A police oversight group got the funding it was fighting for during city budget debates last month.The Citizen Complaint Authority, which has had a backlog of more than 100 cases over the last year, pleaded with the city for funding to hire additional investigators to help clear the backlog, and city leaders listened."The Citizen Complaint Authority has for years been underfunded and this council and mayor decided to put their money where their mouth is," said Mark "Zeek" Childers, chair of the Citizen Complaint Authority. The group was established in 2003 under the Collaborative Agreement. Staff members investigate allegations of police misconduct and the board votes on the investigators' findings."It's very discouraging when you look at cases and they're dated 18 months ago," Childers said. "We're supposed to have a 90-day turnaround."Monday night, the board voted on five findings. The oldest dated back to July 2019 and most recent was from April 2021.In most of the cases, the officers were cleared of wrongdoing.On two accounts, the board sided with complainants that officers violated procedure by failing to turn on their body cameras during interactions with citizens.The board also agreed with an allegation an officer used excessive force while breaking up a fight in March of 2020."We would just like, on the record, to indicate that we don't agree with the finding on that issue," said FOP Attorney Steve Lazarus. During the meeting, Jason Cooper with Criminal Justice Initiatives, which is run out of the city manager's office, updated the board on efforts to track recommendations. Cooper said the group is now meeting monthly to review, track and discuss CCA recommendations and the police department's response to them. "These are four areas of progress that are coming out in these discussions across the departments," Cooper said after detailing changes to procedure following CCA recommendations relating to body-worn cameras, written reprimands and use of force."I think this is great news for CCA," said CCA Executive Director Gabe Davis. "I think this shows that we're being effective here. I think it shows we're being constructive, and I think it shows that there's good dialogue about moving forward on issues that are of common concern.""It can only strengthen the relationship that the police have with the community," Childers said.
A police oversight group got the funding it was fighting for during city budget debates last month.
The Citizen Complaint Authority, which has had a backlog of more than 100 cases over the last year, pleaded with the city for funding to hire additional investigators to help clear the backlog, and city leaders listened.
"The Citizen Complaint Authority has for years been underfunded and this council and mayor decided to put their money where their mouth is," said Mark "Zeek" Childers, chair of the Citizen Complaint Authority.
The group was established in 2003 under the Collaborative Agreement. Staff members investigate allegations of police misconduct and the board votes on the investigators' findings.
"It's very discouraging when you look at cases and they're dated 18 months ago," Childers said. "We're supposed to have a 90-day turnaround."
Monday night, the board voted on five findings. The oldest dated back to July 2019 and most recent was from April 2021.
In most of the cases, the officers were cleared of wrongdoing.
On two accounts, the board sided with complainants that officers violated procedure by failing to turn on their body cameras during interactions with citizens.
The board also agreed with an allegation an officer used excessive force while breaking up a fight in March of 2020.
"We would just like, on the record, to indicate that we don't agree with the finding on that issue," said FOP Attorney Steve Lazarus.
During the meeting, Jason Cooper with Criminal Justice Initiatives, which is run out of the city manager's office, updated the board on efforts to track recommendations.
Cooper said the group is now meeting monthly to review, track and discuss CCA recommendations and the police department's response to them.
"These are four areas of progress that are coming out in these discussions across the departments," Cooper said after detailing changes to procedure following CCA recommendations relating to body-worn cameras, written reprimands and use of force.
"I think this is great news for CCA," said CCA Executive Director Gabe Davis. "I think this shows that we're being effective here. I think it shows we're being constructive, and I think it shows that there's good dialogue about moving forward on issues that are of common concern."
"It can only strengthen the relationship that the police have with the community," Childers said.
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