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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-22-2001 ArticlesIowa City Press-Citizen Police practices prompt petitions I,,~l',, (',l~J l',c,,~ ('ihztm they Ih~nk m IPI:LX al :t lieu' IJJSjde ('ilizens I'tn' Acclmnlabh! Petitions-....... ....,,.-..,.,,..,-,..,,..,-,.... The Daily lowan -]owa City, Iowa - Friday, June 22, 2001 CITY & STATE Ciht to limit power of police board · Some residents fear that filed with it, nee thu~e fired proposed changes will n.,,.,.r, l~uhce (?hid R J render the citizen board Winkit, hake wdl c.,mnu~ to inefficient. be I'etiulrPd In issue du>cl'lp RECORDS/REGION Friday, June 22, 2001 Proposed city amendments 4A · The Gazette, S~., June 23, 2001 THE GAZE'Fi~ , ~ IOWA CITY i: M,,k. ' Jerry Elsea, Editor i~ral P~ a~ ~iWr~l ~ Chair~n  Lyle Mullet, Iowa City ~r hve Storey, V~ P~s~, Ad~nising ~R Swenson, Ci~u~n Disctot Peg ~i~, Vi~ ~s~, Print O~nt~ An edition of~e G~ette, ~AZ~n COMMU~CATIONS, ~C. an ~ndependent newspaper J. Hladky, Ckir~ and Publ~r Chuck Peten, ~es~nt a~ established in 1~3 c~fo~ti~g off~e~ Ken Slaughter, Exec~i~ V~e ~es~nt and Ch~f ~na~l ~ficer GAZETTE EDITORIALS Council, don't hobble police citizen review II HE IOWA CITY COUNCIL, in all its wisdom, has decided that the Police Citi- zen Review Board (PCRB) will not only survive the sunset clause, it can now comment about police actions and procedure. It can do that even ff no complaint has been fried. But one has to ask: Why would the PCRB members bother? The council also decided that the PCRB cannot make a report or recommen- dations unless asked to do so by the council, the police chief or the city manager. The council giveth, and the councfi taketh away. The second decision doesn't exactly in- spire confidence among the citizenry that the watchdog group it thought it had will be effective in any way. And one of the issues the PCRB was created to address is public conft- dence in the Police Department. Many community residents have serious questions about how the Police Department is pursuing the war on drugs here. They're concerned particularly about garbage searches. They also have questions about how police are enforcing laws concerning underage drinking. Young people in the community, and their parents, have concerns about how police inter- act with them. And there are other issues that affect the community's confidence in the police. The community needs a board that not only can weigh in when it sees problems with a complaint lodged against the department, but that also has the authority to push for change in police policy and procedure as well as the means to take action to improve police/commu- nity relations. Local June 24, Iowa City Press-Citizen Council to rethink PCl{B learn t 'ity Prcss-I 'iti.:e~ ity of council members said only could reconm~end the Waslm~gton St. However. the they wm~ted to keep the eounciloverturnafmdingby kssue also appears on the The Iowa City Cmmcil ks bog but reduce its pewera. the chief ff the chiefs deci- agenda for Monday schedt~ed Io have iks fu~t At a work session two weeks sion were arbitrary, capft- council work session, which vote on ago, the council infom~aHy eious. ~mreasonable or con- begins at 6:80 p.m. in the |0Wll Cit]/ chtmges to the agreed on the following t~'y to law. sm~e location. P o I i e e changes: · The sunset clause will City Clerk Marjan Kaxr C i t i z e n s · The bog shall review be r.plaeed with a provision issued a memo to the cotu~- Review Board on Tuesday, police practices, procedures roquirk~g council to review cil June 19 saying she is but the proposed new ordi- and policies only at the the board's effectiveness uncomfortable with her nance could undergo further request of the City Council. every t~vo years. smff's absorbing the work- changes during a council cily mal~ager or police ctdef. · The position of the load of the PCRB's admh~Ls- work sessior~ Monday. Currently, the board has board's adnmdstmtive assis- rexrive assistm~t. given ~he The review board was authority to review at will. rant. who makes about comncil did not substzu~tially established about five years · The board now will be $18,000 a year, would be reduce lhe work associated ago after an officer fat.'