I guess I can't answer that question," Hilson told the newspaper. When asked if hecontactedone of the owners, Mathis said he did not. Anderson was cleared in late 2009 of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. We hope that you find the information on our website helpful and easy to find. All Rights Reserved. The. "I was just so disgusted," Mathis told MLive.com. Ext. In an interview with the city, Anderson confirmed that he had a Confederate flag hanging in his garage, a flag-decorated hot pad on his dining room table and a framed, blank copy of a KKK application from the 1920s. I said I cannot in good conscience bring him back here and put him on the streets of this town, Lewis told Calhoun. [Go here for more about police violence and unrest]. Patrick.Vandommelen2@mcd911.net Get the top DEI news delivered straight to your inbox, Michigan Police Officer Charles Anderson on Leave After KKK Items Found in his Home, fatally shot a 23-year-old unarmed Black man Julius Allen-Ray Johnson, 5 Biggest News Stories of the Week: February 23, 5 Biggest News Stories of the Week: February 17, Race, Homelessness and the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility, How Companies Are Celebrating Black History Month, 5 Biggest News Stories of the Week: February 9. Anderson adamantly denied he is a part of the KKK and pointed out that as a Catholic, he would be considered "a target" of the hate group. Tim.Thielbar@mcd911.net In it, Lewis said Anderson is seen, seemingly unprovoked, shoving an elderly woman to the ground in an act Lewis found just inappropriatejust wrong., He also considered the concerns about Anderson that other officers had confided in the chief and an incident where Anderson told a female business owner to shut up, he told This American Life.. He mentioned seeing Confederate flags on the walls, dining room table and garage. I first read about this a couple years ago in the newspaper, the story with the attention-grabbing power of a bad joke. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. It is essential that all members, in the execution of their duties, act not for themselves but for the good of the public. Charles Anderson was placed on leave last month after a prospective home buyer said they saw a Ku Klux Klan application and Confederate flags in his house. The Ku Klux Klan document Robert Mathis says was on display at Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson's house. Mathis, who is black, previously told NBC News he did not know or disclose the officer's identity in the post, but that other social media users identified him in the comment thread. Application Was Found in His Home, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/13/us/officer-charles-anderson-ku-klux-klan.html. . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Monday Thursday: 8:00am 5:30pm The former police officer did not remove the item from the wall because he forgot it was in his antique collection room. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice on March 20, 2019. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. Frank Peterson, the city manager of Muskegon, confirmed on Friday that the officer, Charles Anderson, had been terminated, but said a report on the inquiry conducted by the Muskegon Police Department would not be released until next week. Muskegon, MI - The veteran Muskegon police officer who was fired after a complaint that he had a vintage Ku Klux Klan (KKK) application hanging in his house had previous run-ins with his accusers. The public radio program aired the first part, titled A Couple Walks Into a House on Jan. 21, and the second part, A City Walks Into an Investigation on Jan. 28. Have a news tip? Radio producer Ben Calhoun explored how the Mathises were negatively impacted by the case, other complaints regarding Andersons interaction with Black citizens and the difficulty in rooting out racist officers. Officer Charles Anderson testifies in Muskegon, Michigan, March 20, 2019. Hilson had previously told MLive that the results of the police department investigation will play a role in determining whether the prosecutors office will reopen the 2009 case. "I don't know. Charles Anderson, who had been with the Muskegon Police Department for more than two decades, denied ever being a Ku Klux Klan member or supporter. I wish we could because it would probably set a lot of things straight., MLive, a media company based in Grand Rapids, reported that the Police Departments policy manual does not specifically ban private displays of prejudice, but says officers should perform all duties impartially, without favor or affection or ill will and without regard to status, sex, religion, political belief or aspiration.. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. The authorities said that Mr. Johnson had repeatedly hit the officer in the head with a blunt object. "I feel as though we are being punished because of something we saw in a home that we never asked to see.". Related Story: Michigan Police Officer Charles Anderson on Leave After KKK Items Found in his Home. They both exited the vehicle and refused the officer's orders. Hilson, Muskegons current county prosecutor, told The Muskegon Chronicle that he might re-evaluate the 2009 shooting, depending on the results of the Police Departments internal investigation. That was the owner of the house, Officer Charles Anderson, who, at the time, was a 21-year veteran of the Muskegon Police Department. Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. A Michigan police officer has been fired from the Muskegon Police Department following an inquiry into racist memorabilia found in his home that was for sale. application hanging on the wall. The police department is doing its due diligence with the investigation, Chief Jeffrey Lewis told MLive.com. "He can't say anything right now. Effective December 31, 2020, Anderson's employment with the city will end by way of his retirement. In his Facebook post, Mathis said he also saw Confederate flags throughout the home. Mr. Mathis said he reached out to Officer Anderson and Chief Lewis but never heard from them. Hilson told the outlet in Aug. I guess I cant answer that question. She was sentenced to 60 days and $414 in fines. Anderson said he feared for his life, according to the findings of an investigation report created by then-Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague. Anderson was cleared of any wrongdoing in. All Rights Reserved. 