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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-2017-03-22CITY OF ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MINUTES Regular Meeting 3:30 p.m. March 22, 2017 Present: Chair: Kane Commissioners (4) Rogers, Wright, DaGrossa, Beem-Miller OTHERS PRESENT: Common Council Liaison – Kerslick Acting Deputy Police Chief - Young Information Management Specialist - Day Ithaca Youth Council Program Coordinator– Marty Schreiber EXCUSED: Commissioner Onyejuruwa ABSENT: Commissioner LaFave CALL TO ORDER: 3:30 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 25, 2017 MEETING: By Commissioner Roger: Seconded by Commissioner Wright RESOLVED, That the minutes of the January 25, 2017 Community Police Board meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously ADDITION TO THE AGENDA: Commissioner DaGrossa requested to add a discussion to the agenda on the next session of the Community Read – Taking action to end the New Jim Crow on April 17, 2017. No Board member objected. REPORT FROM COMMON COUNCIL: Common Council Liaison Kerslick reported that Police Chief John Barber has retired and the search for a new police chief is underway. Commissioners DaGrossa, Rogers, and Onyejuruwa are representing the Community Police Board on the search committee. Deputy Police Chief Peter Tyler will serve as the acting police chief in the interim. REPORT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT: Acting Deputy Police Chief Jacob Young reported that he will be taking over the duties of Deputy Police Chief Monticello during the police chief search including representing the Police Department at the Community Police Board meetings. He noted that he has been an officer with the Ithaca Police Department for 14 years and has served on the road patrol, Swat Team, and in the roles of Sergeant and Lieutenant. Acting Deputy Police Chief Young reported that two new officers have been sworn into office: Officer Julian Byrd and Officer Nikolas Lopez. Both officers are already certified and are undergoing field training. Four other officers are currently attending the police academy and then undergo field training. He further reported that the Ithaca Police Department is ready for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program and is working through the program logistics. He stated that if the CPB is interested in learning more about the LEAD program, a short presentation could be made at the June meeting. OLD BUSINESS: Review of the Community Police Board Procedural Guidelines Commissioner Rogers presented the proposed updated guidelines to the Board for their consideration and approval. Following a short discussion and minor corrections, the Board approved the guidelines in final format. NEW BUSINESS: Ithaca Youth Council Survey Presentation Marty Schreiber, Ithaca Youth Council Program Coordinator introduced Youth Council members Gillian Turvey and Danny Thurmond. Ms. Turvey and Mr. Thurmond presented their findings on a “Police Relations Survey” that was distributed through social studies classes at the Ithaca High School. They explained that the last survey was completed a few years ago and consisted of 400 responses that were more negative than the 2017 survey which consisted of 700 responses. The survey asked for demographic information and included questions such as:  Do you think your ethnicity is a factor in your interactions with IPD?  Do you think that the use of body cameras will improve community relations?  How comfortable would you feel asking an IPD Officer for help?  Have you seen IPD officers at any events you attend?  Do you think the IPD is doing the best job they can to make Ithaca a safe place to live?  Do you feel safe when you see an IPD officer and you are doing nothing wrong?  Do you think your ethnicity is a factor in your interactions with the IPD? The written comment section of the survey indicated that students would like the Ithaca Police Officers to keep people safe, be friendlier, smile at them, have more personal interaction with them, have police come in to classes to tell their personal stories and educate the students about their jobs. The overall survey results showed the youth were positive toward police. Acting Deputy Chief Young asked Ms. Turvey and Mr. Thurmond if they would be willing to do a 15 minute presentation of their findings at the IPD monthly Supervisors meeting on April 12, 2017 at 2:00 pm. Ms. Turvey accepted the invitation. City Clerk Julie Conley Holcomb will work with Ms. Turvey so that the survey can be posted to the Community Police Board’s page on the City website. The Youth Council meets every week during the school year on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm at the Youth Bureau. Commissioner Rogers volunteered to meet with the group to see if any city residents had an interest serving on the Community Police Board as a Youth Commissioner. COMMUNITY READ: Commissioner DaGrossa received an e-mail about the upcoming session of the Community Read: “Taking Action to End the New Jim Crow” to be held on April 17, 2017. The organizers wanted to know if a CPB member would like to attend the meeting to talk about what the Board is doing and what opportunities exist for people to get involved. After a brief discussion, the Board determined that there was not an interest to attend the session as they do not have any powers or authorities regarding incarceration. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Cindie L. Day, Information Management Specialist For the City Clerk’s Office