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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCitizen Review Board - Minutes - 04/11/2007W40MCitizen Review Board Meeting CIC Room, City Hall April 11, 2007 Present: Dennis Baker, Anne Berry, Harry Edwards, David Evans, Jim Dubler, Chris Kahler, Glenn Strunk Staff: Lt. Jim Broderick, Assistant City Attorney Greg Tempel, and Angelina Sanchez - Sprague, Recorder. The meeting was called to order at 6:02 by Chair Harry Edwards with the first order of business a welcome to the newest member Anne Berry with introductions of all present. Minutes: Dennis Baker made a motion to approve the March 21, 2007 CRB minutes. Dave Evans seconded the motion. There was no discussion and the motion passed 7:0. Glenn Strunk made a motion to approve Case 07-03 Subcommittee minutes. Chris Kahler seconded the motion. There was no discussion and the motion passed 3:0. Voice Mail Reports: • CRB Voice Mail Message Report. Harry reported that as of 1:45 p.m. on April 1, 2007 there were no messages. • Bias Policing Voice Mail Report. Jim Broderick reported that except for two complimentary messages, which had been forwarded to the officers' supervisors, there were no other messages. Dennis asked the Board what their thoughts were relative to the CRB acknowledging the positive feedback received with the officers. There was some discussion on the role given the Board in the Municipal Code. Some thought theirs was not one that involved direct relationships with officers except as reviewers of Internal Affairs investigations. Most, however, agreed it provided another window of information by community members of their interaction with Police Services staff and they would like to see it continued. The Chair said that if members wanted to think further about how positive feedback acknowledgements should/might be made to officers, he was open to further discussion at a future meeting. Public Input: Elaine Boni of the Human Relations Commission thanked the Board for their submittal of two nominations for the Human Relations Award —both were "worthy' candidates. New Business: Request for information related to credibility included in Administrative Investigation Reports. Lt. Broderick reported he'd received feedback from Sgt Russell that at the Subcommittee review of Case 07-03 an inquiry had been made about whether when a list of priors was offered for the complainant if it might not also be reasonable to balance that information by offering a history of related disciplinary issues for the officer. Chris Kahler, who made the request, agreed the topic introduction as framed by Lt. Broderick was correct. He wanted to raise the question for discussion with other Board members. Lt. Broderick reported their practice is that during the investigative process as they consider facts and circumstances they determine what information (related to credibility of the complainant, witnesses or officers) should become a part of the report. Then in a case -by -case basis, they include information that merits consideration by the reviewers so that they may have a complete understanding of the facts of the case. Chair Edwards confirmed that had been his experience. He believes, as a subcommittee member, he's seen all relevant information. Chris's concern is that if the officer in question has a history of problems that might warrant disciplinary action or termination and that it is not included in the report. He wondered if in some formal fashion the Board should be making the request for its inclusion. Harry clarified the role of the Board was not an adversarial one. Instead, their roles as independent community members, is to review the facts and make recommendations to the Chief related to the quality of the Internal Affairs' investigation and report. Attorney Tempel agreed. He says the Board has been given the authority to determine if the information is accurate and sufficient for both sides. There were some questions seeking clarification of the Board's purview as relates to personnel issues. Attorney Tempel replied, in the context of the investigation, the report and the confidential (closed session) subcommittee meeting, the Board has the authority to consider confidential relevant personnel information of officers related to sustained incidents of misconduct. Chris Kehler made a motion that the Board make a request to Police Services, that in every case, relevant sustained findings of officer misconduct be a part of the investigation report in addition to relevant defendant information such as list of priors when the information speaks to credibility of both parties. Dave Evans seconded the motion. Dave noted that it had been his experience that IA's investigation run in tandem --one course is the collection of information related solely to the facts of the case and another course might be information related to a particular officer's activity/behavior. Sometimes those lines cross and in most cases, he's been satisfied that the role/determination made by Internal Affairs in the process have been trustworthy and above reproach. A vote was taken. The motion failed 3:4. (Those voting for were Chris Kehler, Dave Evans and Glenn Strunk; those voting against were Dennis Baker, Anne Berry, Harry Edwards, and Jim Dubler.) Accidental Discharge of a Firearm. Glenn Strunk asked if the recent accidental discharge of a firearm at Miramont Health Club would be reviewed by the Board. Lt. Broderick reported the individual whose firearm was accidentally discharged was a Sheriff's officer so unless the Sheriff's office asked for a review, there would be none. B&C Member Invitation to the City's Budaetina For Outcome's B&C Community Outreach. Lt Broderick wondered if the Board had received an invitation from the City Clerk's office related to the City's Budgeting For Outcome's B&C Community Outreach the evening of the May 7 at the Lincoln Center? No one had so he will follow up with the Clerk's office and get back to the Board with the specifics. Skillls Academy for Police Officers. Lt. Broderick wanted to check in with Board members if there was interest in participating in new officer Skills Academy classes. Would they simply like a list of classes as currently scheduled over the next ten weeks or would they like him to customize the content/set a time convenient for Board members to attend? Members expressed interest in the defensive tactics and scenario training and said they'd like more information but very likely they could attend at the times already set. Jim will follow-up. Pending Cases: None. Old Business. Templates. Lt. Broderick reported that work continues on preparing templates (documents related to subcommittee work)as a training tool for new members. He's gotten templates from Dave Evans and only needs to make them generic (remove names and dates from the documents) to get them ready for distribution to members. Adjournment: Glenn Strunk moved to adjourn the meeting. Jim Dubler seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 9, 2007, 6 p.m., CIC Room, 300 Laporte Ave ue. Approved by Board at general meeting Chair held on May 2007.