HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-11-2002 Communication ANNUAL REPORT
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POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002
Stratton Draft
General Responsibilities
Established in 1997, the Iowa City Police Citizens Review Board (PCRB) consists of five members
appointed by the City Council. The PCRB has its own legal counsel.
The Board was established to assure that investigations into claims of police misconduct are
conducted in a manner that is fair, thorough, and accurate, and to assist the Police Chief, the City
Manager, and the City Council in evaluating the overall performance of the Police Depadment by
reviewing the Police Depadment's investigations into complaints. The Board is also required to
maintain a central registry of complaints and to provide an annual report setting forth the numbers,
types, and disposition of complaints of police misconduct. To achieve these purposes, the Board
complies with Chapter 8 of the Iowa City Code and the Board's By-Laws and Standard Operating
Procedures and Guidelines. It may recommend that the City Council hold public forums and/or
hearings designed to encourage citizens to provide information, recommendations, and opinions
about police policies, procedures, and practices.
Activities and Accomplishments
Meetings
The PCRB holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday and special meetings as necessary. This
year the Board held 17 meetings, each lasting one to three hours, with two being rescheduled due to
lack of a quorum.
ICPD Policies/Procedures/Practices Reviewed By PCRB
The ICPD regularly provides the Board with monthly Use of Force Reports, Internal Investigation
Logs, Demographic Reports and various Training Bulletins. The Department also provided various
PCRB Annual Report FY 2002 (Stratton Draft) - 2
General Orders for the Board's review and comment. A senior member of the Police Depadment
routinely attends the open portion of the PCRB meetings, and is available for any questions Board
members have regarding these reports.
Police In-Service Training
Various board members participated in MATS training, presenting information regarding and
responding to questions and comments about the history, structure, and functions of the PCRB. One
hour presentations were made beginning January 9, 2002 at 5 weekly sessions.
PCRB Videotape
The PCRB commissioned the production of a PCRB videotape with the intent to (1) inform and
engage the citizens of Iowa City regarding the origin, role, and function of the PCRB, and (2) explore
some of the issues that surround the PCRB. The video, when completed, will be used for
presentations to community and neighborhood groups, service clubs, City boards, commissions and
employees, and for broadcast.
COMPLAINTS
Number and Type of Allegations
The Board received four complaints, which were filed during the fiscal year July 1, 2001 - June 30,
2002. Of the four complaints filed, one complaint was withdrawn after the complainant spoke with a
supervisor within the police department. There were four public reports completed during this fiscal
period, which included one complaint filed from the previous fiscal year. The four public repods
involved 16 allegations. Each of the complaints contained more than one allegation.
Allegations
1. Officers abused their authority by provoking complainant's husband, not informing him of the
charges against him, and not reading him his rights.
2, Officers were rude and ill mannered.
3. Officers caused damage to property in the apadment.
PCRB Annual Report FY 2002 (Stratton Draft) - 3
4. Police printed lies in the newspaper regarding incident.
5. Officers used improper force during the arrest by utilizing pepper spray in close proximity to a
three-year old child.
6. Officer engaged in exaggerated enforcement and aggression in handling the case.
7. Officer was verbally condescending and belittled the complainant.
8. Officer screamed at the complainant when he arrested and handcuffed her.
9. Officer slammed backpack and sandwich to the ground destroying the sandwich.
10. Officer inappropriately handcuffed the complainant so tightly as to leave red indentations, which
persisted for hours after the cuffs were removed.
11. Officer intentionally kept the complainant on public display for a protracted period of time.
12. Officer abused the power associated with his position.
13. Officers initial decision not to arrest an intoxicated person after the person had attempted forcibly
enter a residence, was improper.
14. Officer's use of the word "vindictive" to describe the complainant's wish to have the person be
arrested was inappropriate.
15. Complainant was inappropriately arrested for public intoxication.
16. Complainant was inappropriately arrested for obstruction of justice.
Level of Review
The Board decided, by simple majority vote, the level of review to give each report, selecting one or
more of the six levels specified in the City Code per complaint:
Level a
Level b
Level c
Level d
On the record with no additional investigation 1
Interview or meet with complainant 3
Interview or meet with named officer 0
Request additional investigation by Chief or 0
City Manager, or request police assistance
in the Board's own investigation
PCRB Annual Report FY 2002 (Stratton Draft) - 4
Level e Board performs its own additional investigation
LeYel f Hire independent investigators
3
0
Complaint Resolutions
The Police Department investigates complaints of misconduct by police officers. The Police Chief
summarizes the results of these investigations and indicates in a report (the Chief's Report) to the
PCRB whether allegations are sustained or not sustained. (If complaints are made against the Chief,
the City Manager conducts the investigation and prepares and submits the reports.)
The Board reviews both the citizen's Complaint and the Chief's Report and decides whether the
allegations should be sustained or not sustained. The Board prepares a report for the City Council.
Two of the 16 allegations listed in the four complaints for which the Board reported were released as
sustained.
The Board made comments and/or recommendations for improvement in police policy, procedures, or
conduct in three of the reports:
Although two officers were dispatched as recommended by the ICPD General Order on
Domestic Abuse, one officer arrived several minutes before the second. The Board
recommends that the Chief review the General Order to determine whether the General Order
should be more specific regarding the circumstances requiring an immediate response by one
officer and/or the circumstances that might require the presence of two officers.
