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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-02-1999 Articles0 Opinion Iowa City Press -Citizen Our view Public has a right to all details Why are we so afraid of identifying police officers? In an apparent agreement, the Iowa City Council and the Police Citizens Review Board decided that only numbers will be used to identify officers when com- plaints are made. Later, there will be dis- cussion on whether the board can publicly identify the offi- cer if a complaint is substan- tiated. Oh, and by the way, the ordinance governing the board will specify that "an allegation/accusation of m s- conduct is not evidence of misconduct" Well, of course it's not. That's the whole point of the board — to investigate com- plaints against police and determine if they're valid. There's something wrong with all this tiptoeing around officers. Lct'v remember why the board was formed —to make sure civilians had a non -police outlet for com- plaints against officers. Even though the board has no authority to punish, at least people who file com- plaints can believe they've eoacn a fair hearing_ with the The issue: ■ Police board will get numbers, not names, of officers in complaints. We suggest: ■ The board was creat- ed to improve public confidence. If it can't do that, it has no purpose. complaint being sustained or rejected. What purpose is there to keeping officers' names a secret — at any point in the process. Board members know the names of people who file complaints. Why not the names of officers? And why shouldn't the public know, too? There's no reason. Numbers? No. If the public can't know the details of complaints including who's involved — and how they're resolved, the board has no purpose. The hoard was designed to generate public court dense, not institutional secrecy. Give us the names, or dumn the hoard. Page 11 A Wednesday, February 24, 1999 The Gazette, February 26, 1999, 2B Iowa City lawyer picked as judge in 6th District By Lynn M. TeHt Gazette Johnson County Bureau IOWA CITY — Doug Russell, an attorney in private practice in Iowa City for 18 years, will become the 6th Judicial District's newest judge next month. Gov. Tom Vilsack on Wednesday tapped Russell to replace Van Zimmer, who was appointed to the state Court of Appeals in December. "I'm very honored to be appointed," said Russell, 50, a partner in the Stein, Russell & Pugh law firm. Twenty-three people, including dis- trict associate judges, county attor- neys, an assistant county attorney, assistant U.S. attorneys and an assis- tant public defender, applied for the position. The 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission, chaired by Judge William Eads, chose Russell and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Teig as the two nomi- nees to pass on to Vilsack. Russell said he will take the next few weeks to complete some of his cases and transfer the rest to his partners, L. Jay Stein and Catherine Pugh. There are no immediate plans to name a new partner to the firm, Russell said. "I'm going to miss the work of being a trial lawyer," he said. "It's always challenging and interesting. And I'm going to miss seeing my lawyer col- leagues as much as I have." He said he has no concerns about fac- ing those colleagues from the other side of the bench. A 1978 graduate of , the University of Io- wa Law School, Rus- sell has been with his current firm for 151/2 years. He was with another firm Doug Russell for three years prior Replaces to that and began van Zimmer his career as a prosecutor with the Johnson County Attorney's Office. Russell also has served as counsel for the Iowa City Police Citizens Re- view Board. Being a judge, Russell said, is an important form of public service. "I can put my training to good use in public service," he said. "It's a very challenging job to do." The full-time position pays $97,600 a year. Russell said his first assignment will be in Linn County District Court. The 6th Judicial District covers Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Tama counties. A resident of Iowa City since 1975, Russell said he has no plans to move. He is engaged to Susan Feeney of Iowa City, who works in the Johnson Coun- ty Clerk of Court's Office. Cedar Rapids Gazelle, Saturday, 2/27/99, 3B Iowa City mayor asks council to support police review board By Amber Hunt Gazette news intern IOWA CITY — Until the Police Citizens Review Board gives City Council members a reason not to trust it, the board should be allowed to track officers' identities when resolving complaints. That's what Mayor Ernie Lehman suggested in a memo to council members this week. Lehman said Friday it's important for the council to support the board, which was estab- lished in 1997 to investigate complaints about Iowa City police officers and make recommenda- tions to the council and police chief. "I personally do not believe they need that information," Lehman said of board members' request that the police chief use specific officer identification numbers in issuing his reports about complaints to the board. "But they do need the support of the council," Lehman said. Lehman said he had asked the board to submit a letter to the council explaining its members' reasons for wanting to track the officers. Unless the board's reasons seem unjust to officers, Lehman said he would support the request. "(The board has) absolutely no power whatsoev- er, except maybe political power," Lehman said. "There are enough safeguards in place." Board Chairwoman Leah Cohen said the letter to council members was sent this week. "Basically, we feel to do our job, it's necessary to track the officers in some way," Cohen said. She added that knowing the officers' identities would not change the board's recommendations to the council. Iowa City Police Chief R.J. Winkelhake said he supports Lehman's