Tim.Thielbar@mcd911.net He mentioned seeing Confederate flags on the walls, dining room table and garage. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. 1119, Deasha Hill He describes himself as an amateur historian who likes to collect antique items from that time period. In his Facebook post, Mathis said he also saw Confederate flags throughout the home. Application Was Found in His Home, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/13/us/officer-charles-anderson-ku-klux-klan.html. "We would not take back what weve done no matter how weve been treated or portrayed," Reyna Mathis said. 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. The department assures the public that they are investigating the allegations. The comments on that post exploded, Calhoun said, leading to the citys decision to place Anderson on leave and conduct the investigation. DETROIT A Michigan police officer was embroiled in controversy last month after a man discovered Ku Klux Klan memorabilia inside his home,which was up for sale. The county prosecutor at the time determined that Mr. Anderson had shot in self-defense and cleared him of any wrongdoing. application had drawn hundreds of messages, some supporting what he had done and others condemning or threatening him. Peterson said the entire inquiry report would likely be released sometime next week. In addition, Lewis said he reviewed the case of Andersons fatal shooting of Julius Johnson, an unarmed Black man, who investigators determined was getting the best of Anderson in a physical fight after fleeing from a traffic stop. Acomplaint in 2010 alleged that he acted "rudely and disrespectfully" when he arrestedtwo people and usedpepper spray. Anderson was fired in September following the release of the 421-page investigation by Muskegon Public Safety Director Jeffrey Lewis and Muskegon City Manager Peterson. In the report, Mathis said he toured the home because he and Reyna were looking for a residence that had a significant amount of land so the two of them, along with their 12-year-old daughter and 21-year-old son, could spend more time outdoors. August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM On December 31, 2020 Anderson will have accrued a total of 25 years and two months of service credit. They shall respect and protect the rights of individuals and perform their services with honesty, zeal, courage, discretion, integrity, dedication and sound judgment. IE 11 is not supported. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on September 12 following an investigation after potential homebuyers said they saw a . It also said officers shall "perform all duties impartially, without favor or affection or ill will and without regard to status, sex, race, religion, political belief or aspiration," according to MLive.com. Anderson was fired in September following the release of the 421-page investigation by Muskegon Public Safety Director Jeffrey Lewis and Muskegon City Manager Peterson. 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. Deasha.Hill@mcd911.net They said they were looking for a home with plenty of land to host their children and grandchildren and initially were excited about the potential of Andersons home. The Mathises said they eventually decided to post on Facebook what they had seen out of concern that Black citizens could run into trouble with Anderson if they encountered him on the streets. Sign up for email updates from the City of Muskegon, including information on major events, traffic and other important city projects. 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. The Ku Klux Klan document Robert Mathis says was on display at Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson's house. The executive summary noted two citizen complaints against Anderson that the department was aware of. All parties agree not to file suit, submit charge, claim, or complaint to any agency, court, or judicial forum. 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. Officer Andersons wife, Rachael Anderson, told WOOD-TV, a local television station, that her husband was not a Klan member. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. The first thing I noticed walking through the dining room was a Confederate flag placemat on the table, Mr. Mathis said. All Rights Reserved. "I told my son, 'let's go, we're getting out of here. Reyna Mathis, the realtor and Anderson's colleagues were also interviewed for the report. Still, the couple said, they have no regrets in reporting what they witnessed. The separation agreement states Anderson will remain on unpaid status until December 30, 2020. The. 1117 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. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Prosecutors:US Army soldier planned to kill 'antifa' activists, bomb a major news network. 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. Neither Anderson nor the officers union, the Police Officers Labor Council, could immediately be reached for comment. Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect, CDC warns drug-resistant stomach bug a "serious public health threat". Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson will retire with full benefits at the end of 2020, according to a separation agreement with the city. His charges included resisting an officer and fleeing. 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. The Mathises discuss the backlash they received, including receiving threats and having racial slurs hurled at them. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent Ku Klux Klan document was seen framed on a wall of his home. In October2008, Reyna Mathis was involved in a bar fight and accused of assaulting another person. Reyna went to jail for the incident. D.J. 