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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-1994-09-23 ----4.- 7:'Ti.......,,,,, ,,,.......___,„:„, „if . ._ . , : ___ : _ , %..., . t_. . : , �gpOItATEO N0 CITY OF ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD 120 EAST CLINTON STREET (607) 272-9973 ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850-5689 EXTENSION 310 MINUTES: Ithaca Community Police Board PLACE: Second Floor Conference Room, City Hall TIME & DATE: September 23, 1994 at 2:30 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioners Edmonds, Johnson, Seligmann, Teasley. Chief McEwen, Deputy Chief Barnes, Alderperson Shenk. Alderperson Gray, Alderperson Efroymson. Rita Linger, Community Dispute Resolution Center. Keeley Webster, Ithaca Journal. Carol Hale, WHCU. ABSENT: Commissioners Nelson, Sarachan. 1 . Commissioner Seligmann called the meeting to order. 2. Approve Minutes of Meeting of August 26, 1994 by Commissioner Teasley, seconded by Commissioner Johnson. RESOLVED, That the minutes of the August 26, 1994 Community Police Board Meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously 3. Report from Common Council: Alderperson Shenk noted that Common Council will be holding a public hearing on the proposed curfew ordinance on October 13th at 7:30 p.m. Alderperson Shenk also noted that the nuisance abatement ordinance is still being worked on. 4. Comments from the Public: Rita Linger from the Community Dispute Resolution Center was present for further discussion on the Community Police Advocates program. She noted that they recently met with the Police Benevolent Association and they were received well. Ms. Linger passed out a progress report (copy attached), noting that she is quite pleased with the progress thus far. She noted that the Advocates report to Common Council directly and that the Community Police Board should receive copies of their quarterly reports. Community Police Board Meeting Minutes Page 2 August 26, 1994 5. Report of the Chief: Chief McEwen passed out his 1995 budget, noting that this document is considered confidential until the Mayor reviews it and he welcomed the Community Police Board's involvement in the process. He noted that he will discuss this in Executive Session. Chief McEwen noted that he received a letter from Attorney General Janet Reno's assistant stating that the City of Ithaca may be reconsidered for receiving funds for police officer positions in accordance with the crime bill. Chief McEwen also noted that he is hiring a lateral transfer police officer which will allow him to appoint another neighborhood police officer once the lateral completes his eight weeks of field training. 6. Comments from PBA President: PBA President Gray was not present. 7. Old Business: Commissioner Edmonds reported that Captain Haus has been convening the Training Committee meetings and he didn't really have anything new to report on. Discussion followed about funding for training programs. Commissioner Teasley reported on the by-laws for the Community Police Board, noting that a section will be added to the by-laws stating that failure to attend three consecutive meetings without good reason would be cause for removal from the Community Police Board. Commissioner Seligmann suggested that a section be added to the by-laws regarding the duties of the Vice Chair which Commissioner Teasley will do. Discussion followed about the quorum factor and what is considered a majority. The Community Police Board decided to discuss the quorum factor at another meeting when they can seek Commissioner Sarachan's input. 8. New Business: The Community Police Board will discuss committee and liaison appointments at their October meeting. 9. Adjournment: The next meeting of the Community Police Board is scheduled to be held on October 28, 1994 at 2:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of City Hall. The Community Police Board adjourned into Executive Session at 3:40 p.m. CPB/lac attachment COMMUNITY DISPUTE lors<vi RESOLUTION CENTER • THE COMMUNITY-POLICE ADVOCATES PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT (June - September 22, 1994) The goals of the Program are to: 1 ) to increase communication between citizens and police 2 ) to familiarize the community with options available for resolving concerns involving the police 3 ) to assist citizens with complaints in determining the most appropriate course of action and connecting them with community resources, as needed 4) to provide information and support to citizens who choose to file a formal complaint with the Community Police Board CDRC Program Coordinator Rita A. Linger began by recruiting and training Community-Police Advocates, which entailed: - publicizing the need for community volunteers willing to serve as advocates through newspaper articles, psa's and appearances on radio and television; - recruiting seventeen volunteers to serve as Community-Police Advocates; - providing volunteers with ten ( 10) hours of training which covered: - an overview of police in the community, rights and responsibility of community members and the police, history and role of the Ithaca Community-Police Board; - the role of the advocate, balancing support and neutrality, and confidentiality; skills training in listening for content, managing emotions, identifying issues and organizing and presenting information; included