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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Report FY2015 CPRB Annual Report FY 2015 – Approved 07/20/2015 – 1 COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW BOARD GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES Established in 1997, by ordinance #97-3792, the Iowa City Police Citizens Review Board formerly known as Citizens Police Review Board and now known as Community Police Review Board (hereafter referred as the CPRB), consists of five members appointed by the City Council. The CPRB has its own outside 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. In FY2015. an educational video was prepared for use on cable TV. In May, City Council adopted the recommendations of the Charter Review Commission, changing the name to Community Police Review Board. ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 Meetings The CPRB tentatively holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday and special meetings as necessary. During FY15 the Board held fourteen meetings and one Community Forum. ICPD Policies/Procedures/Practices Reviewed By CPRB 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 CPRB meetings, and was available for any questions Board members had regarding these reports. Presentations In April of 2015 the Board held its seventh Community Forum as required by the City Charter. The Board did introductions and the forum was opened to the public for questions. There were twelve members of the public that spoke at the forum. Topics of discussion included the following: Board responsibilities, military surplus equipment, body cameras, racial disparity, profiling, and diversity in the police department. Board Members In October 2014 officers were nominated with Melissa Jensen as Chair and Joseph Treloar as Vice- Chair. Fidencio Martinez was appointed in November of 2014 for an unexpired term. CPRB Annual Report FY 2015 – Approved 07/20/2015 – 2 COMPLAINTS Number and Type of Allegations Eleven complaints (14-03,14-04,14-05,14-06,14-07,14-08,14-09,14-10,14-11,15-01,15-02) were filed during the fiscal year July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015. Eight public reports were completed during this fiscal period (14-02,14-03,14-04,14-06,14-08,14-11,15-01). One complaint was withdrawn (14-07) and three complaints were summarily dismissed (14-05,14-09,14-10) The remaining complaint filed in FY15 is pending before the Board (15-02). Allegations Complaint #14-02 1. Excessive Use of Force – SUSTAINED. Complaint #14-03 1. Illegal Search of the Vehicle – NOT SUSTAINED. 2. Harassment – NOT SUSTAINED. 3. Use of a Racial Epithet – NOT SUSTAINED. Complaint #14-04 1. Responsibilities – NOT SUSTAINED. 2. Obedience to laws and regulations – NOT SUSTAINED. 3. Incompetence – NOT SUSTAINED. Complaint #14-05 SUMMARILY DISMISSED Complaint #14-06 1. Unlawful Search – NOT SUSTAINED. 2. Unlawful Seizure – NOT SUSTAINED. Complaint #14-07 WITHDRAWN. Complaint #14-08 1. Officer included inaccurate information in an official police report – NOT SUSTAINED. 2. This was retaliation against the Complainant for filing a complaint against another officer in an earlier CPRB complaint – NOT SUSTAINED. Complaint #14-09 SUMMARILY DISMISSED. Complaint #14-10 SUMMARILY DISMISSED. Complaint #14-11 1. Officer failed to sufficiently investigate the motor vehicle collision as directed by ICPD General Order 99-09, Section IV, Procedures. – NOT SUSTAINED. 2. Officer’s determination that the Complainant was at fault in the accident was incorrect and the traffic citation for following too closely should not have been issued – SUSTAINED. 3. Officer did not listen to the Complainant’s point of view in regard to how the accident occurred – NOT SUSTAINED. CPRB Annual Report FY 2015 – Approved 07/20/2015 – 3 4. Officer’s threat to take the Complainant to jail was inappropriate under these circumstances – NOT SUSTAINED. 5. Officer issued the Complainant a citation because she is not an “American”. – NOT SUSTAINED. Complaint #15-01 1. Racial Profiling – NOT SUSTAINED. 2. Discourtesy – 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 7 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 CPRB 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 CPRB 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 eighteen allegations listed in the seven complaints for which the Board reported, two were sustained. The Board made comments and/or recommendations for improvement in police policy, procedures, or conduct in three of the reports: Complaint #14-02 – The CPRB acknowledges that suitable changes have been made to the Weapons policy. Complaint #14-04 – The original eight allegations are summarized in the three categories listed above. Complaint 15-01 - CPRB acknowledges cultural differences and mannerisms may make it difficult to accurately assess and interpret behavior, especially when compared to others behavior/responses. 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 two name-clearing hearings, but none were held. CPRB Annual Report FY 2015 – Approved 07/20/2015 – 4 Complaint Histories of Officers City ordinance requires that the annual report of the CPRB 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 seven complaints covered by the FY15 annual report a total of ten 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 seven 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 2 White 2 21 & over 4 Unknown 5 Black 1 Unknown 3 Brown 1 Unknown 3 Sexual Orientation: Gender Identity: Sex: Heterosexual 1 Female 1 Female 1 Unknown 6 Male 2 Male 2 Unknown 4 Unknown 4 Marital Status: Religion: Mental Disability: Single 2 Unknown 6 No 0 Married 1 None 1 Yes 1 Unknown 4 Unknown 6 Divorced 0 Physical Disability: No 1 Yes 0 Unknown 6 * Information is reported as presented by the person completing the form. BOARD MEMBERS Melissa Jensen, Chair Joseph Treloar, Vice Chair Royceann Porter Mazahir Salih Maxime Tremblay/Fidencio Martinez