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Home My WebLink About06-20-2001 ArticlesGA Iowa City Press -Citizen Tuesday, June 12, 2001 Council targets PCRB expenses, not policies By Sara Langenberg Iowa City Press -Citizen Iowa City's Police Citizens Review Board may keep most of its powers, and may even get some wording to back up current practices, but it may lose its administrative assistant, based on city council comments Monday. The board, created about five years ago after an Iowa City offi- cer shot and killed an unarmed man named Eric Shaw, is sched- uled to disband Aug. 1 unless renewed by the council before then. Earlier this year, a majority of council members said the board's powers should be reduced, but there was little movement in that direction during Mondays infor- mal council work session. City Attorney Eleanor Dilkes is expected to supply a draft of Monday's revisions to the ordi- nance in about two weeks, but PCRB Chairman John Watson said it appears the council intends to make only minor revisions. "Pm not sure they took away anything," he said after the meet- ing. "It's not clear that they changed that much." What does seem to be a target, however, is the part-time adminis- trative assistant's $18,000 annual salary. Since the board functions to consider complaints about the police department — and to investigate them independent of the department — the assistant has an office in a city building about a block from the police department. One of her duties is to help people filing complaints understand the board's purpose and function. City Councilor Dee Vanderhoef said the city clerk's office could absorb those duties full-time since it already is filling the gap when the PCRB assistant is off -duty. "I think we have duplication of staffing," Vanderhoef said. A majority of council members agreed. On another issue, the council backed away from Mayor Ernie Lehman's suggestion that the board meet only in response to com- plaints instead of having monthly meetings to review complaints and police department policies Councilor Steven Kanner argued that the board's review of police procedures and policies has helped improve the percep- tion and function of the police department. "We had a procedure that was legal when Eric Shaw was killed. Now we have new policies and people are safer," Kanner said. "Perhaps if we'd had a PCRB before that, the tragedy would not have happened." Ile Deily Iowan - The University or Iowa, Iowa City. Iowa hllp:/iwww.dmll'�uo wrmnu �b�-��. �.•,...,� _ �_ JLale L. 20.11111 June 12, 2001 2A Council slowed by board review The City Council spends three hours debating the powers of the Police Citizen Review Board. By Gian Sachdev The Daily Iowan The Iowa City City Council had a difficult time focusing its efforts during an informal work session Monday evening as it tried to discuss the future of the Police Citizen Review Board. Debate over possibly revising the board's powers lasted close to three hours, during which the council acknowledged its lack of progress. Councilor Irvin Pfab, who said he believes strongly in the need for the police -oversight board, was often criticized by other councilors because of his numerous requests to hear clarifications and examples. Despite their exceptionally long discussion, it appeared that the councilors wanted relatively little changed. They informally agreed to continue the board's right to hold public hearings without the council's consent. Iowa City resident John Watson, the board's chairman, said he is happy with the council's decision to allow his group to hold public hearings on its own volition. 91 F1 ._ Clouly F7 6/12/01 1:56 the Daily Iowan- The University of Iowa, Iowa City. Iowa alyLuwww.eany an. wi.�.nu. �t•�..__.,�,_,_, _ "Why shouldn't we try to understand what some of the issues of the citizens are toward the police?" he said. "That's the whole purpose of our organization." After careful explanation from City Attorney Eleanor Dilkes of the board's general practices, the council agreed to allow it to continue investigating both complaints given directly to it and those filed with the police. With opposition from Pfab, Councilor Dee Vanderhoef requested that the city eliminate the board's administrative assistant position. She encouraged the council to consider replacing the position with staff from the city clerk's office. The council agreed to address the issue at a later date, and a majority of the councilors said they are in favor of renewing the board at the end of July. In support of her position, Vanderhoef cited City Manager Steve Atkins, who had told the council that the city's general -spending rate is extremely high, according to a recent study by a New York City rating firm. After clarification for Pfab, the council agreed to review the board every two years. E-mail DI reporter Gian Sachdev at: gian-sachdev@uigwa.edu Copyright 2001 The Daily Iowan No redistribution without the Consent of The Daily Iowan Website problems? Email