The police chief at the University of Missouri acted “within his bounds of his duty as a police officer” when he grabbed a Kansas University student during an argument over a banner unfurled at an MU basketball game, MU officials said in an investigation report released today.
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KU student Chris Kaufman had complained that MU Police Chief Jack Watring had used inappropriate force by grabbing his shirt during the incident, which occurred during the March 6 basketball game between KU and MU in Columbia, Mo.
But Jackie Jones, vice chancellor of administrative services at MU, said Friday that Watring did not act inappropriately.
“Given the exuberant atmosphere surrounding this rivalry, it could be reasonable predicted that the banner could have become a focal point for unruly behavior,” she said.
Kaufman said he thought the investigation was fair, but said he disagreed with the findings. However, he said he didn’t plan further legal action against Watring or MU.
“For them to say there wasn’t any wrongdoing is asinine,” Kaufman said. “I’ll probably just drop it and move on. All I wanted was an apology, and I couldn’t even get that.”
Though Jones said Watring acted properly, she said an MU usher contributed to the incident by initially granting permission for the banner to be in the arena. Jones said that was a “key factor” in leading to the incident.
“This was a mistake, and for this reason, I offer my sincere apology on behalf of the university,” she said. “We will develop a clear policy without delay and conduct the related training for event staff.”
Kaufman attended the game with three other KU fans. One of them, former student Andrew Wymore, was ejected from the arena and was arrested when he re-entered. The investigation report said the arrest was “consistent with the valid exercise of law enforcement authority.”
The investigation was led by Lisa Wimmenauer, associate director of business services, with assistance from Dale Burke, assistant chief of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department, and Ronnie Grice, chief of the Kansas State University Police Department.