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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-09-2002 MinutesFINAL/APPROVED POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD MINUTES - June 11, 2002 CALL TO ORDER ATTENDANCE Chair John Stratton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Board members present: Loren Horton, John Stratton, John Watson, and Bev Smith (7:09). Board members absent: Bill Hoeft. Legal Counsel Catherine Pugh, Staff Julia Voparil. Also in attendance was Captain Tom Widmer of the ICPD. CONSENT CALENDAR OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Motion by Horton and seconded by Watson to adopt the consent calendar as amended. Watson suggested two changes to the minutes. First, to delete the word "the" in the second sentence of new business on page 3. Secondly, he suggested replacing the second "in" with "for" in the second sentence of the first paragraph under new business on page 4. These amendments were accepted. · Minutes of the meeting on 04/15/02 · ICPD Use of Force Report- March 2002 · ICPD Use of Force Report - April 2002 · ICDP Department Memorandum 02-30 (Use of Force Review) Motion carried, 3/0, Hoeft and Smith absent. · PCRBVideo Voparil distributed a copy of the cablevision invoice on the cost of the video. The $1,365 cost could be cut in half by showing it on public television Government Channel 4. After discussion there was agreement to utilize Government Channel 4 to reduce the invoice cost; provide t~vo copies of the video for the Library and two for the City Clerk's office; send people (former Council Members and PCRB Members) appearing in the video a letter to see if they would like a complimentary copy of the video; general public could purchase a copy of the video through the Clerk's office for $13; and acknowledged all costs would come from the PCRB budget. Watson suggested through a mailing to offer to show the video to service clubs. The Board decided to do the mailing in the fall, but issue a press release notifying the public that the video is available after July 1, 2002. · PCRB Annual Report Copies of the draft Annual Report were included in the mailed packet. Stratton explained that he left out the history of the Board and just POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD MINUTES - June 11, 2002 CALL TO ORDER ATTENDANCE CONSENT CALENDAR OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS ~ir John Stratton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Bev S Wi~ present: Loren Horton, John Stratton, John Watson, and (7:09). Board members absent: Bill Hoeft. Legal Counsel Staff Julie Voparil. Also in attendance was Captai ~.Tom ~e ICPD. Motion by as amended. and seconded by Watson to ado Watson sugg "the" in the second suggested the first parac. were accepted. changes to the minute~ delete the word of new page 3. Secondly, .he "in" with in the second sentence of ew busines= page 4. These amendments · Minutes of the meeting · ICPD Use of Force Repo · ICPD Use of Fome Re · ICDP De )ri12002 ~ 02-30 (Use of Force Review) Motion carded, 3/0 Smit ~bsent. · PCRB ViC ~ Voparil distr/~ a copy of the cablevisi~ invoice on the cost of the video. T~ $' 365 cost could be cut in half,by showing it on public televisi~ Government Channel 4. After discussion there was agreement to utile Government Channel 4 to reduce th~ invoice cost; provide two co~s of the video for the Library and two for ~e City Clerk s office; send p~. ,opic ?o,!me, r Council Members and PCRB Mbtmbers) appearing in the video a letter to ~ee if they would like a complimb~ntary copy of the vi~ieo; general public could purchase a copy of the video~through the Clerk's office for~$'l 3; and acknowledged all costs would c~me from the PCRB budget. Watson suggested offering the video to service clubs through a mailing_:_j"The Board decided to do the mailing in the ~ll, but issue a press release notifying the public that the video is available ~,fter July 1, 2002. · PCRB Annual Report ~ Copies of the draft Annual Report were included in the mailed packet. Stratton explained that he left out the history of the Board and just referred to Chapter 8 of the Iowa City Code. On page 1 Stratton PCP.B-Page 2 June 11, 2002 referred to Chapter 8 of the Iowa City Code. On page 1 Stratton suggested moving the last sentence under General Responsibilities up ahead of the next to the last sentence. Smith questioned the complaint history of officers, and whether it is known if the same officer has had multiple complaints. Watson informed Smith that it was numerically tracked. Smith asked if a pattern of complaints were evident would the Board still not address the complaint history of the officer specifically. Watson said that the Board can go into the history if it so desires. However, as of yet the Board has not felt that it would be appropriate to do so. Pugh said that since the Board does not have any disciplinary function the officer's history is not really useful to the Board. Stratton said that the Board could call the pattern of complaints to the attention of the Police Department. Watson stated that the Board could release the name of an officer if there is something in the overriding public interest. The Board agreed that it should be very cautious with releasing names. Watson