Mathis, who is Black, said he felt disgusted by what he saw. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) The Muskegon police officer who had Ku Klux Klan memorabilia in his home has lost his job. The Muskegon Police Department Policy and Procedure Order does not specifically ban private displays of racist materials, MLive reports. 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. ARPA Community Grant Program Details + Application, Authorities & Business Improvement Districts, Lot Division/Combination and New Address Applications, 2008 Downtown and Lakeshore Redevelopment Plan, Muskegon Lake Shoreline Assessment Report, 1997 Downtown/Lakeshore Redevelopment Plan, Downtown Development Authority/Brownfield Redevelopment Board, Crime Activity and Traffic Team Lieutenant, Sanford St and Houston Ave Road Construction, Sherman Blvd and Glenside Blvd Road Construction, Roberts St Road Construction and Water Service Line Replacement, IA 19-06 Official Report Charles Anderson Inquiry with redactions. Follow Micah Walker on Twitter:@Micah_walker701. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Monday Thursday: 8:00am 5:30pm Mr. Mathis said he reached out to Officer Anderson and Chief Lewis but never heard from them. Lewis questioned Andersons claim that the Confederate flags in his home were part of an extensive Dukes of Hazzard television show collection, telling Calhoun that Anderson never produced requested photos of the collection and so That bucket didnt hold water.. "Whether or not officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not, would that move the needle one way or another? 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. On December 31, 2020 Anderson will have accrued a total of 25 years and two months of service credit. Peterson refused to provide further details about what was discussed during the disciplinary hearing, but said that a redacted version of the inquiry into . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. When asked if hecontactedone of the owners, Mathis said he did not. 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. Official Internal Investigations Report - Officer Anderson September 24, 2019 IA 19-06 Official Report Charles Anderson Inquiry with redactions [28MB PDF] Previous Next Document Search Stay Connected Sign up for email updates from the City of Muskegon, including information on major events, traffic and other important city projects. 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. Mathis, 52, a U.S. Army veteran, has said he felt morally obligated to report what he had witnessed. They also had seen Andersons Muskegon Police uniform and realized a police officer owned the home, the couple said. He bought the application about six years ago in Indiana. Hilson said the investigation's results will drive reconsideration of the 2009 case, according to MLive.com. Reyna and Robert Mathis said they believe the department tried to tarnish their images to make Anderson look good and as if the couple was seeking revenge after 11 years. The Muskegon Police Department announced on Aug. 8 that it had opened an internal investigation after a social media post was "brought to its attention" accusing the veteran officer of "being in possession of certain items associated with a white supremacy group.". Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson has been placed on leave pending an investigation into the couple's claims, the police department said. Mathis said in the post that he and his wife, Reyna, had been house hunting for more than a month and thought the house "would be perfect" for them. Authorities in Michigan may review a white police officer's fatal shooting of a black man in 2009 after an alleged Ku Klux Klan document was seen on display at the officer's house. (Kayla Renie/Muskegon Chronicle via AP) He said his wife was upset, and he told her, Were getting out of here. The realtor was very apologetic, he added. Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson and the city attorney's officereleased a 421-page reporton the investigation of Charles Anderson, as well as his history as a policeofficer before he was fired. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. The executive summary noted two citizen complaints against Anderson that the department was aware of. The county prosecutor at the time determined that Mr. Anderson had shot in self-defense and cleared him of any wrongdoing. Officer Anderson On the Job. According to WZZM-TV, the report gave Peterson enough reason to fire Anderson this month. He cant say anything right now, Ms. Anderson said. A police officer in Michigan was terminated on Thursday after a prospective homebuyer who had been touring the officers house posted a picture on social media of a framed Ku Klux Klan application he had seen there, spurring an internal investigation. 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. ", Example video title will go here for this video. ARPA Community Grant Program Details + Application An unsettling discovery in the home of a local police officer rocks an entire city. However, he did interview Andersons wife, Rachel, about their interest in collecting historic and vintage items. 1117 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. However, it does outline that officers should not conduct themselves in a way that would compromise public trust. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent . 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.. MUSKEGON, Mich. A white Muskegon police officer who displayed Ku Klux Klan memorabilia inside his home, which was up for sale, will retire with benefits from the department at the end of the year. Anderson "loves everything" about the show and has been to the fan convention, Duke Fest, several times. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. He will not be paid, and has not been, since. 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. The authorities said that Mr. Johnson had repeatedly hit the officer in the head with a blunt object. Reyna Mathis, the realtor and Anderson's colleagues were also interviewed for the report. He said that he and his wife, brother and son had toured the officers house in early August with a realtor. Anderson was cleared in late 2009 of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. As the family walked around, he said, his wife noticed a police officers coat, and he saw two more Confederate flags in the garage. Anderson said he feared for his life, according to the findings of an investigation report created by then-Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague. Former Muskegon police officer Charles Chuck Anderson was fired 10 days ago following an internal affairs investigation into the complaint by citizen Rob Mathis who saw a framed KKK. He mentioned seeing Confederate flags on the walls, dining room table and garage. