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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 2023 (FY23)COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW BOARD (CPRB) COMMUNITY FORUM: SUMMARY Thursday, April 20, 2023 – 5:30 PM Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A CPRB Members Present: Ricky Downing, Melissa Jensen, Jerri MacConnell, Saul Mekies, Amanda Remington, Orville Townsend, Stuart Vander Vegte. The Iowa City Community Police Review Board (CPRB) held the annual Community Forum on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. 1. Board Chair Jerri MacConnell called the meeting to order. 2. Board members introduced themselves. 3. Two email correspondence were received pertaining to the Forum. • First email asked to explain how “Drug Recognition Officers” are trained, what drugs they are trained to look for and recognize, and under what circumstances they work. • Second email asked if ICPD tickets cars with dark tinted windows. • Both email correspondences were accepted. 4. Jensen shared how to communicate with the CPRB, who we are and what we do. • Board is comprised of seven members appointed by City Council. • Reviews reports after investigation of complaints about alleged misconduct and then issues its own reports that contain detailed findings of fact & conclusions that explain why and to the extent complaints are sustained or not sustained • CPRB reviews police, policies, procedures, & practice, and may recommend modification to them. • CPRB only has limited civil administrative review powers & has no power or authority over criminal matters or police discipline. • All complaints to the Board must be filed within 180 days. • Any person with personal knowledge of alleged misconduct may file a CPRB complaint with the board. • Process – Complaint is filed, copy goes to the Chief for an internal affairs investigation, a copy also goes to the Equity Director. Chief’s investigation completed within 90 days, with a detailed written report with the findings. Copies of the report go to the CPRB, complainant, officers, & City Manager. • CPRB reviews the report & may conduct an additional investigation, the board then issues a written report with findings. Copies pf the board public reports are sent to the complainant, the police officers, City Manager, Equity Director, & the City Council. 5. ICPD Chief Dustin Liston shared information about the ICPD defining their core values or guiding principles. Officers should be able to look at core values, and be able to think of them when they’re making decisions in the field. CPRB has been asked to provide input, and this is an opportunity for the public to provide input as well. • Community member asked if there were any proposed core values that could be viewed. • Chief Liston gave multiple examples - partnership, engagement, inspire change, etc. to name a few. • Community member asked if transparency would be considered, and referenced tension and the importance of things being public. Further discussion about the importance of transparency but also the reality of having to deal with confidentiality on some issues. 6. Public Discussion: o Discussion on the submitted question on window tint. Requirement is to let 70% of the light through, and tickets can be written. o 2nd submitted question was on drug recognition. Several members of ICPD have participated in nationwide training program that is over three weeks in length. There is also annual retraining. The training is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. o A community member asked if officers determine whether or not an investigation is made. Chief Liston responded the officers are trained to check if someone is under the influence of alcohol. If someone blows and they’re not under the influence, but still show signs of impairment. The officer will typically call for a drug recognition expert. o Community member asked how many complaints are made annually and how much authority does the board have. Discussion from board was while the power is limited, the board makes public recommendations, and public can reach out to council and respond. o In reference to number of complaints for 2022, the board received 18 complaints, 16 were not sustained, and 2 were sustained. Comment from board member, that doesn’t mean the board believes everything in the 16 encounters was acceptable; a complaint is only not sustained if there was a policy violation. If there is no policy violation, the board can use the comment section on the public report to make recommendations and isn’t shy about doing so. The board also has access to a lot of information including reports, and body camera footage. It’s a community effort with the board, the chief & city council member at the meetings as well. o The board commented about objectivity, the board members come from a wide range of backgrounds, and have a wide range of opinions, with multi-faceted, multi different points of view. The board meets the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm at City Hall. 7. Forum adjourned.