~]y able to comment if it has eliminated and its duties with ihe board. shot and kfiled a resident. It concerns with the police Lmrtsferred to the city clerk*s On a related nob;e, three h~ks independent authority to chiefs fmdil~gs rega~ing .'m office. local advocacy groups ,'kre investigam complaints of allegation of misconduct. ff The council Ls scheduled t~ing to garner s,ipport for polit'e miscoi~ducL but it the conmmnks are critical of to hold the first of throe an amendment to the also ks sd~edt~ed to disb~md a~ officer, the officer will votes on the proposed challer to make the PCRB a Aug. 1 unless re<~stablished have the right to a nal~e- changes during Tuesday's pen~anent city board by the cllITent coilneff. clearkng hearing. formal meeting at 7 p.m. in broader proveto to oversee Earlier this year, a major- However, the board still Council Cha~nbers 410 E. po[ice pradices. News o,,.no...sRegister- O,- Search our site: ................. '; ~d a g~ devd~ ~s J Home: News News I Updates ~ Aqriculture .~.~.,co..~Council plans changes to police ~ Education b Environment . .~.,,. review board } Local Go~. ~ Nation~orld . Opinion Posted at 8:15 o~ 06/25/2001 ~ People/Places ..................... ~ Politics } Reliqion The Iowa Citv City Council plans to vote on changes ~ Space tO a local citizens panel that rex'iex~s the Police ~ State Go~. . Tech/Science Department ~ Weather Obituaries The City Council ~dll make changes to the Police Citizens Review Board at a meeting Monday and Web Extras plans to vote on a proposed new ord ~ance Tuesday. Forums The citizens group was created tire years ago after an Spo.s oflicer shot and killed a resident The panel has the authority to investigate complaints of' police Enteaainment misconduct It is scheduled to disband Aug I unless the current council decides to keep it Marketplaces Help A m~ority of council members said earlier this year that they want to keep the group but reduce its powers. - Associated Press 1 ~lick Away. News I pports 1 Business I Farminq I Technoloqy I Entertainment I Forums I ~ Cars q Jobs f Real Estate I Apartments I Shoppinq ~ Classifieds I Subscribe Copyright ,~ 2001, The Des Moines Register. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 4/13/2000). CITY " JUNE 25, 2001  IOWA CITY, IOWA VOL. 118 NO. 167 50 CENTS Chan es appear on horizon for PORB By Nathan Hill ON TAP ~OWA CYfY -- The CRy The Cit~ Council will discuss the Council L~ to vote Tuesday to PCRB dudng a 6:30 p.m. wor~ c~nge how t~e cR~'s ~o]ice session today and vote on the watchdog g~oup o~e~ates. maRer at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Bo~h CRy Clerk 1V[a~a~ ~ s~ meetings are at the CMC Center, Lq a memo t0 ~e council he~ 410 E. Washington o~ce m~y be t~xe~ dealing wit~ ~ollce Citizens Review Board re- before the PCRB's Aug. 1 sun- ~ search, con- set clause. If nothing is ap- " ducting fo- proved by then, the ordinance r u m s creating the PCRB automatical- responding t~ ly will be repealed. citizen inqui- The changes in store for the des and pro- PCRB are relatively minor, cessing corn- considering Vanderhoef wanted i "~.: ~ plaints. to eliminate it while council C o u n c i 1 member Irvin Pfab wanted its Marjan [(art members de- powers grea~y expanded. City clerk cided earlier The PCRB would be able to wants support this month to review police practices and for PCRB work eliminate a procedures only at the direc- hair-time staff tion of the City Council city position devoted to the beard and to fold that workload into manager or police chief. It also the City Clerk's Office. could review its own effective- Karr said she wants the ness every two years. council to provide additional Unchanged is the "reason- staff support. But that may be able basis" standard of review unlikely because some council that some PCRB members said members -- primarily Dee tied their hands. When review- Vanderhoef and Ernie Lehman ing a complaint, the PCRB can -- complained that the PCRB disagree with a police chiefs was too expensive. decision only ff the decision is In four years, the Workings unsupported, arbitrary or file- of the PCRB have cost roughly gal. $160,000, Vanderhoef said. Council members decided to The council must decide on allow the board to comment on PCRB changes before July 26 nuances of a case, even ff the in order to publish a new law chiefs decision ks upheld. Loctl News Tuesday, June 2~, 2001 Nttio orld PORE COUld Leap powers s~o~ archives. Wailher Obituaries City Council leans toward status quo :P~.7~tjzell on the Go By Sara Langenberg Road Delays /owe (~iiv ~l'e.~.~-( Backgrounders The le~a CiW Council voted informally Monday to City Files resiore son,e ofd,e Police Citizen Review Board po~ers it thl'o8lo~od tO take 8~Vay TWo W66kS 8~o Looking for a BF~e~eF'S poll specific article? Ncs Pop Quiz Ihc clillcal ~ olcs bc~n/toni~hL Search our ' site~ Enter a ~q~cn d~c councd h, dd~ ilk' first ~,i'Neetj fig keyword, then classified ,.