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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-1998-12-17 got1T91 CITY OF ITHACA �iSb SIR North VIbanv street Ithaca. New York 1=+850 1 ; `, "'Bf 01 COMNIEN1 I V POLICE BOARD �OaR9 . E ■ 1ft t ph,nie 61)— =srrvo ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MEETING MINUTES: Ithaca Community Police Board PLACE: Second Floor Conference Room, City Hall TIME & DATE: December 17, 1998 at 3:30 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioners Jones, Laskowitz, McGruder, Pryor 1 /IaI:° Alderperson Sams. , t;« Chief Basile, Deputy Chief Barnes Deborah Clover; CPB Staff. Wally Woods, Marianne Graham; public 1. Commissioner Pryor called the meeting to order. 2. Approve Minutes of Meeting of November 19, 1998. By Commissioner Jones, seconded by Commissioner Laskowitz. RESOLVED, That the minutes of the November 19, 1998 Community Police Board Meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously 3. Comments from the Public: Commissioner Pryor introduced Wally Woods and Marianne Graham, both attending the meeting to learn more about the Community Police Board. Mr. Woods is retired and recently moved to Ithaca from Central New Jersey. He attends different City board meetings to get a feeling for the town. Ms. Graham is employed by Aids Work and is a prospective CPB member. 4. Report from Common Council: Alderperson Sams reported on the following: • The City has set up a Work Environment Task Force. • Re: New Commissioners: The Mayor wants to see names of interested people, as he wants to make appointments for the first of the new year. Discussion ensued as to people the Board knows about. Commissioner Nelson again raised his suggestion that a young person be included on the Board. Commissioner Pryor stated that we need to find out what the age limit/requirements are for appointment to a city board. A non-voting youth advisory position could be considered. 5. Report of the Chief: Chief Basile reported on the following: • Cpt. Randy Haus is leaving the Ithaca police force to be the Tompkins County Undersheriff. This is unfortunate for the IPD, but the good news is that his %11,1 .1 (01111lrmll,m 14, „1„ ,141R( d,■,-,.eI,:Il,■., C� ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD Page 2 Meeting Minutes December 17, 1998 move to the Sheriffs office ensures good relations between the two departments. • There are two dispatcher vacancies. An exam is coming up in January, and it is hoped that these positions can be filled. The short dispatcher staff means that the positions must be backfilled with officers which create problems of short lines and overtime. Chief Basile stated that IPD has never had a full dispatcher staff. This position pays several thousand dollars less than the County for a similar position without the same stress, so the IPD in effect serves as a farm team for the county. The Chief feels the current city salary is not appropriate for the job. • Sgt. Tim Williams, Sgt. Thomas Sinnigan, and Ofcr. Bill Cornell attended the Community Policing School in New Jersey last month. Sgt. Williams will be the first in the unit to rotate through the Community Police unity and is excited about this. The Chief hopes that in January there will be one more full time officer in the Community Police unit and one 12-14 month rotating position. Sgt. Beau Saul, who is currently in the Community Police unit, will be going back to the line. • Commissioner Jones stated the need to make the objective of community policing clearer to the community. Chief Basile noted that he tries to go to community meetings whenever possible. The idea of community policing is to aid in crime prevention by creating better relationship between the police and the community. Uniformed officers attend community meetings, they get to know the youth in the community, and they get out of cars and talk to people, creating increased familiarity. • IPD is experimenting with assigning the same officers to car route 205 (Southwest route), again to create more familiarity in the community and to encourage officers to take ownership of their beat---get to know people, talk to them, help them, etc. Officers will also be attending relevant community meetings whenever possible. Chief Basile was complimented for his efforts. • The IPD has been reorganized to level patoons for numbers and skills effective January 1. This was accomplished with minimal change. • Sgt. David Harrington, head of the records unit, will retire in January. • The three-day Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Class is being rescheduled for early 1999 at Ithaca College. • Interviews will be conducted the week of 21 for officer positions. Three applicants have passed the agility test. • Ofcr. Doug Wright will be the new PBA president. Chief Basile and Mayor Cohen will meet with him before the end of the year. Regarding the contract: IPD has asked to go back to the table with the PBA, and it is hoped that a resolution will be reached soon. There will be an almost whole new executive board for the PBA, and the Chief is stressing open lines of communication. 