HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Report FY2015
CPRB Annual Report FY 2015 – Approved 07/20/2015 – 1
COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW BOARD
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Established in 1997, by ordinance #97-3792, the Iowa City Police Citizens Review Board formerly
known as Citizens Police Review Board and now known as Community Police Review Board
(hereafter referred as the CPRB), consists of five members appointed by the City Council. The CPRB
has its own outside legal counsel.
The Board was established to review investigations into claims of police misconduct, and to assist the
Police Chief, the City Manager, and the City Council in evaluating the overall performance of the
Police Department by reviewing the Police Department’s investigations into complaints. The Board is
also required to maintain a central registry of complaints and to provide an annual report setting forth
the numbers, types, and disposition of complaints of police misconduct. The Board shall hold at least
one community forum each year for the purpose of hearing citizens’ views on the policies, practices
and procedures of the Iowa City Police Department. To achieve these purposes, the Board complies
with Chapter 8 of the Iowa City Code and the Board’s By-Laws and Standard Operating Procedures
and Guidelines.
In FY2015. an educational video was prepared for use on cable TV. In May, City Council adopted the
recommendations of the Charter Review Commission, changing the name to Community Police
Review Board.
ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015
Meetings
The CPRB tentatively holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday and special meetings as
necessary. During FY15 the Board held fourteen meetings and one Community Forum.
ICPD Policies/Procedures/Practices Reviewed By CPRB
The ICPD regularly provided the Board with monthly Use of Force Reports, Internal Investigation
Logs, Demographic Reports and various Training Bulletins. The Department also provided various
General Orders for the Board’s review and comment. A senior member of the Police Department
routinely attended the open portion of the CPRB meetings, and was available for any questions Board
members had regarding these reports.
Presentations
In April of 2015 the Board held its seventh Community Forum as required by the City Charter. The
Board did introductions and the forum was opened to the public for questions. There were twelve
members of the public that spoke at the forum. Topics of discussion included the following: Board
responsibilities, military surplus equipment, body cameras, racial disparity, profiling, and diversity in
the police department.
Board Members
In October 2014 officers were nominated with Melissa Jensen as Chair and Joseph Treloar as Vice-
Chair. Fidencio Martinez was appointed in November of 2014 for an unexpired term.
CPRB Annual Report FY 2015 – Approved 07/20/2015 – 2
COMPLAINTS
Number and Type of Allegations
Eleven complaints (14-03,14-04,14-05,14-06,14-07,14-08,14-09,14-10,14-11,15-01,15-02) were filed
during the fiscal year July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015. Eight public reports were completed during this
fiscal period (14-02,14-03,14-04,14-06,14-08,14-11,15-01). One complaint was withdrawn (14-07)
and three complaints were summarily dismissed (14-05,14-09,14-10) The remaining complaint filed in
FY15 is pending before the Board (15-02).
Allegations
Complaint #14-02
1. Excessive Use of Force – SUSTAINED.
Complaint #14-03
1. Illegal Search of the Vehicle – NOT SUSTAINED.
2. Harassment – NOT SUSTAINED.
3. Use of a Racial Epithet – NOT SUSTAINED.
Complaint #14-04
1. Responsibilities – NOT SUSTAINED.
2. Obedience to laws and regulations – NOT SUSTAINED.
3. Incompetence – NOT SUSTAINED.
Complaint #14-05
SUMMARILY DISMISSED
Complaint #14-06
1. Unlawful Search – NOT SUSTAINED.
2. Unlawful Seizure – NOT SUSTAINED.
Complaint #14-07
WITHDRAWN.
Complaint #14-08
1. Officer included inaccurate information in an official police report – NOT SUSTAINED.
2. This was retaliation against the Complainant for filing a complaint against another
officer in an earlier CPRB complaint – NOT SUSTAINED.
Complaint #14-09
SUMMARILY DISMISSED.
Complaint #14-10
SUMMARILY DISMISSED.
Complaint #14-11
1. Officer failed to sufficiently investigate the motor vehicle collision as directed by ICPD General
Order 99-09, Section IV, Procedures. – NOT SUSTAINED.
