Green Bay pays $20K in police brutality case
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   May 16, 2013 8:31 PM  
   Written by Scott Cooper Williams
   Press-Gazette Media

   Green  Bay  city  officials  have  agreed  to pay $20,000 to a man who
   accused  four  city police officers of using excessive force during an
   altercation in the mans apartment.

   Anthony  Basler,  34,  alleged that the officers used batons, shackles
   and bodily force to inflict injuries to his head, face, neck and other
   parts of his body.

   Police  reports  indicate  that  Basler  was  treated  at  St. Vincent
   Hospital  after the September 2010 incident, which occurred inside his
   apartment on Green Bays northeast side.

   He got roughed up pretty badly, said his attorney, Ralph Sczygelski.

   Basler  was  charged  with  resisting  arrest,  disorderly conduct and
   pepper-spraying  officers.  But  the  Brown  County district attorneys
   office  later  dropped  the charges, and Basler filed a claim with the
   city, seeking $50,000 in damages.

   Rather than run the risk that Basler would win a court fight, the city
   agreed to pay him $20,000 to settle the matter. The settlement did not
   require the city to admit liability. City officials, however, said one
   of the police officers was disciplined.

   Assistant  City  Attorney  Kail  Decker said officials determined that
   there  was  enough of a possibility the city would lose a lawsuit that
   they wanted to avoid litigation with Basler.

   Decker  noted  that excessive force claims against police officers are
   particularly sensitive and are concerning to the public.

   If  theres  anything  our officers did wrong, he said, we take it very
   seriously.

   The City Council approves all claim actions, although deliberations on
   such legal matters generally take place behind closed doors.

   Press-Gazette  Media learned of the Basler settlement after requesting
   damage  claims  filed  with  the  city  and related records since last
   summer.  In  most  cases,  the  city  either denied claims outright or
   agreed  to  pay  as  little  as $50 for property damage or other minor
   issues.

   The settlement with Basler was finalized in October.

   Police reports show that officers went to Baslers apartment in the 900
   block  of  Clement Street on Sept. 6, 2010, to help his estranged wife
   while  she  moved  out some of her belongings. Basler became agitated,
   and officers thought he was reaching for a weapon.

   Basler  told  the officers he was disabled and was reaching for a cane
   that he used to walk.

   Reports indicate that Basler was administered a knee blow, was knocked
   to  the  ground,  held  on the ground, and that he received two closed
   fist  strikes.  Even  after Basler was handcuffed, officers thought he
   sprayed them with pepper spray, and the physical struggle continued.

   Basler  later  told officers he suffered a seizure in their squad car,
   but they reported that he faked the seizure.

   The  officers  involved  were  identified in the claim as Brad Strouf,
   John Balza, Richard Meves and Jason Allen.

   All  four  officers  remain  on the police force, although Decker said
   that  Strouf  identified  in  reports as the officer who struck Basler
   with a fist was disciplined over the excessive force claim. Details of
   the disciplinary action were not available.

   Balza,  the only officer who could be reached for comment, declined to
   discuss  the  incident,  saying  it  was  handled  by  the citys legal
   department with little involvement from him.

   Im done with it, he added.

   Contacted at his home, Basler also declined to comment.

   Sczygelski, his attorney, said
   he   hopes  the  incident  has  convinced  city  officials  to  change
   procedures or step up training of police officers.

   I  assume  they'll learn from it, he said. I think thats basically what
   an intelligent organization does.