HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB 2019-08-28CITY OF ITHACA
COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MINUTES
Regular Meeting 3:30 p.m. August 28, 2019
Present:
Chair: Kane
Commissioners: (6) Rogers, Wright, Beem-Miller, Onyejuruwa, Korthius, Simons
Youth Commissioner Logue
OTHERS PRESENT:
Acting Chief Nayor
Deputy Chief Monticello
Public Information Specialist Faraday
Common Council Liaison Kerslick
CALL TO ORDER: 3:35 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Moved by Commissioner Rogers: Seconded by Commissioner Wright
RESOLVED, That the minutes of the July 24, 2019 Community Police Board meeting
be approved as published.
Ayes: (7) Rogers, Wright, Beem-Miller, Onyejuruwa, Korthius, Logue, Kane
Nays: None
Abstained: (1) Simons
Carried 5-0-1
PUBLIC COMMENT
Josh Brokaw- Ithaca resident- Relayed details of his being cuffed and taken in by Ithaca
Police Department for smoking a cigarette on the Commons. Voiced concern over state
of policing on the Commons and in Ithaca in general. Concern over lack of consistency
in enforcing rules on the Commons.
INTRODUCTIONS
Shirley Kane: Chair of the Community Police Board, Ithaca resident since 1977, recently
retired from the County.
Bruce Beem-Miller: Great Grandfather was Mayor in 1902, Ithaca resident since 2000,
retired schoolteacher.
Rick Rogers: Been on the CPB for 9 years, also a retired schoolteacher.
Shari Korthius: New CPB member, volunteered for Loaves & Fishes and OAR center,
moved to Ithaca after her daughter-in-law came here to attend Cornell, hopes to bring
fresh perspective to the Board.
Hannah Logue: Youth Commissioner, Junior at Ithaca High School, hopes to connect
youth with IPD.
Graham Kerslick: Common Council Liaison for the Community Police Board, represents
Collegetown on Council.
Johnny Wright: Retired from Cornell, has been o the Board for 5 years.
Richard Onyejuruwa: Works at Cornell, values the different perspectives he interacts
with via CPB.
Deputy Chief Vince Monticello- Has been with IPD wince 1981, worked in all divisions,
also a commercial pilot and a search and rescue worker.
Acting Chief Dennis Nayor: Started with IPD last year, former Oneonta PD.
Mike Simons: New to Community Police Board, works as an administrator for ICSD,
been in Ithaca for many years.
Melody Faraday: Public Information Specialist for the city, staff support person for CPB.
REPORT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Acting Chief Nayor reported that “National Night Out” event went well, had a great turn
out despite iffy weather. They held a swearing in for Junior Officers, Ithaca Housing
Authority helped a lot with staffing the event.
IPD also started “Cool off with the Cops” campaign, handing out ice cream and
popsicles to folks at various locations, will try for another couple of rounds. IPD also did
“Cops on Top” for Special Olympics.
Nayor relayed that IPD is trying to focus energy on a balance of patrol and other
trainings.
Incidents were shared, including someone being shot with a flare gun, a double
overdose at West Village, some robberies.
IPD has been holding and attending various m eetings about issues with the Jungle.
Deputy Chief Monitcello shared that staffing is a growing concern, with 7 officer
vacancies and 1 Chief vacancy. The staffing event in the Fall saw fewer applicants than
previous years.
Nayor stated that he is working with the clerk’s office on making improvements to the
IPD page on the city’s website.
Compliments and thanks were shared, including those received for the “Cool Off with
the Cops” campaign; participation with Officer/ Victim services; partnering with “Pledge
for Ithaca” battling sexual crimes and sexual violence; Tompkins County Director of
Probation wrote in thanks for IPD attending and assisting with probation operations;
Compliment on a de-escalation for a mentally ill individual.
The board and IPD had discussions about hiring processes and priorities, possible
areas to branch into for applicant searches.
REPORT FROM COUNCIL:
Council liaison Kerslick reported that Council is starting Special budget meetings,
beginning with Capital Projects, 13 million worth of project requests are being reviewed.
IPD requested some vehicles, some were recommended, some were not. Public Safety
Departments will be more thoroughly discussed on September 25th.
Also shared was an update on the Community Outreach Worker Program- They are in
the final stages of hiring an additional person for that program. Graham will send the
latest quarterly report for the program. A discussion about homelessness and the
Jungle ensued.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
On a motion, the group entered executive session to discuss 2019-2
No action was taken
On a motion, the group re-opened the meeting to discuss adding a new business item
to the September Agenda- complaint distribution process, policy, & procedure
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Melody Faraday, Public Information Specialist