-dm.ncc ton ig ht SU~ fixc-xcar-¢ld b,~ard aod defining its ])OX~¢TS "The City Council ~c~L tonight will hold the first of ~ {II{k Ihc l~,,i-d ~ a~ ere,led m a three scheduled votes on ~ Find It~ I~efe ]l~ll]~[t}llli ,l'ctmlrmcrsx after all aR ordinance e~ending otiScol ~h4U m~ iil~lln~ot[ inaR. and the five-year-old Police the omncil at Ihal time hc]d [cnglh) Citizens Review Board ., ~l~fS.[~ ~ dcbatc~ Hhottl ]l~x II~Hch ~nllhnril% and defining its powers. b gn'c Ihc b, mhl i, zc~ ~c~ The meeting stads at 7 ""' - '' ' .~ conllqalnl~ -flu, dice n,~conduc~ p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Civic op fments.( .. [hal continued 1o be a ~tth cot nf Center. N('~Hr ~ Icngdl> debate M~mda>. although Click Here t0 Find ~-~rc; commcnl~ fi'.n1 ]~CRH Chau~nan Your Apadment~ N . , the board actua]l~ ts uxmg the poxxcrs it has board'~ aulhorit~ to l'cvic~ police policies. pl'acticcs and pn~ccdurcx h~ allo~Hng a rc~ ic~ onh at the rcc tes oflhc C'i~ Ct the . c ~ poxxcr even xq~cn lhc hom'd is invcstig~fimg a complaint. is critical] to the hoard'x understanding of the casc~ d~c> arc expected h,~ald could ~cvicxx p,qicics in ~c[atton to con~plam~s ~Hfi~<>uI gritrag Councilors |h'nlc [.chnlan. Dec Vandcrht~:l'and Mike {)'Donnell were against rc'.'iexx ~d'policics in general ',: ith,.lttt pcI:q~ission. but there ',xas nlap,~rlt~. supp{~it l;3r it. so thal ,,',as rcsl.3red. as ~'.cll "My intention is Ik}r the PCRI~ to listen to colicellis of residents." IrD,innell said. "I don't knox,. that an) one (on thc board) is qualified Watsoll s~lid [he b~lard stlg[/ests c]ltlllgcs but callllol currently illl]~ose "M,. pitlblcn: is the ',x a,, lhc,. ~nc c~mductcd." [.chnltln said "'there "[r., a public Ik,l unl." Watson said "lr it (pltlicc-bashn~g) is thclc. it lieotis all oUI]t_'l prl~balq} Wh', 11ol let people spc~lk"' "lt's easy lo lind pcl~plc xx he aYcn't happ)',x ith the pohcc." I,chnlan cl}lli~lcl ,,x jill pcop[c is less than plcaqalll" the nl;ll{,rilx ~l'c~mncil decided the board should ~clx ~m public like most od3cr oil> b~ards el'increasing ihc bom'd's pmxcrs m general. Kallllcr suggcslcd six addili~ real chon~cs. a ltht~tlgh lielie x~ ;is supported /he cil} att,,mc} said Kanncr's sug~csti{u~ to rcquirc officers to Icstil~ bcli~re thc PCRI~ as a condition of employment xxould bca situation "li'aughl xx ith peril." even thuugh I[lcir colnnlcnts xxottId bc ctmlidential und could nol bc used against theIll ill a tri~d timdrag they cut txxo weeks ago to handle adnm3istrativc duties associated xx ith Ihc bt~ard [,ct us knoxx xxhat }ou dunk ordns 62601 ii 27AM To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu This story was printed from Gazette Online http://www.gazetteonline.com Iowa City watchdog group to continue police policy review By Nathan Hill. Gazette staff writer, June 26, 2001 12.00 AM IOWA CITY -- John Watson didn't want to be punished for being an overachiever. Watson, the chairman of the Police Citizens Review Board (PCRB), tried to convince the City Council last night not to usurp some of the police watchdog group's power. The council, by a 4-3 margin, decided to allow the PCRB to review police policy. Watson said the board generally reviews a new policy each month, as much for education as to recommend changes. "lt's a learning process for us," Watson said. "We need to understand these orders and what officers are expected to do." Council members Irvin Pfab, Ross Wilburn, Steven Kanner and Conhie Champion voted to allow the PCRB to continue reviewing police practices. Some council members said last night the PCRB had taken on a life of its own and had begun doing things that were never expected. "There's not as much work out there as you're finding," said Mayor Ernie Lehman. "We never expected you to do much work." But Lehman was outvoted on this one. The vote is a shift from the councirs previous decision to narrow the scope of the board. The council, embroiled in a debate about the role of the PCRB now that its sunset clause is up, decided earlier this month to limit the board's scope, to prevent it from holding public forums and to keep it from reviewing policies without prior council approval. Part of the reason for that, said Champion, is that council members had misconceptions of what the PCRB actually did. Said Pfab: "1 think we're looking at a mistake that was made at the last meeting." Council members also decided last night to allow the PCRB to request the City Council to hold public forums on police practices. The PCRB had previously been able to hold forums on its