us. Newsroom email. Email us. z of z 6/12/01 I:SP TUESDAY JUNE 12, 2001 IOWA CITY, IOWA VOL. 118 NO.154 50 CENTS AN EDITION OF GAZETTE COMMUNICATIONS Latitude changes foreseen for PCRB By Nathan Hill Gazette staff writer IOWA CM — The city's police watchdog group will have slightly more latitude when dealing with citizen com- plaints and slightly less when sending its opinions to the City Council. At their work session last night, council members dis- cussed the role of the Police Citizen Review Board (PCRB), the group created four years ago to handle citizen com- plaints against police officers and procedure. The commis- sion's sunset clause is up at the end of the month, and the council is deciding how the 0 Council votes P C R B OP - against should op- erate after Hadocke-Weeber it's re- purchase, 5B newed. Members of the PCRB have said that more flexibility is needed in critiqu- ing police procedure. They want to be freed from some restrictive language in the group's charter: The law states that the PCRB can disagree with a police chiefs decision only if the decision is unsup- ported, arbitrary or illegal. Council members decided last night to allow the group latitude to comment about how it feels about police actions and procedure, even if a complaint is not sustained. However, council members decided to restrict the PCRB's ability to make reports and recommendations. After June, the group will only be able to make reports when those re- ports are requested by the council, police chief or city manager. This item was hotly debated last night Council member Ste- ven Kanner argued that an annual performance review of police procedure would be ef- fective. Council member Dee Vander- hoef said the city has staff that can handle reviews and a legal department that overlooks all new police procedures. Council member Irvin Pfab disagreed, saying he thought the PCRB has not been used enough. The city's legal staff will rewrite the PCRB's charter to reflect the changes. ■ The Gazette, Fri., June 8, 2001 IOWA TODAY- ... B Review board role in question Council considers duties of police watchdog group By Nathan Hill Gazette staff writer IOWA CITY — While most City Council members agree these is a role for the city's police watchdog group, there's a split w to what that role should be. Council members will dis, cuss the Police Citizens Re- view Board (PCRB) at a Monday evening work ses- sion. At issue is whether the ■ City considers raising rates at parking ramps, 6a ■ Council to vote on Peninsula Neighborhood plan. 58 group, set up In 1997, should have a wider scope and more flexibility in critiquing police procedure. Members of the PCRB want to be Heed from some restrictive Iangrage in the group's charter. The law m, quires that the PCRB can disagree with a police chiefs decision only if the decision is unsupported, arbitrary or illegal. That sets a high standard, and makes it difficult to re- view nuances in marry cont. plaints, members of the PCRB wrote in a memo to the City Council. "Complaints are rarely Gear cut," board members said "An officer's behavior often may not rise to the Under current rules, the city's police watchdog group can disagree with a police chiefs decision only If It Is unsupported, arbitrary or illegal. level of misconduct, but oth- er aspects of the situation may merit comment" 'But while PCRB members are looking for a broader role, some council members are looking to shrink it Council member Dee Van- derhoet said the PCRB costs too much, and hopes to trim away at its expenses. in four years, the work• Ings of the PCRB has cost roughly $160,000, said Van- dencc,4 "I feel that's very expert. ■ Turn to 5B: Beard ■ From page Is sive help," she said "If you look at the general fund I can use those funds in different places." Some of the costs come from the PCRB duplicating duties already handled by the attor- ney s or clerk's office;, such as reviewing new police procedures or - filing complaints, Vanderhoef said. Council member Mayor Ernie Leh- Steven Kanner said man sites a decrease in the number of 'he hopes the complaints coming PCRB will Interact to the PCRB as a good reason to scale with the communl- back the operation. ty and make regu- Lehman said the lar repOrtS to the PCRB's permanent half-time employee council on policy. position could prob- ably be reduced or eliminated. Council member Steven Kanner, on the other hand, would like to see a more assertive PCRB, one that has the ability to review all complaints to the police. In a memo to the council, Kanner said he hopes the PCRB will interact with the com- munity, make regular reports to the council on policy and be able to recommend to the police chief a level of discipline for police officers at fault in PCRB bomplaints. The PCRB was renewed by the council last month before its 2Wl sunset clause ran out. The council's Monday work session begins at 6:15 p.m. at the Civic Center, 410 E. Washington St he Daily low an - The Unn crsip of lo%ca. IORa C itc. Iow a