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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-2012-01-26APPROVED ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MEETING MINUTES LOCATION: Third Floor, Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street TIME /DATE: January 26, 2012 @ 3:30 pm PRESENT: Commissioners Bush, Kane, Laskowitz, and Rogers; Alderperson Kerslick; IPD Chief Vallely; Staff: Herden ABSENT /EXCUSED: Commissioner Hang GUESTS: Krin Flaherty, Constance Gersbach, David Nutter, Shaquille Richardson, and Quintin Schwab Chairperson Slattery called the meeting to order at 3:35 pm. 1. Introductions 2. Approval of Minutes of Meeting of December 15, 2011 The minutes were approved unanimously. 3. Comments from the Public David Nutter, of the Bicycle /Pedestrian Advisory Council, reported that he had not heard back from IPD regarding his questions about the application of the pedestrian crosswalk law. He expressed a concern that the public's faith in police officers is eroded when officers don't appear to be following the law, instead "making it up in a heavy- handed way ". Chief Vallely arrived at the meeting later and addressed Mr. Nutter's concerns. 4. Report from Common Council Common Council member Graham Kerslick, newly appointed liaison to the Community Police Board, introduced himself. 5. Report from Police Department Chief Vallely apologized to Mr. Nutter for the delay in communication, stressing that it had been an especially active time for the IPD. The Chief clarified that a pedestrian is in the crosswalk as soon as they have stepped off the curb into the crosswalk. Cars are required to stop when a pedestrian has entered the crosswalk unless it would be hazardous or impractical for them to do so. For example, pedestrians should not dash suddenly into the path of a vehicle. [ "No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield." NYS VAT Law, Article 27, Section 1151, b)] Chief Vallely read from letters of gratitude for four officers. Officers Berich, Huddle, Grey, and Augustine were thanked by various citizens who were assisted through the efforts of the officers. In addition, Officer Crews's life- saving emergency medical assistance for a man who had stopped breathing was noted with appreciation. APPROVED ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MEETING MINUTES LOCATION: Third Floor, Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 108 East Green Street TIME/DATE: January 26, 2012 @ 3:30 pm PAGE 2 OF 2 6. Report from Staff The CPB presentation "What to Do If Stopped by the Police" to middle- and high - schoolers at GIAC will take place on Tuesday, February 28, from 4:15 to 5:15 pm. Staff spoke with several potential complainants who chose not to file official CPB complaint forms. 7. Old Business a. Discussed during executive session. b. No new commissioners have been appointed. 8. New Business a. Commissioners Rick Rogers and Shirley Kane were unanimously elected as co- chairs of the Board. b. Commissioner Rogers began an assessment of trends in CPB complaints and their resolutions over the years. Although he is not finished with this process, Rogers noted that he saw only one founded complaint for the three years he has thus far reviewed. Commissioners emphasized the importance of the CPB's providing a voice to citizens who fear they may not otherwise be heard. One important goal of the complaint process is to get citizens and police together to resolve issues in an amicable manner, to provide a forum where both sides can feel heard even if they ultimately disagree. Commissioner Laskowitz noted that the conversation often takes place between a complainant and the Chief or an Assistant Chief, rather than the officer named in the complaint. 9. Adjournment to Executive Session @ 4:23 pm Motion by Commissioner Laskowitz and seconded by Commissioner Rogers to move to executive session to discuss open complaints then return to public session and adjourn. Two open complaints were discussed: 1. Complaint ( Laskowtiz and Bush) was voted "satisfied" and concluded. ( #0811) 2. Complaint (Kane) was carried over. ( #1011) One new complaint and four new citizen letters of compliment were received between the December and January board meetings.