said that it would be useful to have the number of instances of force versus the number of total instances. Widmer stated that information is available in a bi-monthly and an annual report. This is the fourth year that use of force has been tracked. Widmer stated that they also track the total number of complaints, both unfounded and founded. This information is given to the Chief and is used in internal investigations. Watson said that the Board used to get that information, but they felt it made them too prejudicial. Therefore, they looked at each incident individually. Stratton suggested that they go through the report page by page. On the second page Stratton felt that Complaints, Number and Type of Allegations could be shortened up. The first sentence could eliminate "The Board Received" and just say, "Four complaints were filed during the fiscal year July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2002." The next sentence could delete the word "filed." Finally, the words "There were" in the third sentence could be deleted to make it, "Four public reports were completed..." There were no suggestions for changes on page three. On page four Watson wanted to know if there was a way to highlight the sustained allegations. Horton suggested moving the sentence beginning with "The Board reviews" up into the previous paragraph and let the sustained allegation sentence stand alone. Pugh suggested deleting the words "released as" from that sentence. On page five under Complaint Histories Stratton suggested dropping part of the last sentence to read "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." Thus deleting "while providing the public with information on the overall performance of the Police Department" because it is redundant. Horton said then the last sentence in that section does not need to be a separate paragraph. On page six Stratton explained that the PCP. B-Page 3 June 11, 2002 data accurately reflects the characteristics voluntary provided by the complainants not "as we know them" from the complaint form which is confidential. Smith asked about the category of color. Watson said that it is in the code and it means the person felt that they were discriminated against by the color of their skin. Stratton and Herren pointed out that there is also a race category. Horton also pointed out that Jewish is not a national origj.~. Stratton said that the information is relatively useless,~"~ut ~ want ~/ Board wanted to see the Annual Report in its fi at its next PUBLIC DISCUSSION MEETING SCHEDULEand FUTURE AGENDAS BOARD INFORMATION STAFF INFORMATION ADJOURNMENT No ;sion. Horton Horton will also Stratton said that the Augu 2002 meeting. 2002 meeting. not meet for the August meeting. · July 9, 2002, 7:00 · August 13, · September 1£ · October8, ~ ., Lobby Conference Room '.M., Lobby Conference Room P.M., Lobby Conference Room , Lobby Conference Room Stratton Board's policy. City Council Member about the to the Council on Age of Consent was about a sexual harassment )laint involving an citizen. Stratton advised to come to the Board or the Department to make a flaint. The citizen was fearful of retaliation. Herren distributed Iowa C)ty Pross Ci#zen an~the Iowa Cify Gazotte articles regarding the Board's response to the'~ity Council about the age of consent.\ No ~affin~rmation. Motion for adjournment by Herren and seconded by Watson. Meeting adjourned at 7:58 PCRB-Page 3 June 11, 2002 PUBLIC DISCUSSION MEETING SCHEDULE and FUTURE AGENDAS BOARD INFORMATION STAFF INFORMATION ADJOURNMENT reason for so many unknowns in the Compliant Demographics is that the data accurately reflects the characteristics voluntary provided by the complainants not "as we know them" from the complaint form which is confidential. Smith asked about the category of color. Watson said that it is in the code and it means the person felt that they were discriminated against by the color of their skin. Stratton and Horton pointed out that there is also a race category. Horton also pointed out that Jewish is not a national origin. Stratton said that the information is relatively useless for statistical purposes. The Board wanted to see the Annual Report in its final form at its next meeting. No public discussion. Horton will not be at the August 13, 2002 meeting. Horton will also not be at the October 8, 2002 meeting. Stratton said that the Board may not meet for the August meeting. · July 9, 2002, 7:00 P.M., Lobby Conference Room · August 13, 2002, 7:00 P.M., Lobby Conference Room · September 10, 2002, 7:00 P.M., Lobby Conference Room · October 8, 2002, 7:00 P.M., Lobby Conference Room Stratton reported he was contacted by a City Council Member about the Board's lack of a recommendation to the Council on Age of Consent, policy. Stratton was also contacted by a citizen about a sexual harassment complaint involving an officer and a friend of the citizen. Stratton advised the citizen to come to the Board or the Police Department to make a complaint. The citizen was fearful of retaliation. Horton distributed Iowa City Press Citizen and the Iowa City Gazette articles regarding the Board's response to the City Council about the age of consent. No staff information. Motion for adjournment by Horton and seconded by Watson. Meeting adjourned at 7:58