Town council to investigate police action
By TIM LOGAN
News Editor
The two off-duty police officers who arrested four Notre Dame students at Denny's Diner on Sunday, Feb. 27, will go before their town council for an investigation and possible disciplinary action, Roseland police chief Larry Miller said Wednesday.
"Due to the situation, it will be reviewed by the town council," Miller said at a press conference.
He said he would likely recommend an executive meeting when the Council gathers today.
Miller said, however, that he stands behind all the arrests, even the first one inside the restaurant, which he had termed "questionable." The officers involved, both the two who worked at Denny's and the three who responded to the scene, are all on active duty, except for one who is currently on his honeymoon, Miller said.
None of the officers have been named.
The executive meeting will likely take place next week.
The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's office will leave disciplining the officers up to Roseland authorities, according to Chris Toth, county prosecutor.
Toth said that he understands Miller's support for his men, and that they see the issue from different perspectives.
The two officers who were employed as security officers for Denny's were fired after the incident, company management said Tuesday. In confronting customers, they acted outside the scope of their authority, said Ray Hood-Phillips, chief diversity officer for the restaurant chain.
"It is a cardinal rule that security never approaches our guests," Hood-Phillips said.
She added that security officers are to inform management when they see a potential problem and allow management to handle the situation first. Denny's managers were never involved in the incident on Feb. 27.
Tiffany Johnson and April Allen, two freshmen who were arrested and who spoke at a press conference Wednesday, did not say whether or not they would file civil charges against the officers, the town of Roseland or Denny's.
All News Stories for Thursday, March 9, 2000