position. Iowa City Press CitiZeti, Saturday, 2/27/99, page 5A Vilsack appoints Russell as judge Jeff Charis-Carlson The Press -Citizen Doug Russell, an Iowa City lawyer whose clients include the Police Citizen's Review Board, will become the next judge for the 6th Judicial District next month. Russell received the appoi.mincnt Wednesday from Gov. Tom Vilsak. He will replace Van D. Zimmer, who was appointed to the state Court of Appeals last December. "I look forward to watching trial from the other side of the bench," Russell said. "My hope is that every- one who appears before me receives it full and fair hearing." The 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission last month selected Russell and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Teig from a pool of 23 applicants. By law, Russell now has Tess than 30 days to give up his private practice. His partners, L. Jay Stein and Catherine Pugh, will begin absorbing the majority of his clients. "I've received wonderful support from my lawyer colleagues in Iowa City and the rest of the district," Russell said. '9 have been very grati- fied by their kind words." One client that will not he absorbed, however, is the PCRB. Russell has been the board's anorncy since its formation about P12 vc;us ago. "The board is very excited t"I Doug and we're very sad we're going to lose him," said Leah Cohen, cl uir- woman of the PCRB. "He now has considciahlc kiniM edge in regards to it dincicnt side to the police department and what our job actually is," Cohen said. The board will employ an interim attorney, still to be named, while advertising for Russell's replaccmcm. Russell has been in Iowa City since 1975, when be began studying law n the University of Iowa. Alter gr iduat- ing in 1978, he spent 20 months its inn assistant Johnson County attorney. IIc went into private practice in 198o x. an associate in the firm Lcll; Haupal and Traw. In 1983, he became it pail- net in his present firm. As a new district judge, Russells initial appointment will last until the next general election. It is retained by the voters, he will stand lot relcn- tion every six years. As the 6th District jud�c, Knzscll will serve Benton, Iowa_ Juhu,um. Jones, Linn and Tanlu counlics. 'lln- full-time position Cannics all :wnuol salary of $97.600. Classifieds Online Letters to the Editor Ad Info Subscription Info DI Staff Copyright 1999 The Daily Iowan. Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. "6 The Dal* 1V 1 Mtn Friday, February 26, 1999 Page 3A Board attorney heads to bench Police board lawyer Doug Russell will become a judge. By Steven Cook The Daily Iowan The Police Citizens Review Board is searching for a new lawyer, because its current one is moving from arguing cases before the bench to trying cases behind it. Gov. Tom Vilsack appointed Doug Russell, 50, a UI alumnus, as a Sixth District Court judge Wednesday. With the appointment, Russell must end his stint as lawyer for the police board, a job he's had since the board's inception in September 1997. He will end his 20 years of practicing law in Iowa City, the last 15 of which with the Pugh, Stein and Russell law firm. Russell is scheduled to be sworn in as a judge on March 2 at 4:45 p.m. at the Johnson County Courthouse. He has until March 26 to finish private practice and leave his job with the police board. His last day with the board will be in mid to late March, he said. He's looking forward to beginning his new job as a judge, he said, but he'll miss working with the board. "It was a very positive and very interesting experience," Russell said of his time with the board. "I was very impressed with the board and how thoughtful and careful it's been in its work." As the police board lawyer, he sat in on all its meetings, giving legal advice and helping to write its standard operating procedures and bylaws. The board will begin advertising for a new lawyer next week, President Leah Cohen said. The process should take about 60 to 90 days. 0£ 3 2/26/99 8:27 AM "He's been a tremendous counsel," she said. "He's mingled well with the board and fit right in. He's been a real asset to the group." Although the board will miss him, Russell's departure shouldn't affect board business, Cohen said. A temporary lawyer will take over between Russell's exit and the hiring of a permanent lawyer. Russell received the judgeship because of his vast background in law and public service, said John Norris, Vilsack's chief of staff. He noted Russell's work as assistant Johnson County attorney from 1978 to 1980 and his recent work with the police board. A native of Chicago, Russell came to Iowa in 1967 to attend Grinnell College. Following graduation 1971 and a three-year stint in the Army, Russell entered the UI law school and graduated in 1978. Russell was one of two finalists for the position. He was personally interviewed by Vilsack on Feb. 18. "He had a great interview," Norris said. "The governor thought he would do a good job being fair and impartial as ajudge and run a good courtroom." Russell will join the 11 other district judges in the Sixth District. Iowa's Sixth Judicial District spans six counties -- Johnson, Linn, Benton, Iowa, Jones and Tama. He replaces District Judge Van Zimmer, who was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals in December 1998. Russell's salary will be approximately $98,000. Russell, who received the call informing him he had received the job from Vilsack personally, said it was "one of the most welcome calls" he's ever received. "Until I received the call, there was no way of knowing how it would turn out," he said. "It was sort of like waiting for a jury to come back with a verdict." DI reporter Steven Cook can be reached at: sacoD@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu [ Home Search Front Metro & Iowa Nation & World Viports Arts 1 of 3 2/26199 8:27 AM