own, and did so three times in the last four years. Those forums often led to gross police bashing, said Lehman. The council did not, however, expand the PCRB's power as much as Kanner would have liked. He proposed that the PCRB should recommend a level of discipline for police officers at fault in complaint cases, that the length of time complainants had to file be increased from 90 days to six months, that the PCRB keep track of use-of-force and racial profiling statistics and that police officers go before the PCRB as a condition of employment. None of these suggestions found a council majority. All local content copyright c 2000 by The Gazette Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 626nl 1I:2JAM . The Daily lowan - Iowa City, Iowa - Tuesday, June 26, 2001 Council divided on , :I police-board powers '1 Councilors In/in Pfab nc say, but it's also important to go through the City conh- and Steven Kanner Cil,' Lehman said. "The coun- · question limiting the ci] is the policy-making body boafd's power. of the Iowa City govern- ment." ayghaoXiong The amendments, as ou.t- The Daily lowan lined by City Attorney Eleanor Dilkes last week, The Iowa City City Council include eliminating the "sun- may take a few steps back set clause," which would dis- from its initial efforts to limit continue the board as of Aug. the power of the Police Citi- 1. requiring the council to zens Review Board following review the board every txvo discussion at Monday's infor- years, and limiting the board mal work session. to its current ability to only At 1 .ast two councilors, review complaints filed with Stew ,i Kanner and Irvin Pfab, reacted negatively to it and not those filed with the the council's proposed police department. amendments to limit the "If you artended our last powers of the board. general public forum, you "This is a necessary board might have seen some people become angry about a specif- with every right to express its opinions just like every- ic issue or general police poll- one else,' Pfab said. "My cy. I think that anger needs belief is that some members an outlet, and why not let of the council wanted to gut people express what they 'this organization, and you've feel?" said board Chairman successfully done this." .John Watson. Kanner proposed amend- If the amendments are ments that would extend the approved by a majority of the power of the board, allowing councilors tonight, they still it to track racial profiling by must pass two more votes hiring outside investigators, before Aug. 1 or the board expanding the length of time will cease to exist. 'that complaints can be filed However, in previous dis- by citizens from 90 days to cussions earlier this month, six months, and giving it the a majority of councilors said · authority to suggest discipli- they were in favor of renew- :nary.action to the police chief ing the board at the end of .for officers found at fault. July. Mayor Ernie Lehman and Just last week, local ;Councilors Dee Vanderhoef activists began to petition for 'and Mike O'Donnell said an amendment that would they wanted to implement make the board permanent. Yamendments that require the The city formed the board in board to go through the coun- 1997, after an Iowa City ,cil when reviewing police pol- police officer killed local icy and citizen complaints. artist Eric Shaw in August Councilor Conhie Champion 1996. A petition with 784 sig- appeared not to side with natures must be submitted to either group and could be the the city clerk by Aug. 30 for deciding factor when the the amendment to make it on council formally votes on the the Nov. 6 ballot. police-board amendments at o~ reporter Oi~n Sachdev contributed to tonight's formal session. this report. "I do think it's important E-maitOIreponerCbaoXiongat: for this group to have a pub- chao-xiong@uiowa.edu Tuesday, June 26, 2001 Page 3B DATELINE IOW'A From Register staff and news services Council votes today on police review panel The Iowa City City Courteli wfil vote today on changes to a citizens panel that reviews the police department. The citizens group was created five years ago after an officer shot and kitled a resident. The panel has the authority to investigate com- plaints of police misconduc~. It is scheduled to disband Aug. 1 unless the council decides to keep it. Most council members said they wan~: to keep the group but reduce its powers. Under the proposed changes. the board would review police pr tices, procedures and policies at the reques~ of the City Cot! police chief or city manager. City Council would also review, board's