hnp. wwAc.daikiowan coil, cup-biu LicelQue.acg6rec 57(,14.'loJa%111C1F,, Y mostly „r Cloudy Wednesday June 6, 2001 Updated 10:30am Wednesday, June 6, 2001 Page 1 A Police receive drug grant Civil-rights advocates argue that the Byrne grant promotes unethical police methods. By Avian Carrasquillo The Daily Iowan Iowa City police announced Tuesday that two of its grants have been renewed -- one of which has been criticized by community members who say it encourages questionable police tactics. The controversial Edward Byrne Memorial Grant will allow the police to target narcotics -related cases. Civil-rights advocates have objected to the grant, among them City Councilor Steven Kanner, who questions the grant's requirements. He has suggested the city not reapply for the Byrne grant in response to citizen complaints over its requirements. To receive the money, police must make 45 arrests for felony drug violations, conduct 45 "knock & talks," during which an officer approaches a home and questions residents without warrant, and obtain 20 search warrants to develop illicit -drug cases -- all within a year. The grant also permits the use of garbage searches to reach its quotas. The Governor's Office on Drug Control Policy awarded the $48,786 grant. Iowa City police, which have received the grant for a decade, will pitch in more than $16,000. or 2 6 6 01 1 OS PM Sandy Bauer From: Suelgq@aol.com ent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 9:04 AM To: BAttard@ci.berkeley.ca.us; Teresa.Guerrero-Daley@ci.sj.ca.us; SIF@citymgr.sannet.gov; fheske@sdccd.cc.ca.us; cfisher@mail.sdsu.edu; DWilliam@ci.riverside.ca.us; JParkeCH@co.san-diego.oa.us; PParkeCH@co.san-diego.ca.us; mbobb@pacbell.net; dhbums@lasd.org; smdacus@lasd.org; NKULLA@aol.com; c-novak@ix.netcom.com; EIIenSTaylor@yahoo.com; HGoldh2o@aol.com; rfass@pomona.edu; Cuquiz@aol.com; wg6i@earthlink.net; paint2@gateway.net; jemurphy909@earthlink.net; smaxberry@bos.cc.la.ca.us; Ombudla@co.la.ca.us; CReeder@indygov.org; cdavis@ultra- tech.com; davisf@nysnet.net; NACOLE95@aol.com; jamesJohnson@cinlaw. rcc.org; DCasimere@gw.sacto.org; MMonteiro@ci.cambridge.ma.us; Sandovaj@mscd.edu; dede@hawaiian.net; rowaugh@ci.long-beach.ca.us; yogijoel@yahoo. corn; markiris@northwestem.edu; LPMurphy@cityofboise.org; ffinkle@ccrb.nyc.gov; CammeS@aol.com; CScott7544@aol.com; mcdonaldp@dpdchiefinv.ci.detroit.mi.us; ronald.clarkson@co.mo.md.us; bjackson@oaklandnet.com; LPerezl@mail.ci.tucson.az.us; jwillia4@ci.phoenix.az.us; RHAaronson@gateway.net; JimFight@cs.com; mhess@ci.portland.or.us; psalk@mail.als.edu; rheve@mail.als.edu; asb@co.clark.nv.us; Sandy-Bauer@iowa-city.org; Patricia. Hughes2@ci.minneapolis.mn.us; Dlovelyone@gwest.net; phileure@hotmail.com; Sfinedley22615@cs.com; irp@co.miami- dade.fl.us; Cdavis@diocese-gal-hou.org; hector.w.soto@phila.gov; don. luna@ci.stpaul.mn.us; mike@odsadr.org; Ellen.Ceisler@phila.gov; EMiller@ci.miami.fl.us; SGurin@pcweb.net; mumseel@mindspdng.com; Illlola@juno.com; jw2b@fuse.net; drjandrewsphd@woddnet.att.net; dheard@ci.mil.wi.us; rramos@contracosta.cc.ca.us; Trgunnl@aol.com; SXH@citymgr.sannet.gov; martina@hdcdojnet.state.ca.us; Slecorre@uottawa.ca; rzoss@mymailstation.com; PZamary@yahoo.com; afryer@seattletimes.com; LSiegel@aclu.org; tiyeluv@hotmail.com; Tim.Ohara@herald-trib.com; Susan.Sheldon@verizon.net; d.ramirez@nunet.neu.edu; Mvdanielesq@aol.com; sharewhy@hotmail.com; Kelly.Thomton@uniontrib.com; WLN@sdpdms.sannet.gov; RmDuvall@aol.com; Chevigny@tudng.law.nyu.edu; AEHobron@aol.com; rashbaum@nytimes.com; skolnick@turing.law.nyu.edu; apc211 @nyu.edu; samwalker@unomaha.edu; spgetty@azstamet.com; Womencops@aol.com; Collina@hrw.org; lynn_davis@la.kirkland.com; hfujie@buchalter.com; rtrotter@akingump.com; david.weiss@cgu.edu; mcnamara@hoover.stanford.edu; DMack500@aol.com; mgraham@nctimes.com; rgreenspan@policefoundation.org; BARBARAPYLE@att.net; bill.finney@ci.stpaul.mn.us; DRPPG@aol.com; nancy_falcon@gc.edu; usmexborder@igc.apc.org Subject: LA's Inspector General Seeks to Build Power June 6, 2001 A Monitor of Los Angeles Police Seeks to Build Power By JAMES STERNGOLD LOS ANGELES, June 5 — In all the weighty reports and citizen commissions that have tried to reform the deeply troubled Los Angeles Police Department over the past decade, a strong, independent watchdog has been seen as the best hope for a more open and accountable force. But five years after the creation of that watchdog — the inspector general's office — it is still fighting the insular department not just over its practices, but also its fundamental power to investigate wrongdoing. The department has been stained by a two -year -old corruption scandal in its Rampart division; that followed the traumas of the Rodney King case and the 1992 riots. More recently, the inspector general failed to persuade the police ommission to sanction the police chief, Bernard Parks, for instances in which he reportedly refused to cooperate with the district attorney. Many people here saw that as a symbol of the obstacles the office continues to confront. 