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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-25-1998 Articles EDITORIAL Review board vital to city's future , The Police-Citizens Review Board held its first public forum on July 16 to "learn if the I{}wa City Police Department's performance is in keeping with community standards," as stated in its mission statement. Just a few minutes at the inaugural meeting showed how vital the review board is to the future well-being of the Iowa City community. Speakers raised some very serious issues and concerns that need to be addressed by the police. These issues range from questions about racism and intimidation by the police to the use of force and the infamous Eric Shaw case. With Iowa City being one of the most educated communities in the country, it only follows that mature, intelligent dialogue is the best way to give important matters the attention they deserve. Hopes run high that the efforts of the review board will ease the tension between some members of the community and the police. But public discussion can go only so far; action must be taken at some point to make change happen. Here are some suggestions that would make the review board more effective and, in the long mn, improve the relationship between the community and the police. No. 1: Remove the "Sunset Clause" in the review board's ordinance. The clause mandates that the board be terminated after three years unless re-enacted by the Iowa City City Council. The review board needs to be around at least as long as the police department: forever. There will always be community issues to address and improvements to be made in the police department. The police need to be kept abreast of these issues and concerns. The community also plays an important role in making sure t~e police work according to procedure and the community's standards. .. No. 2: Publish a layperson's guide to police policies, procedures and practices so the con~rnunity can have a greater awareness of them While a copy of the police department's manual is available for public viewing at the civic center, the language is incredibly technical and filled with bureau'cr~/tic jargon. It would be much easier for the public to understand a manual written in everyday language. No. 3: Allow the review board to respond to a speaker's comment or question. The board is Supposed to listen objectively and then present concerns and issues to another panel for further review. However, it would be helpful for the community to get a more immediate response. This waY the speaker feels his or her message is heard and understood. No. 4: Publish a brief report on its progress implementing changes and investigating issues within the police department. This way the community can be sure that its concerns are being addressed and taken seriously. By following these suggestions, the review board could go a long way to improve the relationship I of 2 7/20/98 9:37 AM l;hc Dadx lmm, an http: ~ a~o~xa cdu dl?iox~a]~issu¢ vll0 i30 slorics A0503V html between the police and the community The review board will hopefully become a critical part of the community; its presence and role, to encourage the public to speak freely and address issues of great concern to them, is long overdue and greatly appreciated. Rachel Ballweg is a DI editorial writer. Title: Review board vital to city's future Page: 5A ° Date: 7/20/98 [ Home. Search Front Metro & Iowa Nation & World Viewpoints Sports Arts ] Copyright 1996 The Daily Iowan. <http://www.uiowa.edu/,-dlyiowan/> 2 of 2 7/20/98 9:37 AM that police can use to fight day-to-day crime. The team will · CR-COPPS ALSO emphasizes trnck parolees and probationers communication between police ~uspecred of re-offending. and other public agencies -- city "We're really looking at that housing inspection and animal neighborhood connection," said control, and county and state Gary Hinzman, director of 6th family services, for example, [ Judicial District Department of .Harrison mentioned a rented[ Correctional Services. house whose occupants have Byrne said that police across drawn complaints of loud par-[ the country began discussing .t~ and heavy traffic. After a[ alternatives to the by-then tradl- m~ttng with the landlord failed tional preventive patrol tactics to produce results, city housingI decades ago. il~spectors were called in. They In 1973, researchers tracked f~und some 'broken windows crime trends in three Kansas aTnd other housing law viola-I City neighborhoods. One area tlous, received preventive patrol, and : SO Harrison checked the city another received three times the f.o~d~ .to~/l~d ~h~ .pro.per ~.