HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-23-1999 Minutes POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
MINUTES - February 16, 1999
Lobby Conference Room
CALL TO ORDER Chair L. Cohen called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
AI I ENDANCE Board members present: L. Cohen, P. Farrant, P. Hoffey,
M. Raymond and J. Watson. Staff present: Legal
Counsel D. Russell and administrative assistant S. Bauer.
CONSENT
CALENDAR Motion by P. Farrant and seconded by P. Hoffey to adopt
the Consent Calendar. Motion carried, 5/0, all members
present.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL None
DISCUSSION RE
JOINT MEETING WITH
CITY COUNCIL Subsequent to the joint meeting with the City Council on
2/11/99, Chair Cohen received a request from the
Mayor for a written clarification regarding PCRB receipt
of officer identification before the Board deliberates on a
particular complaint. Upon the Chair's request, Legal
Counsel prepared a draft letter to the Mayor addressing
this issue; this letter was distributed to Board members.
Distribution was also made of P. Farrant's "Discussion
draft 2/15/99 - Why it would be unwise to further limit
the modest powers granted to the iowa City PCRB: A
thought process," which primarily outlines the history of
the establishment of the PCRB to the present time, and
addresses the issue of officer identification. Following
discussion, M. Raymond was directed to prepare a
second draft of the letter to the Mayor, combining the
two documents submitted, and addressing:
· The need for this information at the outset as it may
be relevant to the credibility of a particular police
officer in a particular complaint;
· The need for this information to evaluate the
reasonableness of the Chief's determinations.
D. Russell also distributed a copy of his letter to E. Dilkes
dated 2/15/99 regarding the current status of
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discussions (attached). In his followup discussion with
Ms. Dilkes, it was determined the City Attorney would:
· Prepare language for SOP's regarding a numbering
system and the use of the officer identification
numbers;
· Draft language to provide the Board with the Police
Department complaint form information in periodic
reports;
· Provide language for SOP's regarding the summary
dismissal hearing, allowing the Board the opportunity
to investigate the issue of timeliness by other
methods;
· Draft language for the three separate categories of
extensions of deadlines from the present ordinance;
· Support the Board's right to receive the name of an
officer complained of and to use it in a sustained
complaint in the Board's public report IF there were
guidelines about how it should be used;
· Prepare a discussion document for the Board with the
suggested changes so the Board could discuss it
before it is submitted to the City Council.
Russell also confirmed with Dilkes that the PCRB would
prepare information sheets to be attached to the PCRB
and the Police Department complaint forms, and send
this language to her for her input before the Board
adopts it.
Russell and Dilkes also discussed the Mayor's request for
a letter regarding officer identification, both agreeing that
the primary point is credibility of an officer.
Noting the possibility that D. Russell may be leaving as
counsel for the Board, Dilkes indicated she'd like to have
this language adopted before he leaves. Russell stated
his end-point would be mid-March.
Following discussion, P. Farrant agreed to prepare a draft
for the information cards for the two complaint forms for
review at the next meeting.
MEETING SCHEDULE
S. Bauer was directed to reconvene plans for a
community forum at the Broadway Neighborhood Center.
· Special Meeting February 23, 1999, 6:00 P.M.
· Special Meeting March 2, 1999, 7:00 P.M.
· Regular Meeting March 9, 1999, 7:00 P.M. (P. Hoffey
will be absent)
· No meeting on March 16, 1999
· PCRB Priority-Setting Meeting - to be determined
· Community Forum at Broadway Neighborhood Center
- to be determined
PUBLIC DISCUSSION None
BOARD
INFORMATION None
STAFF
INFORMATION None
EXECUTIVE
SESSION Citing a conflict of interest in regard to PCRB Complaint
//98-19, Chair L. Cohen recused herself at 7:48 P.M.
Vice-Chair Watson presiding.
Motion by M. Raymond and seconded by P. Horley to
adjourn into Executive Session based on Section 21.5(a)
of the code of iowa to review or discuss records which
are required or authorized by state or federal law to be
kept confidential or to be kept confidential as a condition
for that government body's possession or continued
receipt of federal funds, and 22.7(11) personal
information in confidential personnel records of public
bodies including but not limited to cities, boards of
supervisors and school districts, and 22.7(5) police
officer investigative reports, except where disclosure is
authorized elsewhere in the Code. Motion carried, 4/0,
Cohen absent. Meeting adjourned at 7:50 P.M.
Regular meeting resumed at 8:02 P.M.
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Motion by P. Hoffey and seconded by M. Raymond to
accept information received from Chief Winkelhake
regarding #98-19. Motion carried, 4/0, Cohen absent.
Further discussion on #98-19 is deferred to the meeting
on February 23, 1999, 6:00 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT Motion for adjournment by P. Farrant and seconded by
M. Raymond. Motion carried, 4/0, Cohen absent.
Meeting adjourned at 8:03 P.M.