HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-1998 Minutes POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
MINUTES - August 11, 1998
Lobby Conference Room
CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chair L. Cohen called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M.
ATTENDANCE Board members present: L. Cohen, P. Farrant, M. Raymond, and J.
Watson. Board member absent: P. Hoffey. Staff present: Legal
Counsel D. Russell and Administrative Assistant S. Bauer.
CONSENT
CALENDAR Motion by M. Raymond and seconded by P. Farrant to adopt the
Consent Calendar. Motion carried, 4/0, Hoffey absent.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL None
COMMUNITY FORUM
EVALUATION Board members discussed an informal list of potential issues and
priorities relating to Police Department policies, based on
presentations made by citizens at the July 14, 1998 Community
Forum and correspondence received to-date.
Issues commented on about the forum format and future forums
included:
sites to hold forums other than at the iowa City Public Library;
· practical issues related to televising future forums;
· need for further listening sessions and more anecdotal input;
· more participation from board members at future forums;
· preference for issue focused sessions;
· need for participation by student population representatives.
The following Issues were suggested as poasibllltlas from the first
forum:
Issue #1- Race end Age-based Traffic Stops, as proposed by M.
Raymond: This issue is being raised nationwide. A proposal at the
federal level and in two states calls for fact gathering demographic
information on those subjected to traffic stops. Raymond proposed
that the board determine if such demographic information is already
being collected and whether the board could have access to it. This
data could include:
(1) number of individuals stopped,
(2) r ace/ethnicity,
(3) approximate age,
(4) traffic infraction that was alleged to have been committed
that had lead to the stop,
(5) whether a search was instituted as a result of the stop,
how the search was instituted, the rationale for the
search,
{6) whether contraband was discovered in the course of the
search and the nature of the contraband, if any,
(7) whether warning or citations were issued as a result of
the stop, and
(8) whether an arrest was made.
Issue #2 - Use of Force: The question of policy on the use of
weapons and the potential use of force is an important one in this
community. J. Watson suggested inviting Prof. Baldus to discuss
the issue of accumulating data in trying to evaluate the issue, and to
asSist the board in determining whether the existing policies on use
of force are appropriate for this community.
Issue #3 - Shaw Matter.. A number of speakers at the forum
suggested that the community still wants to hear whether the police
department has made changes in policy, procedure, and training as a
result of the Shaw incident.
Issue #4 - Priorities/Community Standards: The possibility of mini
sessions for the police department to make presentations to the
public about community standards/policies as a way for citizens to
be more informed about current policies, structuring time for
presentation, debate, and response. With respect to this issue, it
was acknowledged that the PCRB was established to focus on
possible problems, review policies, foster public discussion, and
recommend needed changes in policy and procedure.
Issue # 5 - Downtown Issues: Personnel allocation issues, attitude
issues, policy decisions, and input from the student body_.
The board suggested a number of ways to proceed:
1. Gathering information from guest speakers;
2. Department presentations (see #4 above);
3. Provide a venue for the public to respond and debate;
4. identify specific outcomes, to include possible
recommendations to the City Council.
It was the consensus of the board that it is more practical to start
with concrete issues like traffic stops and use of force. Results of
discussion end exploration of these issues may provide direction for
addressing less concrete themes, such as perceived attitudes and
community expectations.
Motion by L. Cohen and seconded by M. Raymond that (1} Raymond
shall draft a letter to the Chief requesting information about
collection of demographic data on traffic stops, and (2) Watson shall
contact David Baldus inviting him to a future meeting to speak on
data collection and use of force issues. Motion carried, 4/0, Hoffey
absent.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION The following individuals appeared: Jeff Guiton, Anthony Haughton,
and Charles Eastham.
COMPLAINT
FORM Committee Chair P. Farrsnt distributed a working copy of PCRB
Citizen Complaint Form, Draft 8/10/98. This matter was deferred for
discussion to the next meeting.
MEETING
SCHEDULE
* Special Meeting August 18, 1998 - 7:00 P.M.
Agenda - Complaint Form, SOP's, Annual Report, Forum (IMU?)
· Special Meeting August 25, 1998 - 7:00 P,M.
· Special Meeting September 1, 1998 - 7:00
· Regular Meeting September 8, 1998 - 7:00 P.M.
BOARD
INFORMATION
· M. Raymond - the statute that allows police to conduct a full
search based on a citation will be reviewed by the U.S Supreme
Court this fall. Ms. Raymond will kee~ the board apprised of this
issue.
STAFF INFORMATION
·Regarding the Association for Civilian Oversight of Law
Enforcement conferences, S. Bauer reported that the City would
consider all travel requests submitted to them.
* D. Russell distributed memo of 8/11/98 regarding PCRB SOP's
and Guidelines for consideration by the Board on August 18.
ADJOURNMENT Motion for adjournment by M. Raymond and seconded by J. Watson.
Motion carried, 4/0, Hoffey absent. Meeting adjourned at 9:23 P.M.