HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual report FY2008
PCRB Annual Report FY 2008 - (Approved 07/01/08) – 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. It may recommend that the
City Council hold public forums and/or hearings designed to encourage citizens to provide
information, recommendations, and opinions about police policies, procedures, and practices. 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 2008
Meetings
The PCRB holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday and special meetings as necessary.
During FY08 the Board held nine meetings. Three meetings were cancelled due to lack of Board
business.
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 is available for any questions Board
members have regarding these reports.
Presentations
None.
Board Members
In September of 2007, Candy Barnhill’s term ended and was replaced by Donald King. In October
officers were nominated with Michael Larson as Chair and Elizabeth Engel as Vice Chair.
COMPLAINTS
Number and Type of Allegations
Six complaints (07-01, 08-01, 08-02, 08-03, 08-04, 08-05) were filed during the fiscal year July 1,
2007 – June 30, 2008. Two public reports were completed during this fiscal period (07-01, 08-03).
PCRB Complaint 08-03 was Summarily Dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction. The other completed
public report involved two allegations. The remaining complaints filed in 2008 are pending before the
Board.
Allegations
Complaint #07-01
1. Unauthorized search of residence, and harassment of children's father.
PCRB Annual Report FY 2008 - (Approved 07/01/08) – 2
2. Threatening revocation of Section 8 rental assistance program, and assistance of a police officer in
those proceedings.
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 1
Level b Interview or meet with complainant 0
Level c Interview or meet with named officer 0
Level d Request additional investigation by Chief or 0
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 two allegations listed in the one complaint for which the Board reported, none were sustained.
The Board made no comments and/or recommendations for improvement in police policy,
procedures, or conduct in the report.
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. Complaints were filed against one officer in the one
complaint covered by the FY08 annual report.
ICPD Internal Investigations Logs
The Board reviewed the quarterly ICPD Internal Investigations Log, provided by the Chief of Police.
PCRB Annual Report FY 2008 - (Approved 07/01/08) – 3
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 is incomplete.
Category/Number of Complainants
Age: National Origin: Color:
Over 21 1 Unknown 1 African American 1
Sexual Orientation: Gender Identity: Sex:
Unknown 1 Female 1 Female 1
Marital Status: Religion: Mental Disability:
Unknown 1 Baptist 1 Unknown 1
Physical Disability:
Unknown 1
BOARD MEMBERS
Michael Larson, Chair
Elizabeth Engel, Vice Chair
Candy Barnhill / Donald King
Loren Horton
Greg Roth