your are either a cop, or you have been very, very, lucky in your life so far that you have not run into people who abuse their authority. If it’s the later, your luck will run out one of these days and you will learn how the real world works. In the meantime, ask yourself what possible motive a business owner like Beachler would have to goad an obviously-irrated police officer? He has nothing to gain and lots to lose. The tone of the Chief was that the officer kept his cool. Is that saying Beachler could have had the **** beat out of him, ala Rodney King? He was lucky he was only arrested? He would have to be crazy to want to get arrested. Aunt Bea doesn’t prepare the dinners at the Peoria County jail.
It’s clear to most obejective people that Officer Jordan was or is on a power trip. He didn’t like have his authority questioned one bit. Bravo to Terry for asking for his badge, I only wish he would have asked for his OFFICIAL Department ID, THAT is what makes a cop a cop. Not a badge or a business card. ANYONE can get a badge and a business card.
sctobrien: As stated, you’re either a cop or brain-dead. Your argument is not only irrational, it’s stupid.
Don’t forget, the tape shut off just prior to super cop lunging for the ID. There was a lot more out-of-control-cop audio that will probably show up on the survelliance video.
The chief may have supported him publicly, but I bet officer Jordan got a good ass-chewing for bringing all this heat down. He deserves it!
BW
Scott has that problem alot. It’s what makes him entertaining.
CJ – HOI News has been trying to get a hold of you for some comments on blogging and it’s impact on news stories. They interviewed me today, and I mentioned your blog. You really got the buzz in town this week. Way to go on your post about this. Excellent work.
CJ out scoops the local media FTW!!!
Wow – the Chronicle is hot today! Just checked the Site Meter and look at the most recent locations recorded:
International: British Columbia, Germany, Nova Scotia, Ontario, South Africa and Spain.
U.S.: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Massachussetts (Harvard Univ.), Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.
Beachler was being a smart ass to the officer (although not until after the cop had already threatened to have him or his employee arrested), and it is a bit odd that the man had a voice recorder in his pocket. Maybe that was due to previous run-ins with law enforcement and he was protecting himself.
I don’t see how any of that justifies the officer’s behavior. Jordan was clearly out of line. As C.J. pointed out, the officer was threatening to call in a marked car and arrest Beachler nearly from word one. Over an ID??? Come on! What’s next … tasering someone for jaywalking?
There’s no way the officer should have let Beachler get under his skin like that. I don’t care what their history might be. I don’t care what Beachler’s “body language” was like. I don’t care what the letter of the law says regarding confiscation of ID – legit or illegit. The officer crossed the line and abused his authority.
Beachler may or may not be a jerk, but he wasn’t a threat to Jordan. He complied with the officer’s request, but the Jordan didn’t like the way that he did it. So he arrested him … all over an ID confiscated from a minor illegally trying to purchase cigarettes. That’s totally unacceptable.
Scott … I hate to take Vonster’s side on this issue, but what “more to this story” could there be that would ever make this an acceptable action? That Beachler took a swing at Jordan? No … because then Jordan would have arrested Beachler for assaulting an officer, not stealing an ID.
This “defend your brother in blue no matter what” crap just perpetuates abuse of authority. Police officers are supposed to be professionals. Scott Jordan did not act like a professional. He should be reprimanded and required to make a formal apology to Beachler and the community.
OH SO TYPICAL ON A COP ON A MISSION FROM GOD……….MAKING AN ARREST ON A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN WHEN IT SHOULKD HAVE THEN BECOME A CIVIL MATTER. WHAT A GIANT SET OF BALLS TO DEMAND THE LICENSE BACK FROM THE SAFE OR THE CASHIER WOULD BE ARRESTED. HEY DICK, “YOU JUST MADE THE CIRCUMSTANCES, LIVE WITH IT TILL NEXT AM. YOU THEN BECAME THE DICK………… YOUR ARROGANT STANCE SAYS IT ALL. THEN YOUR GOOSE STEPPING COMMANDER SALADGARDEN HAD TO RUN HIS MOUTH ON TV DEFENDING THE ARREST……..
BS ALL BS………AND OH SO TYPICAL WHEN A FEW OF THESE DICKS WEAR A BADGE !!!!!
FROM READING THE PJS SCANDAL SHEET SOUNDS LIKE SALADGARDEN OUGHT TO TAKE A FEW OF THE WISE ASSES AND HAVE THEM PATROL WAL MART AND STERLING TO PROTECT OUR OLDER SEASON LADIES FROM THE MUGGERS AND PURSE SNATCHERS OPERATING IN BROAD DAYLIGHT ASSAULTING SENIOR CITIZENS.
