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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Report FY2016 CPRB Annual Report FY 2016 – Approved 09/13/2016 – 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. ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 Meetings The CPRB tentatively holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday and special meetings as necessary. During FY16 the Board held eleven 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 2016 the Board held its eighth Community Forum as required by the City Charter. The Board did introductions, a brief overview and an update of the name change was given, and the forum was opened to the public for questions. There was one member of the public that spoke at the forum, in which they thanked the Board for their service to the Community. Board Members In October 2015 officers were nominated with Melissa Jensen as Chair and Joseph Treloar as Vice- Chair. Donald King was appointed in September of 2015 for a four-year term. COMPLAINTS Number and Type of Allegations Five complaints (15-03, 16-01, 16-02, 16-03, 16-04) were filed during the fiscal year July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016. Two public reports were completed during this fiscal period (15-02, 16-02). Two complaints were summarily dismissed (15-03, 16-01) and two complaints filed in FY16 are pending before the Board (16-03, 16-04). Allegations CPRB Annual Report FY 2016 – Approved 09/13/2016 – 2 Complaint #15-02 1. Unprofessional Behavior – Rudeness and Harassment – NOT SUSTAINED. 2. Differential Treatment – Violation of Civil Rights – NOT SUSTAINED. 3. False Reports – NOT SUSTAINED. Complaint #15-03 SUMMARILY DISMISSED Complaint #16-01 SUMMARILY DISMISSED Complaint #16-02 1. Questionable interview and Interrogation tactics – SUSTAINED. 2. Unlawful Seizure of the Complainant’s cell phone – 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 2 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 Five allegations listed in the two 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 two of the reports: Complaint #15-02 – The complete video and audio record alone clearly refutes all of the allegations of misconduct as baseless. In fact, after extensive audio and video review during this investigation, the Complainant agreed the officer did not commit the violations that were alleged. Complaint #16-02 – If an interpreter was needed when the Complainant met with the investigator from Internal Affairs, someone other than one of the officers named in the complaint should have been used. CPRB Annual Report FY 2016 – Approved 09/13/2016 – 3 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 one name-clearing hearing, but none were held. 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 two complaints covered by the FY16 annual report a total of six 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 0 White 0 21 & over 1 Unknown 2 Black 1 Unknown 1 Brown 0 Unknown 1 Sexual Orientation: Gender Identity: Sex: Heterosexual 0 Female 0 Female 0 Unknown 2 Male 1 Male 1 Unknown 1 Unknown 1 Marital Status: Religion: Mental Disability: Single 1 Unknown 1 No 0 Married 0 None 0 Yes 1 Unknown 1 Baptist 1 Unknown 1 Divorced 0 Physical Disability: No 0 Yes 1 Unknown 1 * Information is reported as presented by the person completing the form. BOARD MEMBERS Melissa Jensen, Chair Joseph Treloar, Vice Chair Royceann Porter Mazahir Salih Fidencio Martinez/Donald King