~,x~/. normal levels of police patrol. In, r a letter to me lsl~uor~l. ~/, the third neighborhood, offlcer~ · "I'm go.~in~ to se~-hira.!-~ left the area after handling th~' l~ce, ani~ ff.he,~, t~l~ call that had brought them ~,t__mn_= a~out- "' -" I~it, ,~r~lt~-. there· u:.p," Harrison said.., ~ "Researchers found no · The next major Step will be cant differences in crime or~fear t~ken with the state Division of of crime in any of the areas," Correctional Services, which according to a report prepared has landed a $28,000 federal by the Community Policing Con- grant to hire a police officer{ sortium, an information clear- ~ho will work with parole and~ inghouse in Washington, D.C. lfa'obation officers out of an of-~ fl[ce in a Cedar Rapids neighber-~ COMMUNITY policing gained ,1~. ~ momentum with the passage of -Probation o/D. cers have knowl-~ the 1994 federal crime bill. Re- priorities of the political edge about criminal histories~ flecting President Clinton and Congress, the bill created the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) within the De- partment of Justice· COPS has distributed more than $3.6 billion in federal aid to 9,00O departments to adopt com- munity policing techniques. It's part of Clinton's 1992 campaign promise to put 100.000 new offi- cers on the nation's streets by 2000. Police Chief Byrne credits the federal program with hastening a change that would have hap- pened anyway. "It was sort of a catalyst and probably sped things up, but I think this change was inevita- ble,'' he said. "Officers across the county were becoming too much isolationist." Byrne is happy with his de- partment's measured pace in adopting community policinl. "This is the ground floor, but I haven't seen problems," he said. "I think that is definitely a strong indication things are moving slowly and smoothl.v." The G~zette, Cedar RaDicis, owa: Sun,, July 19, 199~ Local Wednesday, July 22, 1998 Iowa City Press-CitT;?en Session fights domestic abuo DornestiCi ! Police train to ease process of dealing with violence From 3A By L~rl~s~l Ulst~l matetials, codesoflaw andrSSUeS increases the quality of investigation, The Press-Citizen hotllm of dealing with victims, as well as support services, and makes sure there ltisactimethathappons365 ml[~omo$l~Violorl~o learning about immJgrafion laws are no holes, in the process. She days a year. It is a crime against Irltorvon~on Projo~ 01'i8i8 and how to select an inlc~F~cler, referred to a new report, like a check aperson. And it is fruslrating for L~:0,$1-104~ arid 1- Coins has been in law list, for domestic violence cases. The all l~asties involved from the vic- ~'~043 enforcarnent since 1973 azld has a new forms lay out the information that tim to the prosecutor. PI~D, in sociology fixazl Iowa needs tO be gathered and are more lowa City police officers will Don~ticahRsecalls~dif- StateUniv~sity. For the last year effective, Fortmann Doser said. finish a three-day domestic rio- ficult to handle, he said, because , ,and a haft, he he$ laovided train- Laura Roan, an assistant attorney lence training sessioll today in they are unpredictable, enlo- lng on domestic abuse to ~ general, talked to officers about new hopesofmakingtheprocessrun fions are running high, relation- than 3,000 officars, advocates and legislature and threat assessment. One a little smoother. Last year, 105 ships are going on, and a lot of attorneys through the S.T.O.P, of her primary duties is with the reports of domestic abuse were time and energy are inve. ated. Xqolance Agalr~t Women Ca'ant Prosecuting Attorney Training Counsel made to the Iowa City Police Iowa City Police Chief P,. J. Krisfi F0rtrnann Doser, edu- Roan discussed with officers a "'~eparlment. In 1998, there have Winkelhake said file l~ainin$ is cation di/ector with the Domestic strangulation study done by the San 'eady been 73 reports made. for the entire department. DSolance Intervellfion l::Yogram, Diego City Attorney's Office where Capt. Tommy Widmer said Officers from the Johnson said police a~'e required by lam to more than 300 cases of domestic vio- domestic violence is one area County Sheriff's Office, inform victims of their righls, lence with choking were reviewed. A where thc laws are rapidly CoralvillePoliceDeparlmcntand There is a Domestic Abuse largepercentageofthe~ictimsdidnot changing. He said it is tough University Department of Public Response Team made up of a show visible injur~. enforcing the laws, but very Safetyalsowereinvitedtoattend. staff member from the Johnson t She said it's part of the control important. Widmer said it is