The city’s Independent Review Officer William Deaton cleared former Public Safety Director Darren White of any wrongdoing by exerting his position at the scene of a car accident involving White’s wife, Kathleen. The city released a redacted copy of Deaton’s investigation summary. Interim City Attorney Robert Kidd says the names are blacked out due to an union-city administration agreement. Deaton also found there was enough evidence to investigate Kathleen of DUI when on the morning of July 6, she crashed into a curb and told officers she was taking prescription drugs. White showed up with lights flashing and took her to the hospital himself. Allegations started circulating immediately about White trying to intimidate officers and of Deputy Chief Beth Paiz putting pressure on one of the responding officers to change drug details before turning in the accident report. Deaton’s findings say that paramedic and other witnesses at the scene did not think White was throwing his power around to remove his wife from scene. Nor did White intimidate them, the findings say. Deaton said he did not find any wrongdoing on the part of Deputy Chief Paiz asking a responding officer to take out references to prescription drugs. Deaton found enough evidence showing White abused his city vehicle and should not have used his lights in responding to the scene. The City Attorney’s office and the Mayor’s office released statements declining any comment on the report.On July 25, the City Council’s Internal Operations Committee approved asking the full Council to request the city’s new inspector general do an independent look at the incident. Council members have said they do not think Deaton’s office is the proper entity to do an impartial investigation. The next full Council meeting is set for 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 1, in the Council Chambers in the basement of City Hall.
Independent Review Officer Releases Findings In The Darren White Investigation
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