HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Report FY2018
CPRB Annual Report FY 2018 – Approved 7/23/2018 – 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.
ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018
Meetings
The CPRB tentatively holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday and special meetings as
necessary. During FY18 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 2018 the Board held its tenth Community Forum as required by the City Charter. Board
members were introduced and a summary given of the boards duties. Chair Townsend then
introduced Police Chief Matherly.
Chief Matherly presented an overview of the police department and spoke on the steps being taken
for police and community unity. Officer Colin Fowler gave a summary of the Downtown Liaison
Officer’s responsibilities.
The forum was then opened to the public for questions. There were four members of the public that
spoke at the forum. Topics included the need for enforcement of vehicles blocking handicap sidewalk
ramps, opioids and fentanyl crisis in the US, role of the downtown night Mayor.
Board members spoke briefly about the complaint process and available informational pamphlets.
Board Members
In October 2017 officers were nominated with Orville Townsend as Chair and Don King as Vice-Chair.
Royceann Porter was appointed in January 2018 to fill the unexpired term of Mazahir Salih.
CPRB Annual Report FY 2018 – Approved 7/23/2018 – 2
COMPLAINTS
Number and Type of Allegations
Three complaints (17-03, 17-04, 18-01) were filed during the fiscal year July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018.
Three public reports were completed during this fiscal period (17-01, 17-03, 17-04). One complaint
was withdrawn by Complainant (17-02). One complaint filed in FY18 is pending before the Board (18-
01).
Allegations
Complaint #17-01
1. Failure to properly investigate the incident and take proper police action – NOT SUSTAINED.
2. Discourtesy – SUSTAINED.
Complaint #17-03
1. Discrimination – NOT SUSTAINED.
Complaint #17-04
1. Discrimination – 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 2
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 1
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 four allegations listed in the three complaints for which the Board reported, one was sustained.
The Board made comments and/or recommendations for improvement in police policy, procedures, or
conduct in two of the reports:
Complaint #17-01 – After the Board members reviewed the audio/video recordings of the incident it
was determined that Officer A was discourteous while talking with the complainant. The Board felt
that additional departmental training is needed on communication focusing on legal aspects of the
incident, rather than engaging in personal reprimands.
Complaint #17-03 – While the Board did not sustain the allegation of discrimination, they did
question the information the Officer volunteered to the witnesses regarding the Complainant’s prior
behavior with another landlord. If that information is confidential it should not be disclosed.
Name-Clearing Hearings
CPRB Annual Report FY 2018 – Approved 7/23/2018 – 3
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 one
name-clearing hearing, but none were held.
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 three complaints covered by the FY18 annual
report a total of three 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 three complaints that were completed in this fiscal
year. Because complainants provide this voluntarily, the demographic information may be
incomplete.
Age:
18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 (1) 56-64 65+
Disability:
(1) Physical Mental None
Annual Household Income:
100K 75-99K 50-75K 25-49K (1) Under 25K
Gender:
Female (1) Male Other
Sexual Orientation:
LGBTQ Heterosexual (1) Other
Ethnic Origin:
(1) Black/African-American Hispanic (1) American Indian/Alaska Native
Asian/Pacific Islander White/Caucasian Other
Were you born in the United States:
(1) Yes No
Religion:
(1) Muslim None Other
Marital Status:
Married (1) Single Divorced Separated Widowed Other
* Information is reported as presented by the person completing the form.
BOARD MEMBERS
Orville Townsend, Chair
Don King, Vice Chair
Royceann Porter / Mazahir Salih
Monique Green
David Semler