Pete Conis, an instructor for County Attorney's Office, the issue for batterers. It's saying: "l can important for all of the officers the Iowa Law Enforcement police department and DVI1Z. take you just to the brink ... then to have the proper information Academy, said officers are Fortmann Doser said DART decide whether you will return." when handling domestic cases, reviewing domestic violence Se~ DOMESTIC/4A Roan went over new laws and sce- narios with officers. There is manda- tory arrest in donlestic assault cases, but not in all assaults. There are measures officers can take to further protect the victim from the abuser. For instance, in cases of stalking or harassment, no contact orders can be put into effect 1br five years instead of the usual one year. Fortmann Doser sa d over the last five years she has seen a dramatic increase with the shelter, outreaches and crisis calls. "Domestic violence as an issue has come to the forefront in many com- munities,' she said. "There are more people looking for accoantability and resources for the victims." The Daily rowan, June 12, [998 Police' action labeled 'vicious' I The Iowa City police are look- ing into a family's claim of ~ w,,,,--~ alleged police misconduct during a.t~'~eu~ .~.,~.~ h~- ~r ,.~ a traffic stop. · ut ideuttfjdn~ blmMlf. Walker B/IIMl~m ,tMmlml b ~ a----4M that Lee bein~ followed by BateholJer'a I~ht that he m wr~t~d to th~ g~smd b~ .: "' · ,'"' ' · " · " ' :'"' ~1," :*'""tm ' '"' ' Office rd e n ,e,s ;allegatto ns'' POUCI~ / furtive movements.' Bltcholleg' htcheflm' said. .. searched, aJllledly wttho.u : wmawnin~fromhersb~r~shout~ UI Law Professor Jemee'J.-It~ boe.n totally blown out o~ on ttm 20~ IMo~k o~ Taylor I~ve.,** Tomkavtcs said it upp~r~ the oM*" eteppeduppatndsai~tMm~SS ,~Md~e. , ' amaultsdhbnwklbbutr~nf' Wakoraroboiagdoaltwith,~ Police board charges Most PCRB complaints filed by same man By Brian Sharp The Press-Citizen "Any tune yeu open it up to Nearly two of every three the community, you have to be complaints filed with the Police ready for whatever comes in," C i t i z e n s Counc or Mike O'Donnell said, [O1~ ~['~ Review Board "Do I think that we can limit have come somebody when they think they from one individual, The board have been wronged? No [ don't." dism/ssed the latest allegations The five-member PCRB in a Friday report forwarded to reviews Winkelhake's corn- Iowa City councilors, plaint investigations. It can rec- Add in the man's family ommend that his findings be mem~rs and the complaint toud reversed or modified. Other reaches at least 14 of the 19 responsibilities include review- received since the board Ibrmed ing police policy and procedure. last t~ll. Ail complaints invesfi- Board findings released gated so far have been dismissed. Friday state the following: "[ can assure you that each · In a complaint filed March complaint was reviewed as 3 l. the man alleged that an ofli- closely as all the others," Board cer gave his unlisted telephone Chmrman Paul Hoffey said. number to a neighbor and also Confidentiality requirements contacted, harassed and ques- , prohibit the board from revealing tioned his employer about him. - identifies of complainams or offi- The man also alleged the officer ' cers involved. Police Chief R.J. gave hl~ inlbrmati0n about Winkelhake has sa/d the depart- him to his employen ment didn't have a histopy wi~h The officer denied the alle- ~he man. Hoffey said Friday no gations. one officer appears to be targeted. · In an April I complaint. Hoffey said the man alleged that harassment - the board is charges brought against him by ' spending a lot police and filed by the Johnson of rune review- County Attorney's office were ing these corn- knowingly hlse and malicious. plaints. At one Thc charges, later compiled time, he said, into a single charge, alleged he the board -- harassed his neighbors. also working through bylaws and O'Donnol] other s~-up derails ~ met we~kly. ~ 'edar R¢lptd. s' (;¢lZelte../utte 13, 199,~, 3/3 Police Citizens Review Board nixes complaints By L~nn M. Tefft Gazette Johnson Count/Bureau IOWA CITY --. The Police Citizens Review Board has ruled a~ainst a man who complained that an officer harassed him at home ~nd ~ave false information to the m~a's employers. In the March complaint, one of 11 the msn filed this year and last year, the~ m~a alle~es that an officer/ave the maws unlisted phone humber to the man's neighbor and quesUoned the man's employer about him. The board noted that in investi~atin~ the complaint, Police Chief R.J. Winkelhake contacted the officer, but not the man who ~ed. the IOWA CITY complaint. The man