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'StreetBeat' inquiry concludes little about cops’ actions
December 21, 2006
By NICK MARTIN
TRIBUNE
Tempe blamed, but did not punish, two police officers on Wednesday for a city-produced TV program that showed one officer telling two black men they could dodge a littering ticket by performing a rap.
The results concluded a nearly three-week investigation into the November episode of "Tempe StreetBeat," a cable show that followed several officers on patrol in the city.
Publication info
This story originally ran Dec. 21, 2006 in the East Valley Tribune in Arizona.
The episode came under fire from two Valley minority rights leaders, the Revs. Jarrett Maupin and Oscar Tillman, late last month. Their outrage prompted Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman and Police Chief Tom Ryff to publicly apologize, halt production of the show and launch an inquiry.
But the investigation’s conclusions, which also were reviewed and approved by a board of Tempe citizens, seemed to open up a schism between the city and at least one of the civil rights leaders on Wednesday.
The review made several recommendations for the production of future shows on the city's public access cable Channel 11, which runs "StreetBeat," including putting a department in charge of reviewing content. But it said little about the actions of the officers that starred in and produced the show.
"We both agree that this stuff shouldn’t be broadcast," said Maupin, the head of Arizona's chapter of the National Action Network. "But I think that this type of stuff shouldn’t be happening."
Maupin said the review seemed to "explain away" the officers' actions. "If no one saw it ... I would still be outraged because of his (Sgt. Chuck Schoville's) behavior," he said.
Both Schoville, the show’s host who pulled over the two men, and officer Brandon Banks, the show’s producer who was with Schoville at the scene, declined to comment on the investigation, conducted in part by the police department’s internal investigators.
Still, Maupin sent a letter to Hallman on Wednesday describing Schoville as "a man of sincere service & integrity."
"I judged him not by the color of his skin or the badge he carries, but by the content of his character," Maupin wrote. "In my judgment, he is committed to serving ALL Tempe residents equally."
Tillman, the head of the Maricopa County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said he was "OK" with the results of the investigation and was ready to put it behind him.
The scene in question showed Schoville, who is white, pulling over two men, which the report identified as Louis Baker and Robert Tarvin, in the Arizona Mills mall parking lot in August. He told the men they could get out of a ticket "if the two of you just do a little rap ... about littering." The men performed raps and laughed about it afterward.
Moments later in a conversation about football, Schoville joked with the men, saying, "I've got a gun and a badge. I’m always right."
The minority rights leaders said the situation stereotyped the men. The mayor said even the appearance of quid pro quo was unacceptable.
In outtake footage released later, Schoville is shown asking Baker, the driver, about gangs, his family life and a suspended license. And Tempe's investigation showed there was more to the traffic stop than was broadcast for the show.
Schoville, Banks and city employee Jason Wolf, who filmed the interaction, told the investigator that the two young men said they were aspiring musicians "into rapping." The three said Schoville made it clear to the pair they would not get a ticket prior to asking them to rap.
Baker, the driver, corroborated this account with the investigator, the review found.
But what Schoville had said was "meant to build rapport" with the men made Baker "feel violated, categorized, and confused," the investigation revealed. Tarvin, the passenger, told the investigator he felt embarrassed by the encounter -- even more so by the worldwide media coverage that resulted from it.
Neither Baker nor Tarvin could be reached for comment.
Hallman on Wednesday repeated that the segment "was not reflective of this city’s values" nor "of the 25-year career of Chuck Schoville," a well-respected leader with the city's gang unit.
Hallman said he would meet with Maupin next week to discuss his concerns.
Until then, the city will act on the panel’s recommendations.
The city's Community Relations Department will review Channel 11 shows. Reviewers also suggested giving live shows like City Council meetings a 10-second time delay so offensive actions could be censored for viewers.
"StreetBeat" will return to the air after changes are made. Schoville, however, will not be its host. Before the controversy, he was planning to step down after the December episode aired.