HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-2003 Communication POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319)356-5041
August 13, 2003
Mayor Ernest W. Lehman
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mayor and Council Members:
At the August 12, 2003 meeting the PCRB voted in open session to request an
additional 30-day extension for the Public Report according to the City Code for PCRB
Complaint #03-02 for the following reasons:
· Due to timelines and scheduling.
· PCRB Complaint #03-02 - Public Report presently due September 15, 2003
· 30-day Extension request - Public Report due on October 15, 2003.
The Board appreciates your prompt consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
John Stratton, Chair
Police Citizens Review Board
cc: City Attorney
POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319)356-5041
August 15, 2003
Mayor Ernest W. Lehman
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mayor and Council Members:
At the August 14, 2003 meeting, the PCRB voted in open session to request a 30 day extension
in addition to its regular 45-day reporting deadline for the Public Report according to the City
Code for PCRB Complaint #03-04 for the following reasons:
· Due totimelines and scheduling.
· PCRB Complaint #03-04 - Public Report presently due September 15, 2003
30-day Extension request - Public Report for #03-04 due on October 15, 2003
The Board appreciates your prompt consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
John Stratton, Chair
Police Citizens Review Board
cc: City Attorney
POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319)356-5041
Candy Barnhill Term: September 1, 2003 - September 1, 2007
154 Friendship St
Iowa City IA 52245
(H) 354-6111
(W) 356-1435
David Bourqeois Term: Unexpired ending September 1, 2005
1477 Buckingham Place
Iowa City IA 52245
(H) 358-1373
Loren Horton, Vice Chair Term: September 1, 2000 - September 1, 2004
3367 Hanover Ct
Iowa City IA 52245-4016
(H) 351-5842
Gre.q Roth Term: Unexpired ending September 1, 2005
770 Broadmoor Dr
North Liberty, IA 52317
(H) 665-4338
John Strattoq, Chair Term: September 1, 2000 - September 1, 2004
815 Wylde Green Rd
Iowa City IA 52246
(H) 338-6109
john-stratton~,uiowa.edu
Catherine Pu,qh, Legal Counsel
705 Grant St
Iowa City IA 52240
(H) 339-4617
FAX - 351-6409
PuqhC..spmlaw.net
POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
4'10 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240ol 826
(319)356-5041
August26,2003
Sondra B. Kaska, M.A., J.D.
103 E. College Street, Ste 300
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Ms. Kaska:
On behalf of the Iowa City Police Citizens Review Board, I would like to thank
you for your participation in the mediation efforts of the Board. Although the.
Board has had few requests for mediation, it is offered to each complainant and
to each of the Iowa City police officers involved in a complaint.
At this time, the Board would like to confirm your level of interest in continuing to
offer your services in mediating disputes filed with the PCRB. Would you please
complete the attached sheet and return it in the self-enclosed, stamped
envelope. If we do not hear from you by September 15, 2003, your name will be
removed.
For your reference, I am providing you with another copy of the PCRB Guidelines
for Formal Mediation and the PCRB Formal Mediation Policies/Procedures which
have been approved by the City Council. I am also enclosing a copy of your
biographical sketch. If you would like to update this, please return your revision
at the same time.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Kellie Tuttle, Staff
PCRB
Enclosures
POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
^ Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA $2240-1826
(319)356-5041
August 26, 2003
Linda Levey, Atty-Mediator
118 S. Clinton Ave
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Ms. Levey:
On behalf of the Iowa City Police Citizens Review Board, I would like to thank
you for your participation in the mediation efforts of the Board. Although the
Board has had few requests for mediation, it is offered to each complainant and
to each of the Iowa City police officers involved in a complaint.
At this time, the Board would like to confirm your level of interest in continuing to
offer your services in mediating disputes filed with the PCRB. Would you please
complete the attached sheet and return it in the self-enclosed, stamped
envelope. If we do not hear from you by September 15, 2003, your name will be
removed.
For your reference, I am providing you with another copy of the PCRB Guidelines
for Formal Mediation and the PCRB Formal Mediation Policies/Procedures which
have been approved by the City Council. I am also enclosing a copy of your
biographical sketch. If you would like to update this, please return your revision
at the same time.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Kellie Tuttle, Staff
PCRB
Enclosures
POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319)356-5041
August26,2003
Iowa Peace Institute
C. Gregory Buntz, Ph.D
917 10"' Avenue
PO Box 480
Grinnell, IA 50012
Dear Mr. Buntz:
On behalf of the Iowa City Police Citizens Review Board, I would like to thank
you for your participation in the mediation efforts of the Board. Although the
Board has had few requests for mediation, it is offered to each complainant and
to each of the Iowa City police officers involved in a complaint.
At this time, the Board would like to confirm your level of interest in continuing to
offer your services in mediating disputes filed with the PCRB. Would you please
complete the attached sheet and return it in the self-enclosed, stamped
envelope. If we do not hear from you by September 15, 2003, your name will be
removed.