in the training were presentations by Chief McEwen, attorney Paul Bennett and Police Commissioners Carol Seligmann and Kirby Edmonds . Since completion of the training, Community-Police Advocates and/or Program Coordinator Rita A. Linger have provided the following services: - in ten (10) situations, provided information and referral to those with questions and concerns; - in four (4) situations, extended support to individuals contemplating the most appropriate recourse. - publicized the availability of advocates through contacts 120 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 273-9347 with the media; - attended three (3) Community-Police Board meetings and met with the Board President regarding the clarification of the relationship procedure between advocates and the Board; - maintained open lines of communication between the Police Chief and the Program Coordinator; - promoted the program through various informal group and one- on-one settings. - met with the PBA President, and members to discuss program goals, objectives and accomplishments thus far. Objectives for the remainder of 1994 include: - meet with the PBA meeting to improve the relationship between the police and the advocates (first meeting scheduled for this month) ; - continue to clarify the specific ways in which advocates will work with Police Commissioners; - continue publicity to make the availability of advocates known throughout the community through media and by attending and conducting community meetings to discuss the purpose of the program and its goals. Objectives for 1995 include: - continue publicity - recruit and train new C-P Advocates as needed; - provide on-going training to experienced advocates; - continue to work with the C-P Board to build a strong relationship between their work and the work of the advocates; - work with the C-P Board to develop the conciliation component of the program, which will provide face-to-face meetings between officers and citizens in appropriate cases . with the media; - attended three (3) Community-Police Board meetings and met with the Board President regarding the clarification of the relationship procedure between advocates and the Board; - maintained open lines of communication between the Police Chief and the Program Coordinator; - promoted the program through various informal group and one- on-one settings . - met with the PBA President, and members to discuss program goals, objectives and accomplishments thus far. Objectives for the remainder of 1994 include: - meet with the PBA meeting to improve the relationship between the police and the advocates (first meeting scheduled for this month) ; - continue to clarify the specific ways in which advocates will work with Police Commissioners; - continue publicity to make the availability of advocates known throughout the community through media and by attending and conducting community meetings to discuss the purpose of the program and its goals. Objectives for 1995 include: - continue publicity - recruit and train new C-P Advocates as needed; - provide on-going training to experienced advocates; - continue to work with the C-P Board to build a strong relationship between their work and the work of the advocates; - work with the C-P Board to develop the conciliation component of the program, which will provide face-to-face meetings between officers and citizens in appropriate cases . COMMUNITY DISPUTE oir\Aii RESOLUTION CENTER THE COMMUNITY-POLICE ADVOCATES PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT (June - September 22, 1994) The goals of the Program are to: 1 ) to increase communication between citizens and police 2 ) to familiarize the community with options available for resolving concerns involving the police 3 ) to assist citizens with complaints in determining the most appropriate course of action and connecting them with community resources, as needed 4) to provide information and support to citizens who choose to file a formal complaint with the Community Police Board CDRC Program Coordinator Rita A. Linger began by recruiting and training Community-Police Advocates, which entailed: - publicizing the need for community volunteers willing to serve as advocates through newspaper articles, psa's and appearances on radio and television; - recruiting seventeen volunteers to serve as Community-Police Advocates; - providing volunteers with ten ( 10) hours of training which covered: - an overview of police in the community, rights and responsibility of community members and the police, history and role of the Ithaca Community-Police Board; - the role of the advocate, balancing support and neutrality, and confidentiality; - skills training in listening for content, managing emotions, identifying issues and organizing and presenting information; included in the training were presentations by Chief McEwen, attorney Paul Bennett and Police Commissioners Carol Seligmann and Kirby Edmonds . Since completion of the training, Community-Police Advocates and/or Program Coordinator Rita A. Linger have provided the following services: - in ten (10) situations, provided information and referral to those with questions and concerns; - in four (4) situations, extended support to individuals contemplating the most appropriate recourse. - publicized the availability of advocates through contacts 120 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 273-9347