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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-2002-03-21ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MEETING M INUTES: Ithaca Community Police Board PLACE: City Hall, 108 East Green St. third floor at Common Council Chambers TIME / DATE: March 21, 2002 at 3:30 p.m. • PRESENT: Commissioners Wigden, Laskowitz, McGruder, Rovelstad, Nels Killeen, Alderperson Pryor, Chief Basile, Deputy Chief vies, staff: Falconer. Guests: City Prosecutor Margaret McCarthy "o i �5.. 1. Approval of Minutes of meeting of February 28, 2002 The minutes were approved unanimously 2.Report by Police Department Chief Basile reported that Deputy Chief Lauren Signer has been appointed Acting Chief upon the Chief's leaving tomorrow. Two Dispatchers have been hired, one is African American, and one Caucasion. The Chief thanked the Board for the past few years work with him, and expressed his pleasure at working in Ithaca. Commissioner Wigden thanked him for his cooperation with the Board and wished him the best of luck. Commissioners Laskowitz, Passmore, Killeen, Nelson and Rovelstad.and Alderperson Pryor, spoke of their appreciation for the quality of his tenure. 3. Guest Speaker Margaret McCarthy Chair Wigden welcomed the dozen or so guests, introduced the guest speaker and explained that City Prosecutor McCarthy was invited in an attempt to clarify how the bias crime law is, in general, interpreted and acted upon. She explained that she cannot speak to a specific case because of rules of confidentiality, but that the law • in Ithaca states that in order to prosecute, there must be a law broken as well as an accompanying hateful intent. The decision to designate a crime as a bias related one is made by the officer taking the complaint; if he is not sure, he will consult the City Prosecutor. Clear proof of the perpetrator's intent must be present, and if the crime is accompanied by words that indicate he or she is acting upon a personal bias, it can be called a bias or hate crime. Words alone are not illegal, but must be accompanied by an illegal act. Questions from the guests and board members included the following: Alderperson Pryor asked if there are fewer homophobic crimes reported than other categories, and what could the CPB do to help increase the reporting of them. Prosecutor McCarthy said that very few bias crimes of any sort are reported that qualify for prosecution. Commissioner Killeen asked if a brochure could be written by the CPB that would explain the law to citizens, much as Cornell U. has done, and she said yes this could be helpful. Further discussion followed between the audience and the City Prosecutor, who declined to answer questions about a recent case in the city because of confidentiality. The Chief and some members of the public suggested pushing the reporting of these crimes, and thereby testing the police and the system. 3. New Business Alderperson Pryor explained that the Board must choose three members for the search committee for the new Chief. Commissioners Killeen, McGruder and Laskowitz volunteered and the Board accepted their offers. These three will report back to the Board on the process if they can clear that legally they are allowed to do so. • 4. Adjournment to Executive Session Motion by Commissioner Laskowitz, seconded by Killeen.