HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-1998 Articles ocal ~ Page 3A
I Wednesday.
August12.
· 1998
Iowa Ci~ Press-Citizen
PCRB
inspects
traffic
stops
Race-based Raymond initially phrased Walker filed a complaint wi~h ~he
allegations lead ~e question to include age, PCRB alleging a "harsh and vicious"
race. nature of the alleged trat: traffic stop that raised questions of
tigati ,~ infraction, whether a search whether race wasa motivation. The
to inves on ol- the person and vehicle was complaint remains under confidential
By Brian Sharp made, whether anything was review by police and the board. J
The Press-Citizen found, what, if any, ticket was Anthony Haughton was among a
issued and whether an arrest small group of residents attendirig the
The city's Police Citizen was made. Tuesday board session. The probation
Review Board voted Tuesday Board members decided that officer of nearly 11 years with the
night to initiate an investigation instead of approaching the Sixth Judicial District spoke of what
into allegations of race-based council directly and recom- he perceived as a clear problem with-
traffic stops by iowa City mending that it require police to in the department.
Police. collect the data, they first would "One ... issue fitting this depart-
The City. Council-appointed find whatinfom~ationalreadyis ment is the matter of race." said
board decision tbllowed a July on file. Haughton, alleging an institutional-
14 public "Nationwide, departments ized hostility toward young black
Iowa City fi.~rum during are not doing this except under males. He echoed Ruymond's call for
which se'~eral court order'' Raymond said. a frank discussion of the discrimina-
residents, both nonwhites and Police Chief Winkelhake, tion allegations. "It is not going to be
whites, raised concerns and reached at his home late
pretty.... Ifs going to be highly emu-
relayed anecdotes about the Tuesday, would not comment tiona~ly charged."
perceived problem. In the on the question of data collec- The board also plans to invite
',~eeks ahead, thc board will tion, saying he wanted first to University of Iowa law professor
send an initial letter to Police see a letter from the board.
David Baldus to a future meeting Thc
Chief R.J. Winkclhake to deter- However, in a related topic, he pro/~ssor -- ;,,h,o was instrumental in
mine ,,,,'hal. it'an.,,, demographic said such information is not
forming thc board and has experience
data t~ kept on [ratlic stops -- kept in instances when police in detailed research projects-- will be
regardless of whether a ticket is use lbrce to make an arrest.
issued. Winkelhake did not attend asked to give a presentation on fram-
Board Member Margaret the June 15 thrum and said he lng such studies b.)r a focused out-
Raymond said the allegations didn't watch it on television. As come.
are not unique to Iowa City but Ibr allegations of race-based "We're not here, unlbrtunately, to
hear about all the wonderful things the
are being raised in conununities traffic stops, he would not cum-
nationwide. The idea of data ment on whether the topic ever police department does;' said board
colleclion has been proposed on was discussed within the member John Watson. "We are here to
the federal level, as well as in department, focus on the problems."
California and Ohio. she said. In June, local resident Faith
The Gazette, Ceoar RaplOs, iowa: Sun., Aug. 16, ~.998
Police, review board
downplay memos ,,
Exchanges suggest vestigate a ' es, as well as witnesses who
c o m p 1 a i n t insist on being interviewed only
mounting tension in fried with the with an attorney present, can
Iowa City, however board, cause delays.
The board Atkins suggested that the, re-
By Lynn M. 'r®fft must approve view board ask the City Council
a d d i t i o n a I to amend the ordinance to read
Gazette Johnson County Bureau
time. like the city Human Rights Or-
IOWA CITY -- Memos ex-
changed by the Police Citlzen~ Said Cohen, dinance, which allows indefinite
Review Bo~ird, Police Depart- "The reasons time for investigation of com-
ment and city manager seem to given to the plaints.
indicate a growing tension be. board for an ' Steve AUdn~ ' Capt. Tommy Widmer, who
investigates many of the com-
tween the board and depart- extension on Says he found ~ plaints, said the department has
ment, but the parties involved this partied- tone of board's i discussed hiring a full-time per-
say that's not the case. lac complaint memo harsh
"I don't believe there's any did not seem I son to investigate the eom-
to justify the additional time." i plaints or asking the review
problem," said board member Cohen said the board did no~ board to screen and prioritize
Leah Cohen, explaining that a intend the memo to be a sweep- ~ them.
recent beard memo, which gen. lng criticism of the time investt.' "We don't want tension be-
erated a response from City gators take with complaints, tween us and the (board)," Wid-
Manager Steve Atkins, was sim. She pointed out that for each --
ply misunderstood, complaint, the board also gets 30 mcr said. "We just want mor,~e,,
In the memo sent last month days to review the police report time to get this done." ::.
to Police Chief R.J. Winke/hake, and make a report to the City
the beard criticized the depart. Council. The board itself has The board doesn't want te%:,
ment for taking too long to had to ask the council several sion either, said Cohen.
investigate a particular com. times for extensions, she said.
plaint. Mayor Ernie Lehman said
Atkins, however, said he council members likely would:
"It appears your report may found the tone of the board's
not be available for board re- memo harsh and wrote the be receptive to amending fl/e"
view until Aug. 20, 1998, which board a letter even though the ordinance. They likely will walt,'
is nearly three months after the Police Department did not ask however, for a request from th~;
complaint was filed!" the board him to. board or the Police Department,,
wrote after reluctantly granting "I
was concerned in the sense "I
investigators a second 30-day ex- that it was not an unreasonable would just as soon th~
tension. "We believe this delay request; (investigators) need matter stay with the staff," 1~,
is not fair to the complainant time to put together a complete said, noting that the revlew,
nor is it fair to the Police report," he said. board was designed to act in~
Citizens Review Board." Atkins explained to the board dependently of the City Council!,
City ordinance gives the Po- that officers' schedules and nd-
lice Department 30 days to in- merous or unavailable witness- "If they can work it out
themselves, Frae." .,.,