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  • March 18, 2025 at 7:56 am #1665 Reply
    CBKN76
    Keymaster

    Officer Faith Koviak (Hellman/Kelemen): Faith Koviak (now married as Faith Hellman, and identified in reports as Faith Ann Kelemen) was involved in a controversial tasing of a nonviolent passenger that led to both internal discipline and a lawsuit. On March 31, 2024, during a late-night stop for loud music, Kelemen insisted that a backseat passenger, Cedric Washington, produce ID​
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    . Washington provided his name but questioned why passengers needed identification. In response, Officer Kelemen threatened to arrest him for obstruction, then followed through: Washington was pulled from the car and tased – first a drive-stun, then a full taser deployment, even as he cried, “I just told you my name”​
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    . He was unarmed and had committed no crime beyond failing to immediately give an address. The tasering had serious consequences: Washington, who had a metal rod in his leg from a prior injury, suffered traumatic rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and was hospitalized for three days​
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    . An internal review found Officer Kelemen violated arrest procedure for a consensual encounter – essentially, she had no grounds to detain him in the first place​
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    . She was reprimanded and ordered to undergo additional training (but not fired)​
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    . The incident sparked outrage from the local NAACP, which argued the passengers’ rights were violated and questioned whether race played a role (the car was filled with Black passengers)​
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    . In October 2024, Washington filed a federal lawsuit against Officer Kelemen, Chief Elliott, and the city, alleging excessive force and failure to train/supervise​
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    . That suit notes that Washington was charged with various offenses (resisting, refusing information, etc.) after the incident, but those charges were minor and arguably retaliatory​
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    . Washington was ultimately acquitted of all serious charges, and his case highlights ongoing concerns about JPD’s treatment of citizens during stops.

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