HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-22-1998 ICPD Reports/Memos POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
December 18, 1998
R.J. Winkelhake, Chief of Police
Iowa City Police Department
Dear Chief Winkelhake:
This correspondence is the result of our meeting with you on November 19, 1998,
attended by Steve Atkins, Sarah Holeeek and representatives of the Police Citizens
Review Board. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a concern some members of
the Police Department may have regarding the release of names to the press or public of
police officers mentioned in citizen complaints. We agreed to send a letter to you
explaining the procedure followed by the PCRB with the understanding it would be
disseminated to ail officers in the Iowa City Police Department.
As you are aware, when a complaint is received, the original is filed in the City Clerk's
Office with a copy forwarded to the Chief of Police. Shortly after the PCRB was formed,
the Board decided it did not wish to use or know the names of officers mentioned in the
complaint. Therefore, the complaint copies sent to Board members have ail references to
police officers' names and badge numbers deleted. Instead, you assign a number code to
each officer. Any names of officers made public are provided by the complainant, the
complainant's attorney or the officer, not the PCRB.
We, of course, do not release officers' names ifa complaint is not sustained. The Board
has also chosen not to release the name of an officer in a sustained complaint aithough
the city ordinance ailows it to do so. As is commonly known, ail deliberations
concerning a complaint are conducted in dosed sessions. Ifa name clearing hearing is
held, that is also held in a dosed session.
At, er the PCRB report is received by the City Council, it then becomes a matter of public
record. However, even at that point the PCRB does not provide information to the news
media except the public report itself. Nor does the PCRB release names of parties
involved or any other information that may lead to the identification of the parties. As
can happen, the news media may misinterpret the public report or report the
complainant's statements only. This is beyond our control.
The Board does not release the names of officers involved in complaints we review. This
has been our policy fi.om the outset and we have adhered to it without exception.
Sincerely,
Leah Cohen, PCRB Chair
cc: City Council