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. 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. They also had seen Andersons Muskegon Police uniform and realized a police officer owned the home, the couple said. Reyna was jailedfor obstruction and assault on an officer. Ext. Michigan police officer fired after a framed Ku Klux Klan application, was fired from the Muskegon Police Department. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Monday Thursday: 8:00am 5:30pm "The emotional health and safety of this community is what is most important to me," Lewis said Friday, adding that the city and county "are very serious about this." 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. 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. The authorities said that Mr. Johnson had repeatedly hit the officer in the head with a blunt object. Officer Charles Anderson of the. 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 Mr. Mathis said he reached out to Officer Anderson and Chief Lewis but never heard from them. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. I was disgusted even being in that house.. If you have any questions or are looking for further information, please call, send us an email, or visit us. The former police officer did not remove the item from the wall because he forgot it was in his antique collection room. Janelle Griffith is a national reporter for NBC News focusing on issues of race and policing. He said his wife was upset, and he told her, Were getting out of here. The realtor was very apologetic, he added. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. After seeing the framed KKK document, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Application for Citizenship, Army veteran and prospective homebuyer Rob Mathis took to Facebook to share what he saw. His post went viral. Have a news tip? [Go here for more about police violence and unrest]. 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. 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. 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. When asked if hecontactedone of the owners, Mathis said he did not. After he posted the picture of the application and the messages poured in, he said, he was trying to explain all of this to my 12-year-old daughter., Its a bad apple, not all law enforcement, Mr. Mathis said. ", Example video title will go here for this video. 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.. According to WZZM-TV, the report gave Peterson enough reason to fire Anderson this month. A five-page separation agreement between the City of Muskegon, officer Charles Anderson, and the Police Officers Labor Council was signed by all parties in April. The radio program explores other complaints against Anderson, including one in which he ended up pepper-spraying elderly people at a backyard birthday party when he responded to a noise complaint. Anderson told MLive.com he was advised not to comment amid the investigation. Patrick.Vandommelen2@mcd911.net This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. . Ext. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He also said that the police had warned him about a death threat. A report detailing the investigation into Anderson was released online Monday by the. All Rights Reserved. Anderson was pursuing 23-year-old Julius Johnson during a traffic stop on Sept. 23, 2009. Ext. The official investigation by the city of Muskegon into the officer's past gets underway- and we have a transcript of what went down! The report confirmed that the officer had six encounters with Robert and Reyna Mathis, datingto July 2008. I wanted to shield her from this.. 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. The city and Anderson agree neither party will publicly disparage the other party, including, "comments or statements to the press. Technically, he signed a separation agreement and walked away with his pension and health insurance. 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. Mathis was disturbed not only by the flag but also because Anderson was a police officer. Following Mathis' allegations, Anderson, who has been on the force more than 20 years, was put on leave indefinitely, City Manager Frank Peterson said Thursday. Sign up for email updates from the City of Muskegon, including information on major events, traffic and other important city projects. 2023 City of Muskegon. The Ku Klux Klan document Robert Mathis says was on display at Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson's house. 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.. Close alerts. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Now, the. This is a Klan house, really, we have to go right now.' In 2009, Anderson fatally shot a 23-year-old unarmed Black man Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 2023 City of Muskegon. The Muskegon Police Department Policy and Procedure Order states that officers' decorum and behavior should not "undercut public trust" in the department. The former officer said the reason for having the items is his love for history anda classic TV show. First published on August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM. It was basically telling me, whites only to purchase his house. He said that he and his wife, brother and son had toured the officers house in early August with a realtor. I guess I can't answer that question," Hilson told the newspaper. However, he did interview Andersons wife, Rachel, about their interest in collecting historic and vintage items. Follow Micah Walker on Twitter:@Micah_walker701. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. All rights reserved (About Us). He will not be paid, and has not been, since. She was sentenced to 60 days and $414 in fines. 