requested that he not be interviewed, the board noted. The board reported that it found no evidence that the officer had given the man's number to anyone or contacted his employers. The board denied the man's claim that his right to live in peace was violated. The same officer accused in that mml's com- plaint was the subject of another man's complaint, also recently denied by the board, The officer is not named but is referred to as "officer 880919." In the second complaint, one of 12 fled this year and last by that person, the officer is accused of helping the man's neighbor stalk him. The man also accuses the officer, along with five other officers, of filing false and malicious charges against him. This man also requested that he not be inter- viewed, so Winkell~ke interviewed only t~e offlcer~ .the board ,~mtss. , . Thm'etore, the ~ ruled, t~e m~.n ~ not dented the right ~ Uve In pesce. ~. The board also recently dismissed a comphlm at~er, detemflnlng f-he complaint was not tiled with.in$.~ days ~/' the inc/~mt l~ question, as ~ ~ the Cl~ ~ The Cedar Rapids Gazette, June 18 1998,3B P lice' O'ntlhUe policy review · y LYfllt M. Tefft meeting Wednesday on police issues, hands behind his back to pulling a ~ ~ c~ a~m IOWA (~l'i'~ The council also decided to direct gun on a person, the officer must file IOWA ~ -- The ~ Cit~ the Police Department to provide as a report. Polim D~l~'~ll~lt ~onti~ to t~- ~,..,,,lit~d. The ~ll~ll dropped the much training as possible for non-vi- view it~ ~ to comply wtth· idea due tu co~t ccac~ last sum. olent responses to situations. Those reports are reviewed by Winkelhake and department supervi. national {i~ereditation pro~ema~ inmr IM~or~ Chalnpiml was elected. Kubby said she believes more em* sots, then compiled in one report tho~ tl~ Clt}' Cotlncll ha~ Rot ~ coat wa~ e~msted at ~0,000 phasis should be placed on these forwarded to the City Council. ch~ it~ ix~iflola about pmyifig to $'{0,OO0, fLRClUdlI~ the ~1~,060 that non-violent responses, noting that tt the fee for the departlnent to I~e would be lmtd to an outstde agency ts a trend nationwide. Other council "For each incident the ot]3cer has offlclall~ eccre~/tmi, for the accreditation pro~e~ and the members said they believe the de- to explain 'what happened? why did Police Chie~ R.J. Wlnkelhake said cost of assigltiag a frill-time ofllcer to partmelat is sull]ciently dedicated to you do it? what happened after he ~ th~ policy review to 1~9 asserllble the _n~c~,'y material using the least force possible in any ward?'" Atkins said. completm in two to 2V, years. Coml,~_* Council member Eaton Kubby said situation. Council member Dee Vanderhoei into co.p/la.ce with the accr~llta- me~til~g the standards is its own City Manager Steve Atkins said said one thing the ~nonthly repor~ tion ~ mmma meeting mor~ reward, while Mayor grnie Lehman the amount of force officers use is shows her is that for Iowa City's size than /0O ~mlldards, he said. said the city likely will 0fl]cially under more scrutiny than ever with and the number of cars to which thc Co,m,'~! ~ Connie Champion seek the accreditation someday, the department's monthly use-of- Police Department responds, officer~ saidlflmlwtM~/l~dthat th®city~ Accreditation was one of several force report. Any time an officer are using force in a relatively Iow not decided to pay the f~ to I~ topics taken up at a special council uses force, from forcing someone's number of situations. Iowa City Press-Citizen, June 18 1998,3A Pi ll e, -'to prove community service By~allt~Mltla~ ,.~uai~.~tylllmldm~mde~ab- divemity, focusing on smali issues, city crisis-response plan to 7/~ lil~mtent of a caeiae uait ~ithin 'I{ b imp~tam ~o this court- "If you have a broken win- used in case of a disa..aer and IowaC~/l~llidee~ceukllee ~he~llll~l~att. cilthatoutlxflice~tbe dow or bnYxen cars in a nelgh- ag~-,d there was need fm- the a mon~ ffiem~ md irnl~:wed PolimCl~ie~R.J.W't~elhake peo~cient in nmwiolenc¢," bodxxxl and yeu don't do any- council to he mom visible to the police fo~ce in the reat- futu~ if infemled the ceuncil ~ hi~ Mayor Emie Lehman said. thing about iL you will soon publicintimesofcrisis. policy mview~ by the cily a~e depatl~eat has Itained eve~7 Councill~ Ka~n Kubby have a Io~ of such cases in that Kubby said a ~sponse plan can'Jedou{, ofl~ea'innmwielentmethodafm aa~dlhepo~ieedepmtwenttoge{ area." he said. "Our philosophy aL~o couJd help deaJ wi~ situa- inaWed~,.~a, ylowaCity mam,.