Michael Cruse

From LEO Ratings
 
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Service Record

Agency Topeka Kansas Police Department
Rank Officer
Dates of Service Hired 1998[1]
Salary $84,058 (2020)[2]
Last Known Status Active

Incident Reports

2001 Injury Accident

On March 31, 2001, Cruse was responding to a call of a bar fight. Cruse was in an accident while responding to the call.[3]

2002 Death of Leonard Porter

On April 30, 2002, Cruse was responding to a burglar alarm call, and was driving without lights and siren. Cruse ran a stop sign and struck Leonard Porter's truck, killing him.[3][4]

Department Response

On June 17, 2002, Cruse was fired by the department[3], but an arbitrator ordered him reinstated[5]

Legal Action

Cruse was charged with involuntary manslaughter (a felony) and misdemeanor traffic offenses.[3]

Cruse pled guilty to misdemeanor vehicular homicide, speeding, and failing to stop at stop sign. Cruces was sentenced to one year in jail, but was ordered to serve 30 days in jail and 60 days of house arrest.[6][5]

In August 2002, the city and Police Department paid $425,000 to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Porter’s relatives.[3]

2015 Death of Animal

In 2015, Cruse shot and killed a dog while responding to a possible break-in. He said the dog was charging and he felt threatened.[7][4]

Department Response

The department found that Cruse did not break department policy. Officers were given more training on how to respond to animals in the field.[7]

2017 Death of Dominique White

Department Response

On September 28, 2017, Cruse was placed on administrative leave.[8]

On February 7, 2018, Cruse returned from administrative leave.[8]

Legal Action

On June 27, 2018, White's family filed a lawsuit against the officers and the city.[9]

On September 28, 2020, the U.S. District Court ruled that the officers had not violated White's Fourth Amendments rights and were entitled to qualified immunity. The charges against the city remain undecided.[10][11]

References