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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-16 ResolutionPrepared by: Geoff Fruin, City Manager, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 356-5010 RESOLUTION NO. 17-18 RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE. CITY OF IOWA CITY LAW ENFORCEMENT NON- DISCRIMINATION POLICY WHEREAS, the mission statement of the Iowa City Police Department proclaims a primary objective of pursuing the ideal of a community free from crime and disorder in a fair, responsive and professional manner; and WHEREAS, effective law enforcement practice is dependent on the ability of police employees to establish mutual trust and respect of all persons in the community; and WHEREAS, law enforcement decisions, including traffic or pedestrian stops, made on the basis of one's race or other protected characteristics violate fundamental civil rights and numerous law enforcement mission and value statements as well as essential duties under the City of Iowa City policies and laws, the Iowa Code and the United States Constitution; and WHEREAS, City of Iowa City Resolution 01-41expresses that "The Iowa City Police Department will continually conduct an examination of traffic enforcement strategies, and if appropriate, refine mission and value statements, training programs, field supervision, and the evaluation and documentation of citizen complaints and related responses to citizens, to ensure that racial profile traffic and pedestrian stops are not being employed by individuals within the Police Department and that citizens are treated equally and fairly pursuant to the Iowa and United States Constitution"; and WHEREAS, since the adoption of Resolution 01-41 the Iowa City Police Department has sought to collect data on traffic stops, refine employee training programs, update policies and operational standards, and conduct outreach programs aimed to eliminate racial profiling, heighten awareness of implicit bias, and build trust and respect between law enforcement and all communities and persons in Iowa City; and WHEREAS, the Iowa City Police Department does not tolerate discriminatory acts and racial profiling practices and is constantly working to strengthen relationships in the community in order to serve all persons equally and fairly. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, that the City Council of Iowa City reaffirms its commitment to the 2001 Law Enforcement Non -Discrimination Policy and urges the City Manager and Police Chief to continually seek ways to ensure that such discriminatory acts do not take place in our community, and further provide our Police Department employees with the resources, trainings and other support needed for them to effectively build mutual respect with all persons they serve so that they can carry out their duties in the most efficient, productive and safe manner. Passed and approved this 16th day of May 2017, MAYOR ATTEST: V CI RK p roved by S - iD- I% City Attorney's Office Resolution No. Page 2 17-183 It was moved by Dickens and seconded by Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: AYES NAYS: ABSENT: x ABSTAIN: Thomas the Botchway Cole Dickens Mims Taylor Thomas Throgmorton CITY OF IOWA CIT 16-17 COUNCIL ACTION REPO 17 Click here to enter a date of council meeting. Resolution reaffirming the City of Iowa City Law Enforcement Non - Discrimination Policy Prepared By: Geoff Fruin, City Manager Reviewed By: Jody Matherly, Police Chief Eleanor Dilkes, City Attorney Fiscal Impact: N/A Recommendations: Staff: Approval Commission: N/A Attachments: Adopted Resolution 01-41, Proposed Resolution Executive Summary: At the April 18th work session, the City Council requested that staff prepare a resolution on the topic of racial profiling. Staff has prepared a resolution reaffirming a 2001 City Council resolution that adopted the Law Enforcement Non -Discrimination Policy. Both the 2001 adopted resolution and the proposed resolution are attached. Since the adoption of the 2001 resolution, the Iowa City Police Department has sought to collect data on traffic stops, refine employee training programs, update policies and operational standards, and conduct outreach programs aimed to eliminate racial profiling, heighten awareness of implicit bias, and build trust and respect between law enforcement and all communities and persons in Iowa City. Examples of this ongoing effort include expanded outreach programs, broadened training programs, enhanced partnerships with St Ambrose University on traffic stop analysis and recently updated Department orders on racial profiling and civil rights. The Police Department remains committed to the primary objective in its mission statement, which includes pursuing the ideal of a community free from crime and disorder in a fair, responsive and professional manner. RESOLUTION NO. 01-4i RESOLUTION ADOPTING CITY OF IOWA CITY LAW ENFORCEMENT NON- DISCRIMINATION POLICY. WHEREAS, the mission statement of the Iowa City Police Department proclaims a primary objective of pursuing the ideal of a community free from crime and disorder in a fair, responsive, and professional manner, and WHEREAS, effective law enforcement rests upon the integrity of law enforcement and the mutual trust and respect of our citizens; and WHEREAS, professional law enforcement agencies should not endorse, by training or policy, enforcement practices dependent on racial profiling; and WHEREAS, traffic laws serve to promote the safe and efficient use of the transportation system and the enforcement of traffic laws Is an essential element In reducing deaths and injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes; and WHEREAS, proactive traffic enforcement efforts based on probable cause, reasonable suspicion or other constitutional practices have been proven to reduce street crimes and Increase the apprehension of criminal offenders; and WHEREAS, traffic enforcement annually leads to the interdiction of illegal substances and stolen property; and WHEREAS, there is a reported perception that some law enforcement officers in our country engage in discriminatory traffic enforcement practices through racial profiling; and WHEREAS, the reported perception and the underlying issue of discrimination through racial profiling Is of paramount concern to law enforcement agencies as well as the communities these agencies serve; and WHEREAS, traffic stops made on the basis of a motorist's race violate fundamental civil rights and numerous law enforcement mission and value statements as well as our duties under the City of Iowa City policies and laws, the Iowa Code and the United States Constitution. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA, THAT: The Iowa City Police Department will continually conduct an examination of traffic enforcement strategies, and if appropriate, refine mission and value statements, training programs, field supervision, and the evaluation and documentation of citizen complaints and related responses to citizens, to ensure that racial profile traffic and pedestrian stops are not being employed by Individuals within the Police Department and that citizens are treated equally and fairly pursuant to the Iowa and United States Constitutions. Resolution No. 01-41 Page 2 Passed and approved this 20th day of February 20 01 YOR Anoved by ATTEST: " 37V L nmjj2. CITY -CLERK City Attorney's Office It was moved by Wilburn and seconded by n'0onnell the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: x Champion X Kanner x Lehman X O'Donnell X Pfab X Vanderhoef Wilburn cbfteWadapd.dw