The police chief at the University of Missouri has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an argument involving Kansas University basketball fans.

Jackie Jones, vice chancellor of administrative services at MU, said Friday that Chief Jack Watring “acted within the bounds of his duty as a police officer” when he allegedly grabbed a KU student’s shirt in an altercation over a banner the student and his friends took to Mizzou Arena in March.

“Given the exuberant atmosphere surrounding this rivalry, it could be reasonably predicted that the banner could have become a focal point for unruly behavior,” Jones said in a statement.

Chris Kaufman, the student who said he was grabbed, said he was “disappointed” by the investigation’s findings.

“For them to say there wasn’t any wrongdoing is asinine,” said Kaufman, who graduated on Sunday.

The argument

The incident occurred March 6 in Columbia, Mo., prior to a game between the Jayhawks and the Tigers.

Kaufman and three friends received permission from an usher to unfurl a 6-foot-long banner at the arena. The banner had several previous names of Missouri’s arena crossed out, followed by the phrase, “Call it what you want, it will always be Allen Fieldhouse East.”

Kaufman

A man — who the students later learned was Watring — complained about the banner and asked to have it removed. When Watring began taking the sign down, Kaufman protested and asked to take the sign down himself.

After a brief argument, Kaufman said, Watring grabbed Kaufman’s shirt and said, “Do you know who I am? I’m the police chief of the University of Missouri.”

The investigation did not specifically address whether Watring grabbed Kaufman. University spokesman Christian Basi declined to comment on the allegation, saying only, “I know the entire incident was reviewed.”

Watring issued this written statement Friday: “The action in this incident was based on my knowledge of past problems at similar athletic events at Mizzou and my awareness of these types of confrontation among fans attending the game. I regret any misunderstanding as a result of this incident.”

One apology

The investigation report said “Watring’s conduct was consistent with the professional standards for law enforcement officials.”

While not apologizing for Watring’s actions, Jones, the vice chancellor, did say the usher’s initial decision to allow the banner helped lead to the situation.

“This was a mistake, and for this reason, I offer my sincere apology on behalf of the university,” she said. “We will develop a clear policy without delay and conduct the related training for event staff.”

The 12-week investigation was headed by Lisa Wimmenauer, associate director of business services at MU. She received assistance from Dale Burke, assistant chief of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department, and Ronnie Grice, chief of the Kansas State University Police Department.

6News video: MU clears police chief in KU fan sign incident (05-28-05)

Report on MU-KU Basketball Game Incident March 6, 2005

MU looking into banner incident (04-30-05)

Fans lodge complaints against Mizzou’s chief of police

after game (03-09-05)

6News video: Fans report run-in with police chief (03-09-05)

Wimmenauer traveled to Lawrence in late April to interview the fans involved. She did not, however, interview a witness the KU fans considered key to their case — Barry Lewis, an MU fan and former Missouri legislator who also filed a complaint about the incident.

“I find it incredible they could do an investigation and not talk to me,” said Lewis, who lives in New Jersey. “It’s the craziest kind of investigation I’ve ever seen. I guess the good ol’ boy network is alive and well in Missouri. To me, it has zero credibility.”

Lewis said he remains convinced Kaufman was assaulted.

“It was an assault,” Lewis said. “I don’t care what anybody says. It was clearly unwarranted.”

Basi, the MU spokesman, said some witnesses were interviewed but said he didn’t know why Lewis wasn’t among those. He said those involved directly with the investigation were out of town Friday and unavailable to provide further information.

This banner was the subject of a dispute between Kansas University student Chris Kaufman and Jack Watring, chief of police at the University of Missouri. On Friday MU officials said Watring acted

Fans’ reaction

Despite disagreeing with the findings of the investigation, Kaufman said he probably wouldn’t pursue legal action against MU or Watring.

“I’ll probably just drop it and move on,” he said. “All I wanted was an apology, and I couldn’t even get that.”

Meanwhile, Andrew Wymore, a former KU student involved in the incident, has ongoing legal concerns. He was arrested by MU police when he attempted to re-enter the arena after being ejected in the argument.

Wymore said he pleaded not guilty last week and has a deposition scheduled for June 8 in Columbia’s municipal court.

Like Kaufman, Wymore said he was disappointed by Friday’s announcement.

“Apparently walking around in street clothes assaulting individuals is within the bounds of (Watring’s) jurisdiction in Columbia,” Wymore said. “It’s not a real surprise the University of Missouri botched an investigation into one of its own.”