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. / CBS/AP. His wife, Rachael Anderson, told WOOD-TV her husband isn't a Klan member. When Calhoun pressed her on how that might be offensive and scary to some people, Rachel Anderson said that didnt change her opinion. Full credit: Kayla Renie/Muskegon Chronicle/AP. The report states they refused to comply with Andersons commands and Reyna Mathis "struck him in the face and eye with her hand." 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. Charles Anderson was terminated after a Thursday morning hearing. 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. ARPA Community Grant Program Details + Application The citizen complaints were investigated by the department and Anderson was exonerated in both cases, the report states. Neither Anderson nor the officers union, the Police Officers Labor Council, could immediately be reached for comment Monday. Hilson told the outlet in Aug. I guess I cant answer that question. During Anderson's remaining time on no-pay statues he'll not have access to employment-related benefits. racist memorabilia found in his home that was for sale, was placed on administrative leave last month. It is essential that all members, in the execution of their duties, act not for themselves but for the good of the public. Anderson was placed on leave pending an investigation that began Aug. 8. ARPA Details Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. However, Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. 1117, Patrick Vandommelen Officer Charles Anderson. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. Related: Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. And when he went upstairs, he saw the framed K.K.K. In September 2019, five weeks after their Facebook post about the discovery, city officials concluded that Anderson had lost the publics trust and was fired. 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.. The inquiry into Anderson unearthed new complaints made against him that Lewis said will be investigated, according to the report. . The city's investigation claims items with images of Confederate flags at Anderson's home were part of a "Dukes of Hazzard" collection. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) A Muskegon police officer is under investigation and on paid administrative leave after items associated with a white supremacy group were found at his home. The police department is doing its due diligence with the investigation, Chief Jeffrey Lewis told MLive.com. Anderson was cleared of any wrongdoing in that 2009 incident. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Rob Mathis, the prospective homebuyer, posted on Facebook. 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. Related Story: Michigan Police Officer Charles Anderson on Leave After KKK Items Found in his Home. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP Link copied 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. Officer Anderson On the Job. He said in a news interview with MLive that Reyna is a native of Muskegon, Michigan. Though Muskegon has a majority white population, over 31% of residents are Black. According to the findings of an investigation from the county's prosecutor, Johnson beat Anderson in. Whether or not officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not, would that move the needle one way or another? Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Ten years ago, Officer Anderson shot and killed Julius Johnson, an unarmed black man, during a foot chase. 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. This is, this is, oh, Im getting out of here,' " he said. 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. 1119 Police Clerk Deasha Hill Deasha.Hill@mcd911.net Ext. application hanging on the wall. I first read about this a couple years ago in the newspaper, the story with the attention-grabbing power of a bad joke. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice, on March 20, 2019. Effective December 31, 2020, Anderson's employment with the city will end by way of his retirement. Nothing was revealed to us that shocked us, Chief Lewis said of the investigation. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent . I said I cannot in good conscience bring him back here and put him on the streets of this town, Lewis told Calhoun. Anderson had worked at the Muskegon Police Department for 20 years prior to being terminated. 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. Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. (12 minutes) Although Rob and Reyna Mathis originally debated whether to share the photos publicly, they said they felt a need to inform the community about what they had witnessed. Charles Anderson, the Michigan police officer found to have KKK memorabilia in his home, has been fired following a disciplinary hearing within the Muskegon Police Department. 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. The paper reported that Anderson was cleared of fatally shooting a black man, Julius Johnson, 23, following a traffic stop in 2009. However, it does outline that officers should not conduct themselves in a way that would compromise public trust. Mr. Mathis, 52, an Army veteran who is black, said that the picture he had posted on Facebook of the K.K.K. He posted a picture on Facebook of a framed KKK application he found. "I don't know. Johnson had scuffled with Anderson, who was beaten in the head. I need a completed internal investigation.". Officer Charles Anderson was terminated after a disciplinary hearing concluded Thursday afternoon, Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson told NBC News.