2. Officer’s determination that the Complainant was at fault in the accident was incorrect and the
traffic citation for following too closely should not have been issued – SUSTAINED.
3. Officer did not listen to the Complainant’s point of view in regard to how the accident occurred
– NOT SUSTAINED.
CPRB Annual Report FY 2015 – Approved 07/20/2015 – 3
4. Officer’s threat to take the Complainant to jail was inappropriate under these circumstances –
NOT SUSTAINED.
5. Officer issued the Complainant a citation because she is not an “American”. – NOT
SUSTAINED.
Complaint #15-01
1. Racial Profiling – NOT SUSTAINED.
2. Discourtesy – NOT SUSTAINED.
Level of Review
The Board decided, by simple majority vote, the level of review to give each report, selecting one or
more of the six levels specified in the City Code per complaint:
Level a On the record with no additional investigation 7
Level b Interview or meet with complainant 0
Level c Interview or meet with named officer 0
Level d Request additional investigation by Chief or 0
City Manager, or request police assistance
in the Board’s own investigation
Level e Board performs its own additional investigation 0
Level f Hire independent investigators 0
Complaint Resolutions
The Police Department investigates complaints to the CPRB of misconduct by police officers. The
Police Chief summarizes the results of these investigations and indicates in a report (the Chief’s
Report) to the CPRB whether allegations are sustained or not sustained. (If complaints are made
against the Chief, the City Manager conducts the investigation and prepares and submits the reports.)
The Board reviews both the citizens’ complaint and the Chief’s Report and decides whether its
conclusions about the allegations should be sustained or not sustained. The Board prepares a report
which is submitted to the City Council.
Of the eighteen allegations listed in the seven complaints for which the Board reported, two were
sustained.
The Board made comments and/or recommendations for improvement in police policy, procedures, or
conduct in three of the reports:
Complaint #14-02 – The CPRB acknowledges that suitable changes have been made to the Weapons
policy.
Complaint #14-04 – The original eight allegations are summarized in the three categories listed
above.
Complaint 15-01 - CPRB acknowledges cultural differences and mannerisms may make it
difficult to accurately assess and interpret behavior, especially when compared to others
behavior/responses.
Name-Clearing Hearings
The ordinance requires that the Board not issue a report critical of the conduct of a sworn officer until
after a name-clearing hearing has been held. During this fiscal period, the Board scheduled two
name-clearing hearings, but none were held.
CPRB Annual Report FY 2015 – Approved 07/20/2015 – 4
Complaint Histories of Officers
City ordinance requires that the annual report of the CPRB must not include the names of
complainants or officers involved in unsustained complaints and must be in a form that protects the
confidentiality of information about all parties. In the seven complaints covered by the FY15 annual
report a total of ten officers were involved with allegations against them.
ICPD Internal Investigations Logs
The Board reviewed the quarterly ICPD Internal Investigations Log, provided by the Chief of Police.
COMPLAINT DEMOGRAPHICS
The following is demographic information from the seven complaints that were completed in this fiscal
year. Because complainants provide this voluntarily, the demographic information may be
incomplete.
* Category/Number of Complainants
Age: National Origin: Color:
Under 21 0 American 2 White 2
21 & over 4 Unknown 5 Black 1
Unknown 3 Brown 1
Unknown 3
Sexual Orientation: Gender Identity: Sex:
Heterosexual 1 Female 1 Female 1
Unknown 6 Male 2 Male 2
Unknown 4 Unknown 4
Marital Status: Religion: Mental Disability:
Single 2 Unknown 6 No 0
Married 1 None 1 Yes 1
Unknown 4 Unknown 6
Divorced 0
Physical Disability:
No 1
Yes 0
Unknown 6
* Information is reported as presented by the person completing the form.
BOARD MEMBERS
Melissa Jensen, Chair
Joseph Treloar, Vice Chair
Royceann Porter
Mazahir Salih
Maxime Tremblay/Fidencio Martinez