For your reference, I am providing you with another copy of the PCRB Guidelines
for Formal Mediation and the PCRB Formal Mediation Policies/Procedures which
have been approved by the City Council. I am also enclosing a copy of your
biographical sketch. If you would like to update this, please return your revision
at the same time.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Kellie Tuttle, Staff
PCRB
Enclosures
POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319)356-5041
I wish to continue to offer my services as a mediator to the PCRB.
~ I do not wish to continue my services as a mediator to the PCRB.
Signature --~
Date
If we do not hear from you by September 15, 2003, your name will be REMOVED.
PCRB 9~9~03
INTERVIEW SKILLS
1. Complexity of successful questioning.
Becoming an adept interviewer primarily takes practice and perhaps the study
of successful technique. While researching this area I was impressed by the
number of books and courses available to learn how to elicit the truth from
subjects during interviews. The following pointers may help you to feel more
comfortable in your role as interviewer in PCRB cases however there are
many more in depth resources available to study this area.
2. Preparation
Your comfort level with your role as interviewer will help in putting your
subject at ease and in keeping the interview on track.
Familiarize yourself with the available materials and highlight any
inconsistencies that you wish to clarify with the subject. However don't jump
in with those questions.
3. Rapport
If a subject feels comfortable with the interviewer they may be more likely to
talk about their experience and elaborate on issues. Establishing rapport can
be quite challenging at times, particularly when the interviewer and the
subject have little in common and may have a very different perspective. In
these instances if the Interviewer can convey to the subject their neutrality
and the fact that they are very interested in the subject's story it may help to
put the subject at ease. Sometimes the best you can do is to convey your
sincerity and lack of judgement.
It is a good idea to spend some time explaining the purpose of the interview
and that it is not an adversarial process. The subject should understand that
the interviewer is a member of the PCRB and not the police force. It may also
help to explain what the board does and the way the review system works.
4. Conducting the Interview.
After your introductory remarks and explanations, begin by establishing a
timeline with the subject. Many times confusion and discrepancies arise from
the order of events or the pedod of time certain events covered. Try to find
points of reference in other things that may have been happening
simultaneously. Take your time with this and ask questions to keep the
subject on track.
Try to keep your questions directed rather than open-ended and ask the
same question in different ways if you are not getting information.
Ask directly whether there was anything about which they felt uncomfortable
speaking to the department investigator.
Be sure to get names and contact information if any witnesses are mentioned
that did not appear in earlier reports.
Communicate interest in what the subject is saying and be prepared to stray
from your roadmap if you hear something you haven't heard before.
GOOD LISTENING is so much more important than wonderful questions.
5. Body language
I think this is a difficult area to interpret in so far as whether someone is telling
the truth. Be aware of changes in the subjects body posture, facial
expression, eye contact and mannerisms. However don't assume any
meaning to them. Note inconsistencies between their words and expressions
or actions. Notable body language may very well be an indication that
someone is not being truthful or it may mean they are nervous or
uncomfortable. Be aware of the information you can gain by watching the
subject and try to assemble it into the comprehensive situation.
Poli¢ CitizensBoard
Internal Public Report Process
(1) The Board receives the Chief's report.
(2) During an executive session, the Board will select a level of review and will
also select (2) members to write and review the first draft of the report.
The (2) members should coordinate with each other the writing/reviewing of
the draft and any changes prior to submitting a final draft to the Clerk's office.
(3) After both members have reviewed the draft report, a copy should go to staff
in the City Clerks office either by e-mail, disk, or hard copy. The draft should
be received by the Wednesday preceding the meeting. This will allow staff
time to prepare the report for the packet mailing on Friday.
(4)The first draft will be discussed during executive session at the next
scheduled meeting.
(5) The Board will make appropriate changes to the draft during executive
session and a second draft will be prepared if necessary or the Beard may
choose to make minor changes and approve the report as amended in open
session.
q/c/·//Ja_~e~' (~.~ Notes for discussion
Suggestions for Modifying the Report Writing Process
1. Board receives a copy of a complaint.
2. Board receives the Chief's report on the complaint.
3. Board reviews the Chief's report carefully to identify issues of concern, the need
for additional information, etc., and selects level of review.
4. Board appoints report writing team.
5. Team analyzes all information related to the complaint and prepares a "brief~ on
it---an analysis of salient facts and issues designed to serve as a basis for discussion.
Copies are included in Board packets.
6. Using the brief as a starting point, the Board discusses the Chief's report as long
andes often as necessary to come to dear and spedfic consensus about findings and
about desired content of the Board's report.
7. The team then prepares a first draft of the Board's report in context of these
di.~cussions and the consensus conclusions.
8. First draft of the report is distributed with packets so members may ~refully
review it before further discussion.
9. Subsequent discussion is focused on whether the report adequately expresses the
consensus of the Board. If it does not, ff new information is introduced, or if
opinions have' changed, appropriate revisions are stipulated.
10. As necessary, subsequent drafts of the report are prepared and circulated for
further discussion until consensus is reached and a final report can be prepared.
11. Final copy editing, proofreading, spell checking, etc., are completed, either by the
team and/or in cooperation with our administrative assistant.
August 3, 1999