by Greg Miller - Investigative Reporter
PARKERSBURG, WV - Mr. Libert has filed a lawsuit against the Parkersburg Police Department following an alleged illegal search and invasion of privacy against an officer who identified himself as "Santa Claus". Libert was granted a court order requiring the police department to disclose the actual name of the Santa Claus cop. The police department has not responded to the court order.
On September 29, 2008 a Parkersburg police officer showed up at Libert's home and stated "We have an emergency situation, child endangered". Libert asked the officer for his name, the officer responded "this is Santa Clause" and demanded to enter the home. Without permission or a search warrant the officer went into the rear bedroom and ordered Libert to remove a security security camera that was pointing towards a fence on his property.
Libert advised us that he installed a security camera because of problems of vandalism and trespassing by juveniles. He has reported complaints to the police department several times with no success at stopping the problems.
A lawsuit was filed against the police department along with a court order signed by a judge ordering the police department to identify the Santa Claus police officer. The deadline to answer the order has passed with no response from police department or the city attorney's office.
PCC staff spoke to Capt K.D. Roberts who said a police officer is required to identify themselves by their actual name upon request by a citizen. The city attorney, Joe Santer, was not available to comment as to why they failed to answer the court order.
Any professional police officer should be required to disclose their real name to a requesting citizen and not give a false name to prevent a citizen from making a complaint against them. Additionally, a police officer should be an effective communicator and not misuse their authority in issues involving a citizen's right to privacy.
PARKERSBURG, WV - Mr. Libert has filed a lawsuit against the Parkersburg Police Department following an alleged illegal search and invasion of privacy against an officer who identified himself as "Santa Claus". Libert was granted a court order requiring the police department to disclose the actual name of the Santa Claus cop. The police department has not responded to the court order.
On September 29, 2008 a Parkersburg police officer showed up at Libert's home and stated "We have an emergency situation, child endangered". Libert asked the officer for his name, the officer responded "this is Santa Clause" and demanded to enter the home. Without permission or a search warrant the officer went into the rear bedroom and ordered Libert to remove a security security camera that was pointing towards a fence on his property.
Libert advised us that he installed a security camera because of problems of vandalism and trespassing by juveniles. He has reported complaints to the police department several times with no success at stopping the problems.
A lawsuit was filed against the police department along with a court order signed by a judge ordering the police department to identify the Santa Claus police officer. The deadline to answer the order has passed with no response from police department or the city attorney's office.
PCC staff spoke to Capt K.D. Roberts who said a police officer is required to identify themselves by their actual name upon request by a citizen. The city attorney, Joe Santer, was not available to comment as to why they failed to answer the court order.
Any professional police officer should be required to disclose their real name to a requesting citizen and not give a false name to prevent a citizen from making a complaint against them. Additionally, a police officer should be an effective communicator and not misuse their authority in issues involving a citizen's right to privacy.
Parkersburg Police Dept. like to classify people with legitimate complaints as "nutcases" their favorite professional term, but there must be an awful lot of nutcases such as the local lawyers who term bad Pburg cops as "plentiful"!
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