1 "I think we all know that it's fallen quite a ways short of what we intended," said John W. Spiegel, who was general counsel of the commission that conceived the office. ,et, Mr. Spiegel added, "If there's anybody who can make that job work, it's Jeff." He was referring to Jeffrey C. Eglash, 40, a former federal prosecutor who is the second holder of the job. In an interview, Mr. Eglash reviewed the positives, citing the small battles won that have gained the office greater independence and authority. "I prefer to frame the question this way: Are we better off with an inspector general's office?" he said. "I think the answer is definitely yes." Mr. Eglash was candid about the deep-seated cultural barriers he has faced. He offered a telling anecdote that occurred months ago when, he said, he was walking to a police training session. A senior officer casually pointed to the department's top commanders and said that if Mr. Eglash wondered what was obstructing real change, he was looking at it. Mr. Eglash said he thought nothing of the remark until he received a call from the department demanding that he testify about it at a disciplinary hearing for the officer, who had been overheard. Mr. Eglash said he refused, but was ordered by the police commission to appear. "I'm not sure it made any difference," he said of his testimony in the case, which is still unresolved. "But the main thing is you have to pick your battles, and I have." -The Police Department professes to support the office, but only under sightly circumscribed terms. It regards the inspector general as a passive recipient of paperwork the department produces so that it can evaluate procedures — not look for corruption or wrongdoing. "Their role is not to come in and investigate side by side with us," said Commander Sharon Papa, the department's chief spokeswoman. "They are supposed to look at processes, do an auditing function." Mr. Eglash has fought this view. "There is still, after this much time, not a consensus on what this office should be," he said. "There are still institutional barriers that prevent us from being a fully empowered investigative body." Mr. Eglash acknowledged some significant shortcomings in the office's powers. It cannot ask questions at internal department hearings. It cannot offer informants from the department confidentiality. It cannot refer evidence of crimes directly to prosecutors, but must submit the information to the department and the police commission. And the office's staff can be ordered to testify before internal police department panels. The flaws were evident from the start. The first inspector general, Katherine Mader, now a state judge, resigned after two years in which she clashed repeatedly with Chief Parks over how much power she had to investigate issues like the department's disciplinary system. Mr. Eglash has been in the office for about three years, and is still ._fighting similar battles over how much independence he should have. In iddition, the office is short-handed. Of 32 staff positions, 7 are vacant. Dean Hansell, one of five civilian police commissioners, supports giving the inspector general more power, especially to examine police records and to 2 ask questions at internal police hearings, but said it had been surprisingly difficult. "What I think is most important is that the I.G. be given comprehensive -access to information and easy access to that information," he said. "That s a frustration I still feel." Those questions carry particular resonance today, since the Rampart scandal - in which a virtual gang of officers is said to have routinely robbed drug dealers, abused gang members and planted guns on suspects - has languished for nearly two years with few if any real reforms being carried out. Last year the city signed a consent decree with the Justice Department, giving a federal judge oversight of the department and granting the inspector general some new powers. But that decree has still not been enacted, and may not be for months. And a new city charter, approved by the voters last year, included new powers for the inspector general, giving it more autonomy and power to obtain records. But even some architects of those reforms now say they came up short. Still, the office has some successes. Earlier this year, Mr. Eglash produced a report questioning the department's conclusions that an officer who shot and killed a homeless women armed with a screwdriver had been justified. The commission voted 3 to 2 supporting his conclusions, and the department has been forced to reconsider its verdict. Recently, Mr. Eglash produced a report finding that Mr. Parks had not fully cooperated with the district attorney's Rampart inquiry, and then made misleading remarks about his cooperation. The chief denied the accusations, .and the commission voted 3 to 2 not to sanction him. -'I don't consider these wins or losses," Mr. Eglash said. "We raised the issues. That's the important point." 3