Captain Curt Vanderkooi was placed on administrative leave last February after the American Civil Liberties Union released all the documentation revealing that the Grand Rapids Police Department Captain contacted Immigration Customs and Enforcement, while off duty, regarding U.S citizen and veteran, Jilmar Ramos-Gomes.
Vanderkooi, who was not assigned to the case, but serves as the department’s liaison to ICE asked ICE to check the veteran’s legal status, even though the veteran had been arrested with his U.S passport in his possession. While communicating with ICE Vanderkooi used the word “loco” or crazy in Spanish to refer to Ramos-Gomez.
On Friday, the Grand Rapids Police Department stated in a press release that the investigation found there was no violation of the department’s impartial policing policy and Captain Vanderkooi would be returning to work on Monday. In the statement officials announced that Vanderkooi would no longer serve as the department’s liaison to ICE.
The ACLU and the Michigan Immigrants Rights Center filed an appeal with the Grand Rapids Civilian Appeal Board to reverse the findings of GRPD.
Michelle Jokisch Polo, WGVU News.