Although the officer was legally justified in charging the Complainant with obstruction and
arresting her for identification purposes, and hence did not violate the law or departmental
policy, a more temperate style might have reduced the Complainant's outrage. The Board
PCRB Annual Report FY 2002 (Stratton Draft) - 5
suppods the Chief's decision to counsel Officer A in regard to the intent of the law and other
approaches to effective enforcement of the City's ordinance in the downtown area.
The Police Citizens Review Board could not find a General Order or Standard Operating
Guideline that specifically addresses public intoxication. We recommend that the Chief
consider whether such a written policy should be created to provide clearer guidance for
officers in the handling and disposition of such incidents.
Name-Clearing Hearings
The ordinance requires that the Board not issue a report critical of the conduct of a sworn officer until
after a name-clearing hearing has been held. During this fiscal period, the Board scheduled two
name-clearing hearings. Officers waived the right to the hearing and did not attend.
Mediation
Officers and complainants are notified by mail that formal mediation is available to them at any stage
in the complaint process before the Board adopts its public report. All parties involved must consent to
a request for mediation. No mediations were convened this year.
Complaint Histories of Officers
City ordinance requires that the annual report of the PCRB must not include the names of
complainants or officers involved in unsustained complaints and must be in a form that protects the
confidentiality of information about all parties, while providing the public with information on the overall
performance of the Police Department.
Complaints were filed against seven officers in the four complaints this report covers. One officer was
named in two; the rest were each named once.
ICPD Internal Investigations Logs
The Board reviewed the quarterly ICPD Internal Investigations Log, provided by the Chief of Police.
PCRB Annual Report FY 2002 (Stratton Draft) - 6
Complainant Demographics
The following is demographic information from the five complaints reported on in this fiscal year.
Because complainants provide this voluntarily, the demographic information is incomplete.
Category/Number of Complainants (*One complaint was filed by 2 individuals)
*Aqe: National Ori.qin: *Color:
Under 21 2 US 1 White 3
Over 21 1 Greek 1 Unknown 3
Unknown 3 Jewish 1
Unknown 3
Sexual Orientation:
Heterosexual 3
Unknown 3
Gender Identity: Sex:
Female 2 Female 2
Male 1 Male 1
Unknown 3 Unknown 3
Marital Status:
Single 2
Married 1
Unknown 3
Religion:
Christian 1
Greek Orthodox 1
Jewish 1
Unknown 3
Mental Disability:
No 3
Unknown 3
Physical Disability: Race:
No 3 Caucasian
Unknown 3
Board Members
John Stratton, Chair
Loren Horton, Vice Chair
John Watson
Bill Hoeft
Beverly Smith
Unknown
clerk/Annual Repod 01-02 doc
MEMORANDUM
POLICE CITIZENS F{EVIEW E O^RD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319)356-504'1
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
RE:
June 7, 2002
Police Citizens Review Board
Marian K. Kart, City Clerk
Video Distribution Plan
Production Coordinator Bob Hardy has informed me that an invoice for the video will be
available for your June 11 meeting. He also wished me to pass along the following
information:
1. The invoice will be reduced by one half if permission is given to run the video on
City Govermnent Channel 4 at various times.
2. Each video copy requested runs about $13.00 a piece.
3. Typically people who appear in the video are provided with complimentary copies of
the finished product. Is the intention of the Board to provide those copies?
What is the plan for distribution of the video? How many copies does the Board wish
to distribute and to whom? Is there any City, State, or national entities that should be
sent a copy?
5. Can copies be purchased by the general public for the actual cost?
Final clean copies of the video should be available July 1. I will initiate payment of the
invoice based on Board direction.
S :pc rb/distributionplan.doc
I4City of Iowa City Cable_ Division Invoice
10 E, Washington St. Iowa City, IA 5224~h: (319) 356-5047 FAX. (319) 356-5009
Invoice No. CA: 010392
Client PRCB
contact M. Kart
phone.no.I
addres~
Project Title IPCRB Informational Video
Activity Kind: PROJECT type: Informational service:
description
SUMMARY OF COST
Other Cost Comments
$472.50
Activity
Cost
13.50 total staffhours <~ $35 per hour =
total Part-time hours@ $ 7.50 per hr =
25.50 total edit hours @ $35 per hour =
Dub
Cost
for
__ hours plus __
~ $35 per hour
tape(s) @ $5 per tape =
Other Cost
see comments for detail
Production Detail
Staff FT PT
~ hrs tit
PROJECT COST
Edit Detail
editor
Various I
edit hrs
ACCOUNTING
Credit
City Acc_ount Numbers Amount
Division Copy ~ Accounting Copy [] Customer Copy
If you have questions regarding this invoice, please contact
Hardy/Nixon I at 356-5047
$892.50
$1365,o0
Chargeback at 75% discount
-- Char(~eback Activity
SPEC~L
[] NO CHARGE
[] Full charge
[] 50% Discount
[] see comments
__ $1365.00
$682.50
Debit Finance Receipt cash paymentr~
Account Receivables
date:
City Account: ~
Authorized
Signature