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Home My WebLink AboutAnnual Report FY2024 1 | Page CPRB FY24 Annual Report – Final COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW BOARD FY24 ANNUAL REPORT 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), consisted of seven members appointed by the City Council. 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 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 2024 Meetings The CPRB tentatively holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday and special meetings as necessary. During FY24 the Board held 13 meetings which included 1 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 October of 2023 the Board held its sixteenth Community Forum required by the City Charter. Board members introduced themselves and shared a summary of the Board duties. No correspondence was received for the October 2023 forum. The forum was then opened to the public. Topics included discussion of the Iowa City Police Department’s use of a military grade vehicle and the cost for training and maintaining this equipment. It was revealed that this equipment belongs to Johnson County and not to the Iowa City Police Department, however, it is available for use by ICPD should it become necessary. A member of the public asked about staffing concerns for the Police Department. Chief Liston expressed his concerns as well and the department continues to work towards a full staff. Members of the public expressed their appreciation of the Board and of the Police Department. Board Members Stuart Vander Vegte resigned from the Commission in July of 2023. Jessica Hobart was appointed to fill out the remainder of that term through June 30, 2026. In October 2023 officers were nominated and voted on with Melissa Jensen as Chair and Ricky Downing as Vice-Chair. 2 | Page CPRB FY24 Annual Report – Final COMPLAINTS Number and Type of Allegations: 10 complaints (23-11, 23-12, 23-13, 23-14, 23-15, 24-01, 24-02, 24-03, 24-04, 24-05) 10 public reports (23-02, 23-06, 23-07, 23-08, 23-09, 23-10, 23-11, 23-12, 23-15, 24-01) 4 complaints summarily dismissed (23-13, 23-14, 24-03, 24-04) 2 complaints filed in FY24 are pending before the Board (24-02, 24-05) ALLEGATIONS Complaint #23-02 Allegation 1: GO 99-05 Use of Force Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Board’s Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 2: Bias – Based Policing Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Board’s Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 3: Integrity Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Board’s Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 4: Unauthorized Access, Disclosure, or Use Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Board’s Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Complaint #23-06 Allegation 1: Use of Force Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Board’s Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 2: Unprofessional Conduct Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Board’s Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Complaint #23-07 Allegation 1: Performance Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Board’s Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 2: Conduct Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Board’s Findings: NOT SUSTAINED 3 | Page CPRB FY24 Annual Report – Final Complaint #23-08 Allegation 1: Use of Force Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Board’s Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 2: Conduct Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Board’s Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Complaint #23-09 Allegation 1: Application of Handcuffs or Plastic Cuffs Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 2: Conduct Chief’s Report Findings: SUSTAINED Boards Findings: SUSTAINED Allegation 3: Biased – Based Policing Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 4: Civil Rights Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 5: Personal Use of Social Media Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Complaint #23-10 Allegation 1: Required Reporting Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 2: Violation of General Order 99-09, Vehicle Crashes Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Complaint #23-11 Allegation 1: Use of Force Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 2: Conduct Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED 4 | Page CPRB FY24 Annual Report – Final Complaint #23-12 Allegation 1: Performance Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Allegation 2: Arrests Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Complaint #23-15 ALLEGATION 1: Conduct Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Complaint #24-01 ALLEGATION 1: Violation of 320.5.7 – Efficiency Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: NOT SUSTAINED ALLEGATION 2: Violation of 320.5.9 – Conduct Chief’s Report Findings: NOT SUSTAINED Boards Findings: 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 9 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 5 | Page CPRB FY24 Annual Report – Final 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 24 allegations listed in the 10 complaints for which the Board reported, 1 was sustained and 23 were not sustained. Comments The Board made comments and/or recommendations for improvement in police policy, procedures, or conduct in 1 report. Complaint #23-15 Officers of ICPD have shown patience and often encouraged the Complainant to take advantages of resources in the community. 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 1 name- clearing hearing, but it was not 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 10 complaints covered by the FY24 annual report a total of 8 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 ten complaints that were completed in this fiscal year. Because complainants provide this voluntarily, the demographic information may be incomplete. Age: (2) 18-25 () 26-35 (3) 36-45 () 46-55 () 56-64 () 65+ Disability: () Physical (1) Mental (2) None Annual Household Income: (1) 100K () 75-99K (1) 50-75K () 25-49K (2) Under 25K Gender: (3) Female () Male (1) Other Sexual Orientation: (2) LGBTQ () Heterosexual (1) Other 6 | Page CPRB FY24 Annual Report – Final Ethnic Origin: (2) Black/African-American () Hispanic (1) Asian/Pacific Islander (1) White/Caucasian () American Indian/Alaska Native ()Other Were you born in the United States? (3) Yes (1) No Religion: (1) None (1) Other Marital Status: () Married (3) Single (1) Separated * Information is reported as presented by the person completing the form. BOARD MEMBERS: Jerri MacConnell Melissa Jensen, Chair Ricky Downing, Vice-Chair Jessica Hobart Saul Mekies Amanda Remington Orville Townsend Sr