HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-25-1999 Minutes POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
MINUTES- May 11, 1999
Lobby Conference Room
CALL TO ORDER Chair L. Cohen called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
A'I IENDANCE Board members present: L. Cohen, P. Hoffey, M.
Raymond and John Watson. Board member absent: P.
Farrant. Staff present: Interim Legal Counsel C. Pugh
and Administrative Assistant S. Bauer.
CONSENT
CALENDAR Motion by M. Raymond and seconded by P. Hoffey to
adopt the Consent Calendar. Discussion followed.
Item (e) of the Consent Calendar (copy of
correspondence from Atty. Bruce Nestor to the City
Manager, and response from the City Manager to Atty.
Nestor) was deferred to Item 3 on the agenda.
Regarding (d) of the Consent Calendar, the MATS course
content guide, it was noted:
Departmental Update included the citizens review
board
Use of Force Review included the explanation and
distribution of the newly revised Use of Force General
Order
· An 1.5 hour on Diversity/Cross-Culture
Communication taught by Sgt. Jackson and Marian
Coleman
· Hazard Communications included a review of the
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) sheets.
Motion carried, 4/0, Farrant absent.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL None
COMMUNITY
FORUM REVIEW Regarding correspondence noted in the Consent Calendar
(e), Chair advised that a Board member had expressed
concern about their conversation with Mr. Nestor and
what the Board member felt were exaggerations in his
letter, One was in regard to the City Council
disapproving of the forums; in fact, at one point in time
only one City Council member expressed a concern
about the forums. The other concern was regarding
Chief Winkelhake's presentation to the Board and only
taking questions from Board members and not members
of the public. Chair Cohen informed Board members
that prior to the forum, she and P. Hoffey visited with
the Chief about his presentation, noting the Board's
assumption that the presentation would be made to the
Board and to the public, and that there would be a
question and answer session after the presentation from
the audience. In response, the Chief said that he was
there to present to the Board only and that he would
take questions from the Board only. Since the Chief
expressed his intentions of taking no questions from the
audience, Cohen and Hoffey concurred he didn't need to
stay. In turn, Cohen informed Watson and Raymond that
the Chief was going to address the Board only and did
not intend to take questions from the audience.
Chair reviewed the PCRB letters to the Chief which were
quoted in Mr. Atkins response to Mr. Nestor. She
acknowledged they could be taken either way. She
stated it is important in the future that the Board be very
thorough in communicating to the speaker what the
Board expects.
Watson stated that it was clearly the Board's intent to
provide an opportunity for the Chief and the people in
the community to have a conversation about the SCAT
program, the current procedures and future plans.
Watson expressed disappointment that the Chief did not
take advantage of the opportunity regardless of the
interpretation of correspondence. It was an opportunity
that the Chief missed.
Watson stated it is one of the Board's charges under the
Ordinance to assist the Chief and the department in
improving communications and communitv relations.
The Chief had an opportunity to do that at this forum
and he didn't take it. Watson feels it is the Board's
responsibility, as representatives of the citizens, to make
a statement about this matter. He recommended that
the Board express its feelings to the City Manager and
the Chief about this matter in a letter. Following further
discussion, Board members preferred to let the minutes
reflect the Board's disappointment rather than reflecting
that in a letter to the City Manager and Chief.
Raymond stated the Board's expectations may not have
been conveyed clearly enough to the Chief. In the
future she recommended making exact expectations
more clearly stated. Although the presentation did not
come up to the Board's expectations, Raymond stated
the community's participation did come up to the Board's
expectations.
Other comments regarding the forum included:
The presentation itself was informative, with facts
and figures, and an explanation why other officers are
not spending as much time in that area any longer -
'where the crime goes, they go'.
· The presence and the approach of the members of
the department who came was appropriate and
appreciated, considering that at the last forum the
Board had some concerns about the impact of large
numbers.
· The Board had hoped for more attendance and
participation from persons living in the neighborhood
(there appeared to be a conflicting neighborhood
meeting).
· The sound system and the acoustics were poor.
· The question remained whether there is a familiar
officer(s) available in the neighborhood. Cohen stated
she feels it is essential to have officers assessable
who are familiar to adults as well as children.
· The forums are worthwhile and they remain one of
the board's major goals.
