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