Mulvey: Joanna Bird case not handled properly

Six Nassau County officers and one patrol supervisor are awaiting disciplinary hearings because of their handling of domestic violence calls concerning a New Cassel woman who was later killed. Nassau

News 12 Staff

May 2, 2009, 2:48 AM

Updated 5,613 days ago

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Six Nassau County officers and one patrol supervisor are awaiting disciplinary hearings because of their handling of domestic violence calls concerning a New Cassel woman who was later killed.
Nassau Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey tells News 12 Long Island an internal investigation found the officers who responded to Joanna Bird?s home in March failed to do their jobs correctly. Bird?s family has contended officers should have arrested her alleged killer, ex-boyfriend Leonardo Valdez-Cruz, for violating an order of protection.
"I wish we did provide better service to the family on the 15th and 17th,? Mulvey says. ?In that sense we failed.?
In the days leading up to Bird's death, Mulvey says police responded to four domestic violence calls at her mother?s home, where she was staying. The investigation determined members of Bird's family told police her violent ex-boyfriend was present and wouldn't leave the property. In all four cases Mulvey admits officers did not follow policy.
Mulvey says officers are supposed to attempt to identify those involved and get the facts about the argument. They must also find out if an order of protection is involved. He says that did not happen.
The police commissioner says it is impossible to verify that Valdez-Cruz was at the house because the responding officers did not write down any names or take notes.
"I think we could've done a much better job in responding to those calls,? Mulvey says. ?[But] I don't know if the outcome would've been different."
Bird?s family says it is going forward with a lawsuit against the Nassau County Police Department. The victim's mother Sharon Dorsett says Mulvey's announcement hasn't brought closure or vindication. She wants to see real action.
Mulvey tells News 12 Long Island effective immediately, any time an officer responds to a domestic call, they must file a report with a supervisor even if no arrest was made.