effectiveness every years and eliminate the adrrfinistrative assistant. v, makes about $18,000 a yeas. c al *" Wednesday, June 27, 2001 Iowa City Press-Citizen PCRB reinstated by city council Iowa City Cotulcll mere- bet~ voted 5-2 Tuesday to reinstate the city's Police Citizen Rexdew Bom'd and maintain most of its present powem to investigate com- plaints of police ntisconduct. Councilors Dee Vanderhoef and Inqn I>fab · The Gazette, Wed., June 27, 2001 nance but for dLfferent rea- sons. Pfab thought the revi- sion weakened the board: www.gazetteonllnecom Vanderhoef thought the revi- sion granted the board too much authorj. ty to rex~ew ,o.;e.o.;y andJOURNAL procedures. Vmxdethoef~s suggestion not to allow the bom'd to rex4ew policies at its discretion was defeated, IOWA CITY although Mayor Ernie L~,tut~m~ and Mike O'Donnell Review board ohanges DK'd supported it. Council is scheduled to · The City CotincH formally approval vote twice more on the ~, changes to the Police Citizens Review revised ordi~ance before it; Board last night. hn a S-Z vote, the council decided to goes ktxto effect. I keep the PCRB predominately unchanged. The major alterations include not allowing the PCRB to hold public hearings at its own volition. The council also decided to eliminate a haft-time staff position. That work will be done by the City Clerk's Office, The counc~ decided to allow the PCRB to look at police procedures and reconunend changes. Dee Vanderhoef and Irvin Pfab voted against the changes Vanderhoef because she thought the changes gave the PCRB too much power, and Pfab because he thought the changes didn't give the PCRB enough power. The ordinances must still pass two more readings to become law. Traffic From 1A ~le vehide, why m~,i how, if ccnC Winkelhake ~d. 'People collllnller, wht're i{ reluail/s Conyfile Polk'e, memlw~e, ren,ains interested, tile main repofis, Winkelh~e s~d that Sunday, July :1., Iowa CiO' Press-Citizen 2001 of the ~,,o,o. co..,~.d lect considerable drug wa~ rather work .~th the p~lice funds, is in the process of than fear theh~' ' Iowa 522423; .fox to (319) · The Gazette, Tues., July 10, :2001 The only people home Investigation were an tt-yearold boy, who lived there, and a 15-year-old planned over iend. The otticers told Iowa City police search Poilee Chief R.J. Winkethake they were given permission By Edn Waiter to enter because the ll-year- Gazette staff writer old boy stepped away from IOWA CITY -- The Police the door when they recluest- Citizens Review Board has ed entraitce. sided with an Iowa City The officers saw a marl- woman who complained that juana cigarette butt on the two officers should not have coffee table and seized it, the searched her home when her report states. One officer 11 year<dd son was home then asked the ll-year~ld if without adult supervision. he could search the house for Iowa City Council member marijuana. Sloven Kanner said at last Police found marijuana night's work session that the stems in the boy's room, case should be reviewed. which he shares with his older brother, the report "1 think the repercussions states. about sustaining it (the com- plaint) have to do with police The board said the officers' policy," Kanner said. decision to search the home The complaint stems from was inconsistent with law a search two Iowa City police and deparUnent policy. officers conducted Jan. 27 "The volantariness of the after going to a resideuce to consent is problematic in setwe an arrest waiTant. that the board doubts the ll-year4~ld child had any The man they were sup- knowledge of his rights or posed to arrest was not at his mother's rights in regard the residence when officers arrived at the home, the to the privacy of her home," the board wrote. report states. City Manager Steve Atkins said he's preparing a report on the incident and the coun- Cil will be able to review it within a month. Gazette staff writer Nathan Hill contributed to this story, Changes OK'd for watchdog · The City Cotmcil forreaDy approved last night keeping the city's police watchdog group, after making some changes in how it functions. The Police Citizens Review Board (PCRB) will continue reviewing police policies, and will have more flexibility in reviewing complaints about police procedure. However, it will no longer be able to hold public hearings on police practices. That burden will be left up to the council. Also gone is a part-time staff person to handle complaint paperwork. That duty will now be performed by the city clerk's office. The PCRB was due to expire next month without the city council's renewal.