Washington internal review of jail incident to be discussed Thursday
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Washington council members are expected to discuss at their voting meeting Thursday the city police department’s internal review of a police officer’s involvement in an incident at the Washington County jail in May.
Surveillance video shows the officer, Joseph Moore, handcuffing jail Capt. Wendy Harris on May 27 after she declined to immediately accept a prisoner. Harris allegedly did not accept Moore’s prisoner, Benjamin Burgess, 34, of Washington, due to his pre-existing medical condition. Burgess had been arrested for driving under the influence.
When Harris told Moore Burgess first needed to be cleared by a doctor, Moore handcuffed Harris and said he would file a charge against her. No charge was filed against her, and Moore was placed on administrative duty June 15, the same day an initial story about the incident appeared in the Observer-Reporter.
Harris has filed a writ of summons indicating her intention to file a lawsuit against Moore, the City of Washington and the city police department in Washington County Court.
According to Chief Robert Wilson, his department completed its internal review of the incident two weeks ago, which Wilson had been reviewing along with Mayor Scott Putnam.
Putnam said Monday the internal review will be brought up at Thursday’s 7 p.m. council meeting and action could be taken.