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October 23, 1998-:
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Police Citizens Review Board
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410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
1mm'l ing
Please allow me to begin by thanking you for your hard work. Local
media report that you folks are very busy; sorry, but I am compelled to add to
your workload.
I realize that you folks will always stay busy just reacting to
complaints. I understand that this is perhaps the primary use of the time of the
PCRB. That is why I am suggesting that the PCRB attempt to move from
being a reactive group to becoming more proactive.
I would also like to try to change the focus from individual officers to
system -wide issues. I know from experience that Iowa City has some
excellent police officers. I also have no doubt that a majority of the officers
are excellent. This is not about the employees; rather, we need to talk about
the things that these good employees are being asked to do.
My primary concern is priorities. What are the priorities of the 1CPD,
and why? Who decides them? Does anyone know? Are they written down? I
am not talking about a mission statement here, such as "protect and serve",
but priorities. How many officers work in a given area at a given time? The
answers to questions of this type are a key. If, for example, police do not
routinely patrol the Ped Mall at 2 pm, someone has decided that the things
that happen there at that time are not a priority. Again, who decided this, and
why?
I ran a little experiment. I checked with three other City Departments.
Each one could tell me what the priorities of that department were, and where
those priorities came from. Usually, there were groups of citizens involved
(as in Planning and Zoning, for example.) I could not get this from the ICPD.
What are the priorities of the ICPD, and why? I am convinced that we
need to continually ask these questions, then publicize the answers. Then the
people will have some idea as to current police priorities. Once the people are
informed, they can let the PCRB, City Manager, and City Council know how
they want to be policed. In a representative government, the citizens should
have some say on these issues.
Please find out the police priorities and the reasoning used for these
priorities, and make them public.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Rod Sullivan
1733 Wilson Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319) 356-5413
October 23, 1998
Stephen Atkins, City Manager
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
Dear Mr. Atkins:
COPY
The Police Citizens Review Board discussed your memorandum of October
19, 1998. The Board had decided in its previous discussions that it lacked
the expertise to make a recommendation to the Council for the Police
Department concerning an amendment of Section 8-8-6 E to allow the Chief
or City Manager a longer period of time for the filing of their report. It
seems to us that the Police Chief, or you on behalf of the Department, would
be able to better analyze the Department's needs regarding an ordinance
change.
As you will note, the Board has asked for a change of Section 8-8-7 B(6) of
the ordinance to allow 45 days as opposed to 30 days for the Board to issue
its public report. The Board would not oppose a reasonable request by the
Department to amend Section 8-8-6 E. However, the Board would strongly
oppose an open-ended timeframe. We understand certain investigations may
require more time, and the Board will work with the Department on this
issue.
Please contact me should you have further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Leah Cohen, Chair
Police Citizens Review Board
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POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319)356-5413
October 23, 1998
R. J. Winkelhake, Chief
Iowa City Police Department
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
Dear Chief:
COPY
The Police Citizens Review Board would like to discuss with you the issue of
data collection on traffic stops. We would appreciate your input and
thoughts on how we can best approach collection of demographic data on
stops that do not result in a citation or written warning.
The Board would like to incorporate this issue into our regular meeting on
November 10. We are also hoping to hear your presentation on building
searches at that meeting.
Please let us know if this will fit your schedule.
Thank you for your continuing assistance.
Sincerely,
Leah Cohen, Chair
Police Citizens Review Board
POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319)356-5413
October 23, 1998
R. J. Winkelhake, Chief
Iowa City Police Department
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
Dear Chief:
CUPY1
The PCRB would like to receive a copies of the Iowa City Police Department
Training Manual. We would like seven copies at your convenience.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Leah Cohen, Chair
Police Citizens Review Board
POLICE .CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319)356-5413
October 23, 1998
R. J. Winkelhake, Chief
Iowa City Police Department
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
Dear Chief:
As part of our ongoing review of the Police Department policies, procedures
and practices, the PCRB would like to have a neighborhood forum. We
would like to invite you to make a presentation on the SCAT team at this
forum. The Board would like to set up the forum at the Broadway
Neighborhood Center on December 1 or December 15. Would you please
check your schedule and let me know the date that would best work for you.
Thank you for your continuing assistance.
Sincerely,
Leah Cohen, Chair
Police Citizens Review Board
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