U. officer demoted following stabbing

A University Police officer who stabbed a woman in May is still serving in the department, but is no longer an officer. 24-year-old Kim Wong, a two-year veteran of the force, was sentenced to five years of psychiatric probation after she pled guilty in August to aggravated assault, according to court records. The records state that on May 26, Wong stabbed a 20-year-old woman in "the left leg, left arm and left side of the face with a knife." The victim received 16 stitches at Frankford Hospital in Philadelphia and was released, the police report states. Wong was arrested May 30 on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and two other misdemeanors. University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said yesterday he "took an appropriate personnel action" after receiving a letter on October 1 from the Philadelphia District Attorney's office informing him of Wong's conviction. "As a result of the incident in which she was involved, she was no longer qualified to hold commission as a police officer for this department," Kuprevich added. Kuprevich, who is bound by University personnel policies from discussing specifics of Wong's case, said he was unaware of Wong's arrest before October 1. Wong is now a civilian dispatcher responsible primarily for answering 511 emergency calls, dispatching officers, and dealing with alarm calls, Kuprevich said. She has little contact with the public, he said. The commissioner said he is comfortable with his decision. He added that "she will probably be one of the most highly trained civilian dispatchers we will find." "I made the decision based on very unique circumstances," Kuprevich said. "I do not feel in any way, shape or form that this places the community in any sort of jeopardy." Wong declined to comment last night. The University Police Department does not have a written policy which specifies the action the department should take if an officer is arrested, Kuprevich said. University Police's contract states that if the department is aware of an arrest before guilt is determined, the officer is to be fired or suspended with or without pay pending the outcome of the charges. The Philadelphia Police Department's policy is that officers who are arrested are "fired immediately," but may petition for reinstatement if they are not convicted, Philadelphia Police spokesperson Officer Edward Tenuto said yesterday. Tenuto added that several officers are arrested each year. Assistant District Attorney Valerie Barbin, who handled the final part of Wong's case, declined to discuss the specifics of the incident, but said that Wong's personal history indicated that the incident was "an aberration." Psychiatric probation is assigned when "there is an indication that there was a need for some psychiatric help or counseling," Barbin said. Barbin also said that Wong expressed concern to her attorney that the criminal proceedings could "adversely affect her employment." Wong was told this would likely be the case, Barbin said.

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