COMPLAINT
FORMS Legal Counsel stated she has received no further
correspondence from the City Attorney regarding the
information cards for the complaint forms. Chair noted
her ongoing concern and disappointment that what was
to be a simple, small card has now evolved into a
lengthy sheet of information. Further consideration was
deferred until a response is received from the City
Attorney.
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STATUS RE NEW
LEGAL COUNSEL Interviews of candidates are scheduled for May 25,
commencing at 7:00 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., in executive
session. Candidates shall be sent a copy of the
Ordinance, By-Laws, SOP's, and the PCRB brochure,
together with some of the anticipated questions to be
asked of candidates by board members (attached).
The interview questions will be asked by the Chair, with
follow-up from other board members.
Direction was given to staff to invite the new board
member (appointed by council on May 18) to attend the
May 25 meeting.
ANNUAL REPORT
PLANNING Chair Cohen asked if Board members had any current
concerns they want addressed in the annual report.
Cohen requested that this appear on subsequent
agendas.
Staff suggested a target date of July 20 for the
completion of the annual report so a final draft can be,
approved at the July 27 meeting.
MEDIATION FORM
LETTERS Motion by M. Raymond and seconded by J. Watson to
approve the mediation form letters. Motion carried, 4/0,
Farrant absent.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
INVESTIGATIVE
INTERVIEWS Committee member P. Hoffey reported a follow-up
meeting with Chief Winkelhake scheduled for Thursday,
May 13, at 10:00 a.m. The subcommittee will
subsequently report to the Board at its May 25th meeting.
The Board requested that the committee ask the Chief if
internal investigation interviews are routinely transcribed.
MEETING SCHEDULE
· Special Meeting May 25, 1999, 6:30 P.M. (agenda
will include interview of candidates for Board legal
counsel)
· Regular Meeting June 8, 1999, 7:00 P.M.
· Special Meeting June 22, 1999, 7:00 P.M.
Hoffey informed the board of his expected absence for
two weeks in July; Watson informed of his absence at
the meetings on June 22 and July 13.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION None
BOARD
INFORMATION J. Watson - submitted a Memo from a Goodwill
employee to be included in the next meeting packet
(suggestions for a gun buy-back program).
L. Cohen - there have been no completed applications
for the board vacancy. Chair encouraged board
members to talk to anyone they feel would be a good
candidate to fill Raymond's term.
L. Cohen - attended a meeting at Regina High School at
which Prof. Arthur Miller participated in a survey on
binge drinking with junior high and high school students.
The results of that survey were discussed,
STAFF
INFORMATION S. Bauer - The Board has received no response yet from
Peter Uatthes regarding a presentation of findings on
relations between University of Iowa students and the
Iowa City Police Department,
C. Pugh - has not received response to her
correspondence of 4/29/99 to the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION Motion by J. Watson and seconded by P. Hoffey 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
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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; and 22.7(18)
Communications not required by law, rule or procedure
that are made to a government body or to any of its
employees by identified persons outside of government,
to the extent that the government body receiving those
communications from such persons outside of
government could reasonably believe that those persons
would be discouraged from making them to that
government body if they were available for general public
examination. Motion carried, 4/0, Farrant absent. Open
session adjourned at 8:00 P.M.
Regular meeting resumed at 8:20 P.M.
Chair directed staff to forward a letter to the Chief
requesting additional investigative information, to include
transcripts of the complainant and the two officers
involved in PCRB Complaint #99-02.
ADJOURNMENT Motion for adjournment by P. Hoffey and seconded by J.
Watson. Motion carried, 4/0, Farrant absent. Meeting
adjourned at 8:20 P.M.
Anticipated Questions
1. What are your reasons for applying for this position?
2. Have you thought about what issues are likely to arise from work with
the PCRB? What is your expertise/experience in dealing with these
issues?
· Open Meetings and Open Records Law
· City boards and commissions
· Criminal law and procedure
· Conflicts of interest
3. If the Board finds itself in disagreement with the City, how would you
deal with representing the Board while being employed and paid by the
City?*
4. What do you see as your role and time commitment for this position?
The PCRB Standard Operating Procedures require legal counsel to be
in attendance at all meetings whenever possible. Can you be
available?
* As amended by Chair L. Cohen