BROKEN ARROW — D. Mitchell Garrett Jr., the attorney for Broken Arrow Police Chief Lance Arnold, released a statement Monday about the Chief’s investigation.
In a statement to KRMG, the attorney says Arnold was accused of saying he called the incident in question a “technicality” but denies the Chief said that.
The investigation is reportedly over a warrantless search that occurred, how it was handled by Chief Arnold, and an email that followed.
The attorney says officers were retrained on warrantless arrests and entries, and the city’s legal department approved the training.
He also says Chief Arnold will attend his interview with the city but claims he is not allowed to attend with his client, and they won’t know the subject of the questioning until the interview starts. Garrett says they’ve asked the city to reconsider the terms of the interview.
Here’s the email sent to KRMG:
D. Mitchell Garrett Jr., attorney for Broken Arrow Police Chief Lance Arnold
“The City says Chief Arnold’s March 27 email speaks for itself. We agree, and we hope people will read what he wrote.
He asked whether there had been a policy violation and answered the question himself: “Technically, yes.” He asked who is responsible when policy and practice don’t align, or when officers haven’t been given the training they need, and he answered, “Ultimately, ME.” He told every officer, “We will absolutely hold each other accountable.”
The City Manager’s email ordering that message rescinded says Chief Arnold called the conflict a technicality. He never used that word.
After the review, the department retrained its officers on warrantless arrests and entries. The City’s legal department approved that training, and a City attorney attended. Chief Arnold sent his email on March 27. The City’s directive rescinding it came more than six months later, on the day the City placed him on leave.
Chief Arnold will attend his interview and answer the City’s questions. The City has told us in writing that it will not give further detail about the allegations or the policies at issue, will not allow his lawyer to attend, and will tell him the subject of the interview only when questioning begins. A fair process tells the person being investigated what he is answering for. We have asked the City to reconsider.
Chief Arnold agrees that officers deserve clear direction on the Fourth Amendment. That is why he had them retrained. Out of respect for the people involved, he will not discuss the arrest itself. He looks forward to a fair investigation and to getting back to work.”