SAY IT LIKE IT IS:POWER CORRUPTS.
WE KNOW WHERE THE REAL PROBLEMS ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THEN THESE BROWNSHIRTS WONDER WHY THEY GET NO COOPERATION OR RESPECT.
RESPECT IS EARNED…………..NOT DEMANDED. BOTH SALADGARDEN AND JORDAN FAILED THE TEST.
Just a note to reassure some of you that have commented about a child being involved in the Terry Bleacher sting. It is doubtful that there was a juvenile involved in the sting operation. Most likely it is an undercover officer that looks very young and was using a fake ID. So don’t worry about a child being involved and the impact on it.
AS for ‘it being odd’ that Terry had a pocket recorder — well not really. I do not know Terry’s reasons.
I do know that my husband carries on in his pocket to make quick notes, ideas about writing and projects and so on. They are great for recording family history interviews …. Handy devices.
Hey, all I’m trying to point out is there are a few unanswered questions here and when all the facts come out, the facts should determine the entire picture and then the chips can land where they may.
Too many people have the habit of crucifying people too quick around Peoria (and I’ve probably been one of them time to time myself).
To The Mouse, haven’t we all ran across those sorts before? I just know better not to tick off a cop or someone that can lock me up.
Besides, for all we know Beachler might be cut from the same cloth of Chase Ingersoll.
Police cigarette stings: entrapment.
Police gas station, liquor store and bar booze stings: entrapment.
Police roadblocks: infringement of Constitutional rights.
Police prostitution snares: entrapment.
Government surveillance of U.S. citizens via the Patriot Act: unconstitutional.
Entry of U.S.
citizen’s homes without a warrant: unconstitutional.
Illegal firing of federal judges who would stop this nonsense: impeachable.
The dogged idiocy of conservatives that continue to support government leadership that furthers the above transgressions of our Constitution: priceless.
“Jack-booted thuggery” was heartily endorsed, nay, mandated, by the people who elected (?) our current leaders in the last federal election. The “religious right” that elected our current leader (and now abandoned him) cried about how they would surely give up some of the rights that our fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, etc. fought for since the Revolution. Sadly, some liberal lawmakers agreed. It’s time to change course and demand our rights back. And this begins with things like local “stings” that encroach our rights right here in Peoria.
The Peoria police chief seems to relish in posting arrested prostitutes and johns on his website,along with his agenda of curbing jaywalkers and clensing his town of bass-heavy stereos in private vehicles. Now it seems as if curbing underage smoking is a justifiable use of our tax dollars.
Police efforts in this town need to focus on gang thuggery (armed daylight robbery at Allen Rd. Wal-Mart), child molestation (schools,unsolved rapes) and responding in a timely and courteous manner to taxpayer’s emergencies.
Our country’s top leaders also need to reprioritize what are justifiable uses for our tax dollars in fighting “crime.”
My kids mp3 players have built-in recorders.
Libby Left: It’s not a right vs. left; liberal vs. conservative, issue. A lot of people on both sides of that divide believe the ends justifies the means, and a lot of people on both sides of that divide do not belive that. All sane people (luckily, still a majority of both sides) believe that crime is bad, and should be combated. The debate we are not having – in part because of the ideological divide you unfortunately are caught up in – is what is permissible to fight crime; what is not permissible; where should our resources go, and things like that.
The Police are trying to do a difficult job that needs to be done (I resisted using Joe Friday’s famous line). 99% of the time they deserve our support. Despite rhetoric to the contrary, most all of us know that. Think, if you are alone walking downtown at night, do you feel better if you see a police officer coming up behind you, or someone that looks like a thug? That said, when the police step out of line, they have to be called to account. You cannot just point to the 99% of the time, and say, oh well, we can overlook the other 1%. That is the road to tyranny.
You are linked on HOI News
When I was a kid – I wanted to grow up to be a Police officer because they get cats out of trees and help people. After reading all the blogs and listening to the audio tape made at Beechler’s station – I’m glad I chose another profession. It’s still my expectation that Policemen act professionally regardless of their interpretation of the events surrounding their activities. That’s why they have training – to be objective and forceful when required. The threats made to the station clerk were anything but objective and professional. Yes, policemen have a gun and handcuffs but their training identifies these resources to be a last resort rather than tools to bully citizens upon initial contact. Is there really anybody out there in this cyber-world that believes Jordan was professional and acted in the best interests of the Peoria community in threatening a gas station clerk with arrest for following station policies (during his initial greeting)?