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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual report FY2013 PCRB Annual Report FY 2013 – Approved 08/12/13 – 1 POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES Established in 1997, by ordinance #97-3792, 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 review investigations into claims of police misconduct, and to assist the Police Chief, the City Manager, and the City Council in evaluating the overall performance of the Police Department by reviewing the Police Department’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. The Board shall hold at least one community forum each year for the purpose of hearing citizens’ views on the policies, practices and procedures of the Iowa City Police Department. 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. ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013 Meetings The PCRB tentatively holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday and special meetings as necessary. During FY13 the Board held sixteen meetings and one Community Forum. ICPD Policies/Procedures/Practices Reviewed By PCRB The ICPD regularly provided the Board with monthly Use of Force Reports, Internal Investigation Logs, Demographic Reports and various Training Bulletins. The Department also provided various General Orders for the Board’s review and comment. A senior member of the Police Department routinely attended the open portion of the PCRB meetings, and was available for any questions Board members had regarding these reports. Presentations In April of 2013 the Board held its fifth Community Forum as required by the City Charter. The Board did introductions and the forum was opened to the public for questions. There were four members of the public that spoke at the forum. Topics of discussion included the following: service dog awareness and recommendations from the Ad Hoc Diversity Committee. Board Members In October officers were nominated with Joseph Treloar as Chair and Melissa Jensen as Vice-Chair. Melissa Jensen and Royceann Porter were re-appointed to the Board in July of 2013 for four-year terms beginning September 1. COMPLAINTS Number and Type of Allegations Five complaints (12-05, 12-06, 13-01, 13-02, 13-03) were filed during the fiscal year July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013. Five public reports were completed during this fiscal period (12-01, 12-03, 12-04, 12- 05, 12-06) and two complaints were dismissed (13-02, 13-03). The remaining complaint filed in FY13 is pending before the Board (13-01). Allegations Complaint #12-01 1. Excessive Force - NOT SUSTAINED. 2. Harassment - NOT SUSTAINED. PCRB Annual Report FY 2013 – Approved 08/12/13 – 2 3. Violation of Civil Rights - NOT SUSTAINED. 4. False Arrest - NOT SUSTAINED. Complaint #12-03 1. Improper action jeopardizing the safety of his child - NOT SUSTAINED. 2. Improper Conduct – NOT SUSTAINED. 3. Improper Demeanor of both officers - NOT SUSTAINED. Complaint #12-04 1. Illegal Search - NOT SUSTAINED. Complaint #12-05 1. Harassment of complainant by officer on the Hwy 6 Iowa River Bridge - NOT SUSTAINED. 2. Harassment of complainant by officer at the Iowa City Public Library – NOT SUSTAINED. 3. Officers threatened complainant in the Ped Mall - NOT SUSTAINED. 4. Officers call every place complainant applies for a job and tells them not to hire him – NOT SUSTAINED. 5. Harassment of complainant by officers at the Robert E. Lee Recreation Center – NOT SUSTAINED. 6. Officer filed the simple assault charge in retaliation for the complainant filing a PCRB complaint - NOT SUSTAINED. Complaint #12-06 1. Excessive Force - NOT SUSTAINED. 2. Illegal Search - NOT SUSTAINED. 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 On the record with no additional investigation 4 Level b Interview or meet with complainant 1 Level c Interview or meet with named officer 0 Level d Request additional investigation by Chief or 1 City Manager, or request police assistance in the Board’s own investigation Level e Board performs its own additional investigation 0 Level f Hire independent investigators 0 Complaint Resolutions The Police Department investigates complaints to the PCRB 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 citizens’ complaint and the Chief’s Report and decides whether its conclusions about the allegations should be sustained or not sustained. The Board prepares a report which is submitted to the City Council. Of the sixteen allegations listed in the five complaints for which the Board reported, none were sustained. The Board made comments and/or recommendations for improvement in police policy, procedures, or conduct in one of the reports: PCRB Annual Report FY 2013 – Approved 08/12/13 – 3 Complaint #12-01 The Board sees the need for more education on an individual’s rights and responsibilities when responding to police officers’ directions. 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 no name- clearing hearings. 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. In the five complaints covered by the FY13 annual report a total of eight officers were involved with allegations against them. ICPD Internal Investigations Logs The Board reviewed the quarterly ICPD Internal Investigations Log, provided by the Chief of Police. COMPLAINT DEMOGRAPHICS The following is demographic information from the five complaints that were completed in this fiscal year. Because complainants provide this voluntarily, the demographic information may be incomplete. * Category/Number of Complainants Age: National Origin: Color: Under 21 0 American 1 White 2 Over 21 3 Unknown 4 Black 0 Unknown 2 Unknown 3 Sexual Orientation: Gender Identity: Sex: Heterosexual 0 Female 0 Female 1 Unknown 5 Male 0 Male 2 Straight 1 Unknown 2 Unknown 4 Marital Status: Religion: Mental Disability: Single 2 Unknown 4 No 0 Married 1 Christian 1 Yes 1 Unknown 2 Unknown 4 Physical Disability: No 0 Yes 1 Unknown 4 * Information is reported as presented by the person completing the form. PCRB Annual Report FY 2013 – Approved 08/12/13 – 4 BOARD MEMBERS Donald King Joseph Treloar, Chair Royceann Porter Kingsley Botchway Melissa Jensen, Vice Chair