2023 City of Muskegon. Read MLive coverage of the Charles Anderson case: Fired Muskegon officers personnel file reflects shooting incidents, high praise, Mortified Michigan couple talk about finding KKK memorabilia in officers home, City fires police officer who had KKK memorabilia in home, Ex-police officer says KKK document was an antique, denies being racist, Interview with ex-officer sheds light on racist memorabilia found in home. . / CBS/AP. Muskegon, MI Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson has been placed on paid vacation and not fired after racist KKK memorabilia was discovered in his home. Janelle Griffith is a national reporter for NBC News focusing on issues of race and policing. Full credit: Kayla Renie/Muskegon Chronicle/AP. Hilson said the investigation's results will drive reconsideration of the 2009 case, according to MLive.com. Anderson, who had been with the department for more than two decades, denied ever being a KKK member or supporter and said that the Confederate items Mathis saw in his home are a "very small part" of an extensive collection of "Dukes of Hazard memorabilia he has spent decades gathering, according to the report. The paper reported that Anderson was cleared of fatally shooting a black man, Julius Johnson, 23, following a traffic stop in 2009. Prosecutors:US Army soldier planned to kill 'antifa' activists, bomb a major news network. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A report by then-Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague found that Julius Johnson hit Anderson in the head with a police radio and "another blunt object" and noted that Anderson was forced to get a . Officer Charles Anderson. Ebony Davis, a social justice advocate working with the Mathis family to push for law enforcement transparency, said: We want to bridge the gap between the community and the police, because the next generation has to live in this community, a community thats pretty diverse., Michigan Police Officer Is Terminated After K.K.K. The Mathises discuss the backlash they received, including receiving threats and having racial slurs hurled at them. Charles Anderson was terminated after a Thursday morning hearing. On December 31, 2020 Anderson will have accrued a total of 25 years and two months of service credit. The This American Life programs include interviews with the couple, Rob and Reyna Mathis; Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson; Muskegon Police Chief Jeffrey Lewis; and Andersons wife, Rachel Anderson. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. Instead, the city released the more than 400-page investigative report that didnt find any pattern of problems with Black citizens that Lewis said hed uncovered. Robert was issued a citation and released from the scene. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI The case of a Muskegon police officer fired after Confederate flags and KKK memorabilia were found in his home was the subject of a two-part series by the This American Life radio program that examines the difficulty of rooting racism out of police forces. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. This is, this is, oh, Im getting out of here,' " he said. In 2009, Anderson fatally shot a 23-year-old unarmed Black man Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. The report includes an executive summary written by Muskegon Police Chief Jeffrey Lewis that concluded that some community leaders indicated that they had lost faith in Anderson and in the entire police department as a result of Anderson's actions. The city announced on Aug. 8 that Officer Anderson, who is white and had been with the department for more than two decades, had been placed on administrative leave after he was found in possession of certain items associated with a white supremacist group. That announcement came one day after Rob Mathis, the prospective homebuyer, posted on Facebook the photo of the application, which is blank. Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed. The document was obtained by 13 On Your Side through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request this week. I need a completed internal investigation.. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Lewis was not sure if an officer keeping such items in his home would violate department policies. A white Michigan police officer fired after a framed Ku Klux Klan application and Confederate flags were found in his home, denied being a racist in an inquiry into the items and said he collected antiques and memorabilia linked to The Dukes of Hazzard television series. A second citizen complaint from 2016 involved a DUI arrest in which Anderson did not secure a vehicle after the arrest and did not return a person's driver's license, according to the report. They shall respect and protect the rights of individuals and perform their services with honesty, zeal, courage, discretion, integrity, dedication and sound judgment. I feel sick to my stomach knowing that I walk to the home of one of the most racist people in Muskegon hiding behind his uniform and possibly harassing people of color and different nationalities, Mathis says in the post. Anderson told MLive.com he was advised not to comment amid the investigation. Because he was a police officer, it was my moral obligation to say something about it.. Referring to Officer Anderson, Mr. Mathis said: Its unfortunate that hes in our community, because he might have put people in jail on false charges, especially minorities. A two-part series by the "This American Life" public radio program explores the case of former Muskegon Police Officer Charles Chuck Anderson, shown here in a file photo, who was fired after a Black couple from Muskegon, potential homebuyers, reported on social media they found racist material in Andersons Holton home that was for sale. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice, on March 20, 2019. He will not be paid, and has not been, since. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) A white Michigan police officer whose house had an apparent Ku Klux Klan document on display and for sale has been fired. Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed. Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. Address Police Department City Hall1st Floor 933 Terrace St Muskegon, MI 49440 Hours Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 5:30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed Phone (231) 724-6903 Fax (231) 724-2043 Send a message Document Search Stay Connected Rachel Anderson said she was the one who found the KKK application in an antique shop and thought it was so cool and would look good in their house. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. RELATED: Report: Fired Muskegon officer says he's an antique collector. First published on August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM. The Muskegon Police Department Policy and Procedure Order states that officers' decorum and behavior should not "undercut public trust" in the department. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Address 1990 E. Apple Avenue Muskegon, MI 49442 Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:45 PM (Closed 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM for Lunch Hour) Contact Phone: (231) 777-1666 (For Non-Emergencies Only) FOR ALL EMERGENCIES DIAL 911 Chief of Police Tim A. Thielbar Tim.Thielbar@mcd911.net Ext. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Records from the Michigan Department of Corrections show Robertson was arrested in Muskegon County in 2006 and served 12 years in prison. The stationreported that since posting the KKK application on Facebook, Robert and Reyna Mathis have receiveddeath threats. "If he had just been anybody else," he said, "I wouldve just told my wife, you know, lets put an offer in on the house.". Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson will retire with full benefits at the end of 2020, according to a separation agreement with the city. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent . And when he went upstairs, he saw the framed K.K.K. Rob Mathis posted this photo of a framed Ku Klux Klan application, which he said he had seen hanging in the house of Officer Charles Anderson, on Facebook last month. Rob Mathis, the prospective homebuyer, posted on Facebook. 1117 He was cleared of wrongdoing in the 2009 shooting of an unarmed black man, who, an investigation found, used Anderson's police radio and . https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214761835347198&set=a.1058959801946&type=3. 2023 City of Muskegon. The shooting was determined to be an act of self-defense. D.J. This prompted calls for the firing of the 24-year force . Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson was placed on paid administrative leave after a house hunter who was viewing the officer's home said he saw a framed Ku Klux Klan application and multiple Confederate flags. His wife, Rachael Anderson, told WOOD-TV her husband isn't a Klan member. The Muskegon Police Department, Officer Anderson and the Police Officers Association of Michigan did not immediately respond to calls and emails seeking comment on Friday. Officer Andersons wife, Rachael Anderson, told WOOD-TV, a local television station, that her husband was not a Klan member. His charges included resisting an officer and fleeing. Neither Anderson nor the officers union, the Police Officers Labor Council, could immediately be reached for comment Monday. During Anderson's 22-year career as a police officer, he had two complaints made against him. He posted a picture on Facebook of a framed KKK application he found. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice, on March 20, 2019. 1117, Patrick Vandommelen The former officer said the reason for having the items is his love for history anda classic TV show. The report confirmed that the officer had six encounters with Robert and Reyna Mathis, datingto July 2008. I was disgusted even being in that house.. He said if Robert and Reyna Mathis had contacted him, he would have explained why he had those items and apologized. The Muskegon County prosecutors office earlier told MLive that it will wait for the results of the police department's inquiry before it decides whether to reevaluate a 2009 incident in which Anderson fatally shot a 23-year-old unarmed black man. Though Muskegon has a majority white population, over 31% of residents are Black. As the family walked around, he said, his wife noticed a police officers coat, and he saw two more Confederate flags in the garage. There was another incident involving the Mathises themselves, who said they didnt realize their run-in was with Anderson, in which Reyna Mathis initially was charged with assaulting Anderson. All parties agree not to file suit, submit charge, claim, or complaint to any agency, court, or judicial forum. Police officers will, therefore, avoid any conduct that might compromise integrity and thus undercut the public confidence in the officer or this law or this law enforcement agency, it says. 8617, Amy Gerard Anyone can read what you share. Through the professional practice of law enforcement and in partnership with our citizenry, we will create and maintain a safe and secure community; protecting life and property, reducing crime, responding with compassion and establishing a high level of public trust that together improves the quality of life in our community. "This whole situation is very disheartening," Reyna Mathis said. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. They said they thought it odd there were items with Confederate flags in the garage and home, but Rob Mathis told Calhoun he was undone when he saw a framed application to join the KKK in one of the bedrooms. Mathis, who is Black, said he felt disgusted by what he saw. Among new information Calhoun uncovered was the fact Lewis conducted his own investigation apart from the formal one conducted by the police departments internal affairs team that found, in the chiefs words, Anderson seemed to have a lot of problems with African Americans throughout his career., In coming to that conclusion, Lewis referenced earlier concerns about Anderson and recounted a cell phone video of Anderson he had seen online about a year earlier. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) The Muskegon police officer who had Ku Klux Klan memorabilia in his home has lost his job. The county prosecutor at the time determined that Mr. Anderson had shot in self-defense and cleared him of any wrongdoing. 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