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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