6. Comments from PBA President: There was no one from the PBA present. 7. Old Business: The CPB reported on the following topics: ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD Page 3 Meeting Minutes December 17, 1998 • Appeals Process: The City Attorney is still working on the Appeals process, and this issue was tabled until next month's meeting. • IPD Incident Tracking: Chief Basile has revised the form as requested. This has been discussed as a staff meeting, and its use will be implemented in January. Copies will be given to the CPB monthly. • Staff Hiring: Interviews are set for December 22 beginning at 9:30 a.m. • Commendations: A letter from the CPB will be sent at the end of the year to all officers that have received commendations during 1998. Beginning in 1999, such letters will be sent on a monthly basis. In addition, a notice will be sent monthly to the press listing officers who have received commendations, and a quarterly report will be made to Common Council. 8. New Business: • Diversity Training: Zelda Lockhart of the Multi-Cultural Resource Council did diversity training for the IPD, and her report was reviewed at this CPB meeting to see how the CPB might help implement recommendations. 0 The CPB could get involved with the IPD and community groups to take leadership in setting up community meetings as per suggestions from both participants and the facilitator. 0 One idea is a Civilian Police Academy, offered perhaps two-three times a year and meeting one night per week for five to six weeks. This would help break down misconceptions and barriers. Commissioner Jones suggested that some commissioners might look at what other communities are doing regarding Citizens Police Academies. Chief Basile noted that he has done quite a bit of research on this. There is a plan to set up such an academy beginning in early spring. Chief Basile would like the CPB to take part in this. 0 There was a question about working with ethnic groups and their different needs. Many officers asked for information about the Asian population, and particularly about the cultural values and expectations. 0 An important first step is to get PBA members to CPB meetings before the CPB takes leadership on following through with some of the ideas presented. Relations between the CPB and the PBA need to be improved prior to the CPB setting up community meetings, and there was some discussion on this point. It was noted that officers need to experience the CPB as their advocates, and Chief Basile stated that acknowledgement of commendations will go a long way to improving the image and relations between the PBA and the CPB. Commissioner Pryor will make personal contact with the new leadership and extend an invitation to them to attend CPB meetings. 0 The Diversity Training suggestions will be reviewed again at the January meeting. • Comments and Suggestions from Outgoing Commissioners ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD Page 4 Meeting Minutes December 17, 1998 0 Commissioner Laskowitz moved, seconded by Commissioner Nelson to recognize appreciation for the work and efforts of outgoing Commissioners McGruder and Richardson, with special appreciation to Commissioner McGruder for extended service. 0 Commissioner Richardson stated that it was good to learn about the Police Department and to have the opportunity to work collaboratively. She expressed concern that the CPB is perceived as policing the police, and would like to see this changed. On the other hand, she feels there is a need to examine the foundations of the CPB, and in particular that the CPB should have more power to make decision and set policies, more than just make recommendations. 0 Commissioner McGruder stated that she met with Mayor Cohen to give him some suggestions, and she repeated these here: ♦ With all the procedures complainants must go through, they sometimes get investigated more than the police gets. ♦ There is a breakdown of the CPB because the PBA won't attend or meet with the Board or complainants. ♦ It may be possible to have the Chief and Deputy Chief attend CPB meetings every other month rather than every month. On off months, Commissioners could meet with them personally. Chief Basile stated that he feels he would be missing something if he didn't come to all CPB meetings, although he is willing to meet one-on-one with commissioners as well. ♦ Because the PBA is not cooperating, the Chief should also sign the final letter to complainants. An additional letter to the complainant from the Chief (in addition to the letter from the CPB) might help complainants feel like something happened. ♦ Commissioner McGruder applauded Commissioner Pryor's leadership of the CPB and stated that Pryor has taken positive steps in helping the Board attempt to build better bridges between the community and the police department with fairness and concern for both. On a motion by Commissioner Jones, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, the Community Police Board adjourned into Executive Session.