HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 2021 (FY21)
COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW BOARD A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240-1826 (319) 356-5041
July 13, 2021
Iowa City-City Council
City of Iowa City
410 Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
RE: Community Police Review Board Annual Community Forum
The Iowa City Community Police Review Board (CPRB) held the annual Community Forum on Monday,
May 17, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. Due to the Covid Virus the program was held virtually via zoom
Board member participating in the forum were Chair-David Selmer, Vice Chair-Orville Townsend, Jerri
McConnell, Amanda Nichols. Staff participating were Chris Olney and Kellie Fruehling. Patrick Ford,
Legal Counsel also participated.
The chair opened the forum and gave a short summary of the CPRB’s functions and responsibilities
when attempting to hear and address citizens’ complaints when they feel they have been treated
unfairly. It was also mentioned that the CPRB reviews policies and practices of the ordinances related to
the Police Departments responsibilities. The CPRB also makes recommendations to the Chief and City
Council when review findings indicate it appropriate.
There was discussion of the 13 recommendations the CPRB submitted to the City Council for possible
changes.
1. That in instances of a sustained misconduct complaint, the CPRB be given information about the
corresponding discipline, and that the CPRB be allowed to include in its report its findings on
whether the discipline is reasonable and fair.
2. The CBRP shall have the authority to request the city council have a disciplinary hearing.
3. That an accused officer be required to comply with a CPRB investigation or be disciplined by the
chief of police/city manager.
4. A complainant shall have the right to respond to the chief’s findings in the chief’s report before
the CPRB shall conduct its investigation. The online database of officer complaints shall be
improved to allow for quick searches of complaint history and a computerized risk-management
system to analyze trends.
5. The online database of officer complaints shall be improved to allow for quick searches of
complaint history and a computerized risk-management system to analyze trends.
6. All complaints of misconduct shall be included in the police department’s monthly disclosures
to the CPRB.
7. CPRB shall be provided with additional information in the police department quarterly reports
to review for certain trends
8. CPRB should have the authority to hire an independent auditor to review the police
department’s internal investigation procedures.
9. CPRB shall be provided city funding to promote awareness of the CPRB and enhance
accessibility to its services.
10. Complainants shall have access to a lawyer and social worker/medical professional with trauma
awareness training for purposes of assisting complainants throughout the complaint process.
11. Expand the membership of the CPRB from five to seven or nine members, with an emphasis on
minority representation and representation from a current or former member of the police or
police policy expert.
12. CPRB complaints should be permitted whether filed anonymously or through third persons so
long as there is sufficient knowledge of the underlying circumstances.
13. The statute of limitation for filing a CPRB complaint shall be lengthened from 90 days after the
date of the alleged misconduct, to 180 days after the alleged misconduct.
When preparing to accept questions from the public the Chair mentioned that the Forum/Program was
being recorded and would be replayed on Channel 4. The Chair opened the Forum to the public and the
following individuals participated: Temple Hiatt, Deion Broxton, Joe Coulter, Susan Bryant, Dan Kauble,
Tammy Nyden, and Travis Breese.
The following areas were mentioned:
• Gun free spaces-the question was “how do we notify the public that these spaces are no longer
gun free?” In response to this question Chief Liston stated that it is the property owner’s
responsibility to inform the public of gun free status.
• Tracking demographics on use of force – the question was “Does information/data include
race? Are these incidents reported to the FBI?” The response to this question is that this
information is tracked.
• The 13 Recommendations – Question about the 13 recommendations the CPRB made to the
City Council. (discussed earlier in the meeting)
• Priorities of the 13 recommendations – the question was which of the 13 recommendations
submitted to the City Council are the top priority. Board members stated that they are all
priorities.
• Restructuring of the Police Department – The question was “How involved is the CPRB in the
restructuring of the Police Department.” The response was that the Board is limited to what the
ordinance allows.
• The question was about Laura Bergus’ comment on abolishing the Police Department.
• The question was about qualified immunity, but no discussion on this topic.
• OIR Review - Recommendations made by the OIR Review related to the demonstration on June
6, 2020.
• City Managers plan for enhancing the police.
• Does the review only focus on policing and procedure or do they address Officers behavior?
• Status Chart for CPRB Recommendations - Recommendations that a status chart be posted on
the website indicating the progress on the CPRB recommendations to the City Council. The 13
proposals along with information on policies being reviewed.
• Relationship of Iowa City Police and Iowa State Patrol - Relationship between the Iowa City
Police and the State Patrol. An individual expressed concern that the Iowa City Police may be
put in a situation where they support a groups orders that may be unfair to citizens.
• Questionable Conduct Tools - Tools to identify officers who exhibit questionable conduct.
• National CPRB Associations - Are there any National Associations or systems for CPRB – The
response is that Iowa has the oldest CPRB.
• Police and Mental Health Situations/Issues - Police dealing with individuals with mental health
situations/issues. -Efforts have been initiated to collect information on contacts related to
mental health issues.
• Interest/Involvement with CPRB - How important is it to keep public interested/involved with
the CPRB?
• Guidelink Center - Discuss the Guidelink Center as a welcome resource. Police Chief shared that
the Guidelink Center is an alternate to putting some people in jail. He fells it is a great option to
jail and can help people get the services they need.
The Chair reminded viewers that the forum was recorded and could be seen on Channel 4.
The Forum was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Orville Townsend, Vice-Chair
Community Police Review Board
(Transcriptions are available at ICgov.org)