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP Link copied Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. discovered Ku Klux Klan memorabilia inside his home, California utility cuts power to more than 20,000 customers, US Army soldier planned to kill 'antifa' activists, bomb a major news network, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. One from 2010 alleges Anderson "acted rudely and disrespectfully" during an incident which led to the use of pepper spray and two people being arrested, the report states. All Rights Reserved. In October2008, Reyna Mathis was involved in a bar fight and accused of assaulting another person. He was cleared of wrongdoing in the 2009 shooting of an unarmed black man, who, an investigation found, used Anderson's police radio and . 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. 1119 Police Clerk Deasha Hill Deasha.Hill@mcd911.net Ext. Neither Anderson nor the officers union, the Police Officers Labor Council, could immediately be reached for comment Monday. That was the owner of the house, Officer Charles Anderson, who, at the time, was a 21-year veteran of the Muskegon Police Department. 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. Anderson said the reason for the KKK application is related to his passion for U.S. history from the late 1800s to the 1960s. 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. The agreement also means a wrongful termination grievance Anderson and the Police Officers Labor Council filed against the city following the firing will be withdrawn. 8617, Amy Gerard The. Anderson placed Reyna under arrest for refusing to follow his orders, and she struck him in the face and eye with her hand, causing minor injury. 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. Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson will retire with full benefits at the end of 2020, according to a separation agreement with the city. Related: Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. During Anderson's remaining time on no-pay statues he'll not have access to employment-related benefits. I walked into the most racist home Ive ever been in in my life, Mr. Mathis said. 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. The City of Muskegon released a more than 400-page report on Monday that includes transcripts of interviews with Anderson and the man who posted images on social media that spurred the investigation, Robert Mathis. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson and the city attorney's office released a 421-page report on the investigation of Charles Anderson, as well as his history as a police officer before he. Neither Anderson nor the officers union, the Police Officers Labor Council, could immediately be reached for comment. In2016, a complaint stated that the officer did not give back a driver's license to an arrestee and that he did not secure a vehicle after the arrest. Mr. Mathis, 52, an Army veteran who is black, said that the picture he had posted on Facebook of the K.K.K. First published on August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM. 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. The citizen complaints were investigated by the department and Anderson was exonerated in both cases, the report states. 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. 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.. I wanted to shield her from this.. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on September 12 following an investigation after potential homebuyers said they saw a framed KKK application and Confederate. Although details of the investigation have not been released, Jeffrey Lewis, chief of the Police Department and Muskegons director of public safety, told the citys commissioners on Aug. 27, What you saw on social media is pretty much the way it is.. Mathis took photos of a framed KKK application and Confederate flags in Anderson's Holton Township house while touring it with his wife, Reyna Mathis, and a realtor in early August. Janelle Griffith is a national reporter for NBC News focusing on issues of race and policing. 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. The former officer said the reason for having the items is his love for history anda classic TV show. The comments on that post exploded, Calhoun said, leading to the citys decision to place Anderson on leave and conduct the investigation. Reyna was jailedfor obstruction and assault on an officer. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mathis is a U.S. Army veteran who was bornin Detroit. 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. Sign up for email updates from the City of Muskegon, including information on major events, traffic and other important city projects. "I told my son, 'let's go, we're getting out of here. "I was just so disgusted," Mathis told MLive.com. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices by 70%, cap monthly costs at $35, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak, Three officers shot, standoff follows in Kansas City, Mo., police say, Vanessa Bryant, family settle claims over Kobe crash site photos for $28.5M. I first read about this a couple years ago in the newspaper, the story with the attention-grabbing power of a bad joke. Anderson said the unsigned KKK application from the 1920s is a historic item, purchased from a vendor in Indiana and collected as part of his interest in American history and antiques. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice, on March 20, 2019. Wildfire threats loom:California utility cuts power to more than 20,000 customers. 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. [Go here for more about police violence and unrest]. 2023 City of Muskegon. "I don't know. 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. Acomplaint in 2010 alleged that he acted "rudely and disrespectfully" when he arrestedtwo people and usedpepper spray. It is essential that all members, in the execution of their duties, act not for themselves but for the good of the public. 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. The separation agreement states Anderson will remain on unpaid status until December 30, 2020. Anderson was placed on leave pending an investigation that began Aug. 8. The report also details a handful of encounters between Reyna and Robert Mathis and Anderson, including a 2008 incident in which he pulled them over for speeding. Ext. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. The report confirmed that the officer had six encounters with Robert and Reyna Mathis, datingto July 2008. The first thing I noticed walking through the dining room was a Confederate flag placemat on the table, Mr. Mathis said. application hanging on the wall. She said she only realized after the report was released Monday that the officer she was accused of assaulting was Anderson. 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