~n_a~aminm, in ~ouch with e6~et police depart- is to addtess such small issues t~ms such as the Augu~ 1996[ Co~mcilmeet- "rhemlaacleatmquitement mmlsanda~enciesinthecoun~ quickly. They help in making famJpolicesho~XingaflowaCi~y ing, court- ~hat~off~:etn,..,detoexpinin ~thaveembtacedthenom, iolent the community a lol safer." anistandbusmessmanEticShaw. IOWlI~'~ c i I o t s any meoffeeoe."'ArmkeBtake philoaolthy.~alsosuggeared Themeefing alsoasked the "When EcicShaw was shin reviewed several policy guide- said.'q,VeaJsom~6env~itua~io~a thedq, na~u,,eattm, lew its mission depatlmentto furnish {hecoun- by a public employee, wedidn'l liras aimed lo help the force in whe~ off~e~ ha~e had to use staemm~ to affmn ils corarmt- cji wilh de~ails related to estab- validate the people's feelings;' its accvedimlion efforts and to fee:e to ~ee how we could have nle~toaanctityoflife, lishing a canine unit. The she said. "We just sat ~her= like impro~ comm~ity policing, haedled the ~ituation beaea'." Winkethake informed the depat'm~nt hopes to acquire a s~o~e s~ues. There were ~hings Ceuncll ~tldeliam include W'lllJ{elhakesaJdthedepalt- council that ore of the ways his dogfo~clmgsnifiqngandtrack- we could have done ~hal would enhancement of nonviolent merit Idso w~ Imining oglers depat'anent was improving ing potlx~es, have helped {he community policing methods, improved in matte~ telJt~_ to c'laquml coaununity policing was by Councilors also discussed a emo~ionaliy." I 'edtll' J~ll[~lcl~ ( ,tlZt'lh' Jullc ~ !. ]~u~, }ohtlSOll ( builD, parc i kyle Muller There are reasons of fairness Specific complaints will not be Gazette and privacy for that. Maybe the heard, however. Hoffey says to bureau closed nature of the proceedings file a complaint for that. Forms chief is just as well, considering the are at the city clerk's office, complaints the board has heard public library, police '-*- '~-.y~On so far. department and at the review [o,'vva CJ[y One man had fried nine board's office at the Senior complaints by Center, which is open Mondays mid-spring, and Fridays. He had been At the June 29 forum, you will Policereviews h~asse~ by get five minutes to make your police serving point. People who want to speak by 'ty b d himwith may sign up in advance and also cl oar outstanding ruay sign up 30 minutes before misdemeanor the forum starts, ,fle~,t no fires charges, the Written commonts will be sent man said in to the board if the city receives · OWA CITY -- Since last fall one them by Monday. complaint. Overall, Hoffey says, he thinks · one man had filed close to a Paul Hoffe¥ Police the process is working. The fact · dozen complaints with Iowa Heads board City's Police Citizen Review trespassed that one person, in particular, Board about the behavior of when they tried to contact the has flied a lot of complaints has Iowa City police, man at his home. he said in made him interested in hearing His complaints included that another complaint, other public comments at the police continued to leave In each case the Police Citizen forum, he says. messages on his telephone's Review Board dismissed the "[ think it's going to be very voice message machine when he complaints, interesting." bad told police not to call him. So iht the board has not seen The officer in this instance was anything near the kind of investigating a previous problem that sparked its complaint filed by the man and creation 10 months ago - bad to call, the review board questionable judgment that led determined, to a serious act of violence. The Like it did with all the man's board was created in the complaints, the board dismissed aftermath of the Aug. 30, 1996, the complaint. [htal shooting by a police officer Fact is, the five-member of Iowa City artist and business Police Citizen Review Board has operator Eric Shaw. spent most of its short lilb Despite the ch)seal-door i~earicg marginal complaints guidelines tbr Police Citizen ['rmn the same ti.~w people. All Review Board's proceedings, an the complaints have been opportunity exists to talk m dismissed, public with the board when it However, and unfortunately hosts a community fi)run~ trom tot those who envisioned the ; to 9 p.m. on June 29. board as providing some light of The lbrum is scheduled in day on how police behave, the lueeting room A of the Iowa City hoard's five members have Public Library. Another is worked in relative secrecy, phmned flu' ()ct. 27. Under the rules adopted by "We're boping to jost listen to the City (?otulci[ for the board, xxhat citizros Ilav(. I(} sz/y." says Paul I lofli,~,. c.mplaints the board hears. Falls police officer who is .)olice anti complainants alike, "We're interested Jo their remain anonymous in written cmnments regarding polities ( ouncil ami reve;ded to the the Iowa City Police