HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 Community Police Board Annual ReportCommunity Police Board
Report of Activities and
Summary of Complaints and Commendations
April 1998 - January 1999
Office Activity: May 1998 to present
The Community Police Board office, located in GIAC, officially opened in May 1998.
Office hours are Monday and Thursday, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Following is a summary
of office activity since opening:
Incoming Phone Calls: Additional wiring work was necessary before we could use our
answering machine, and this was finally accomplished in October. Prior to that time
telephone access to the office was limited to office hours. Consequently the number of
recorded phone contacts at this time is small. It is expected that phone contact will
increase as the CPB implements plans for increased community outreach and now
that people can leave messages on the answering machine when the office is not
staffed.
■ 5 - phone calls from public regarding following:
■ Information on how to see a police report
■ Request for complaint form
■ Information on CPB and Board positions
■ Follow -up on complaint
Drop -Ins: Citizens have stopped by the office for information on specific areas of
concern as well as for general information:
■ 1 - How to respond to a traffic ticket if want to plead not - guilty
■ 2 - Get complaint form to file a complaint
■ 2 - Drop off complaint form
■ 4 - General questions about the CPB and "What's this office do ?"
■ 3 - GIAC staff stopping by to see office
■ 5 - Commissioners stopping by to say hello
■ 20 - People asking questions about other activities/ meetings at GIAC
■ 4 - Use phone to call for ride home
In- Office Meetings: The CPB office provides a comfortable and accessible location for
meetings between staff and Commissioners as well as meetings with complainants.
■ 12 - Meetings between staff, Commissioners and /or Council Liaison
■ 4 - Meetings with complainants
Outreach and Public Relations:
The Community Police Board celebrated the opening of its new office with an Open
House in June 1998. Approximately 40 people from the community attended the
event, which received coverage in the Ithaca Journal.
In August 1998 the Community Police Board participated in a Neighborhood Mixer
sponsored by the Tompkins County Human Services departments and held at their
El
new building on West State Street. The CPB set up an informational table, distributing
literature about the CPB and talking informally with community members.
The Community Police Board holds regular monthly meetings on the fourth Thursday
of each month at 3:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room at City Hall. Meetings
are publicized in the Ithaca Journal and are open to the public. Other articles and
announcements are periodically placed in the Ithaca Journal.
Plans for 1999 include monthly publication in the Ithaca Journal listing
commendations of police officers; participation in other community events similar to
last August's neighborhood mixer, and holding public forums about the Community
Police Board and other areas of relevance to community/ police relations.
Summary of Complaints and Findings
One important function of the Community Police Board is listening to community
concerns and investigating citizen complaints against police officers. In this capacity,
the Board acts as an objective "ear" for the community and as a liaison between the
community and Police Department. The table below summarizes the formal complaints
filed with the Community Police Board for 1997 and through September 30, 1998.
Complaints have ranged from procedural questions to allegations of rudeness and
insensitivity, improper conduct, disagreement with police action, and harassment and
brutality.
While such allegations are serious, it is important to note that following Community
Police Board investigation, it has been decided that not all of these allegations are
founded. On the other hand, it is important that citizens know they have a place to
turn when they have a concern or complaint with the Police. Certainly some citizens
go directly to the Police Department to make their complaint and look for resolution.
But many citizens are more comfortable going to a neutral location and having their
complaint investigated by someone who is seen as more objective. Moving the
Community Police Board operations out of the Police Department and into our own
office at a community center was a crucial move for just this reason. The statistics
bear this out.
In the first four months of 1998, prior to opening the GIAC -based office, the Community Police Board
received three complaints, one of which was withdrawn by the complainant. In the subsequent eight
months of the office's operation, an additional nine complaints were received. Seven of these are still
under investigation; one was discovered to be unfounded; one was split with one of the complainant's
concerns discovered to be unfounded and a second founded; two were discovered to be founded; and one
was withdrawn by the complainant due to fear of retaliation. This clearly indicates a greater comfort level
in the community for taking a complaint against the Police to a location other than the Police Department.
Total
Complaints
Currently
O en
Founded
Unfounded
Withdrew
Other
Disposition
1998 Total
16
7
2.5*
2.5*
2
1, Dismissed, Not
1/1- 4/30/98
3
0
0
1
1
filed in timely fashion
5/1- 9/30/98
9
7
2.5
1.5
1
1, Referred to Chief
1997 Total
11
0
4
2
3
to discuss with officer
1, Memo to officers
by acting Chief
3
*One complaint received in 1998 had two components. The Community Police Board
found that one of these was founded while the other was not; consequently the .5
added to Founded and .5 added to Unfounded in the table above.
Incident Clarifications Handled by IPD
In order to better track all complaints and issues brought by the community regarding
the IPD, the Community Police Board asked Chief Basile to institute a tracking system
of incidents handled internally by the department. The Chief developed an "Incident
Clarification Sheet" to be used by himself, the Deputy Chief, and supervisors to keep
the requested statistics. Implementation will begin in January 1999.
Commendations and Recognition of Officers
The Community Police Board also tracks letters of recognition for police action
received by the public as well as commendations issued by the Chief. Unfortunately,
prior to the opening of our office in May, we did not keep records of these letters and
commendations, and the Chief's office does not have summary information. Therefore,
statistics are presented here only for April through December 1998.
From April through December 1998, 28 letters were received by Chief Basile from the
public, human service and community organizations, businesses, city and county
prosecutors, and other law enforcement departments. Letters thanked the IPD, and in
particular specific officers, for their help and service. In addition, two internal memos
were issued recognizing officers for exemplary work. Comments ranged from noting
officers' professionalism, kindness and understanding, efficiency, communication
skills, support and suggestions, courage, ability to handle potentially dangerous
situations, maintaining safety of all involved, aggressive and outstanding police work,
excellent people skills, quick response, service above and beyond the call of duty,
respect, sensitivity and attention to victims, good judgement, follow- through,
thoroughness, negotiating skills, teamwork, and effective presentation in a training
session. The Community Police Board appreciates the hard work and efforts of our
police department, and wishes to recognize officers who do laudable work. Letters will
be sent to all officers who have been recognized by letters and commendations
received, and beginning in 1999, monthly reports of such action will be sent to the
Ithaca Journal. Following is a summary of letters received to date.
■ 4 - Letters from individual citizens
■ 1 - Letter from business (K -Mart)
■ 1 - Letter from community organization (Coalition for Community Unity)
■ 17 - Letters from human/social service agencies (Mental Health (15), EOC,
Challenge Industries)
■ 5 - Letters from other law enforcement departments (NY State Police, PA State
Police, Cayuga Heights Police, Ithaca City Prosecutor, Tompkins County District
Attorney)
pi
x P< O
O
m
O
o�
x
CA rn
oZ
�d
d
%00
00 to
z"
d °x
r (/i
O
%O
r�
N
O
O
O
H
O
1
x
H
b
O
A
w
O
�l
00
�O
O
..
x 0
O
W
O►
46
�a
N
O
A
O
O
N
O
C�J
d
N
N
cn
O
U1
W
d
0
x
W
W
cn
W
cn
r
O
0
ry
d
A
G
x
4 CCj A
O
O
O
O
ca
Cy O
x
ty
O
O
O
O
z
d
ty
W
cn
W
46
H
�x
O
O
N
O
r G x
t7
r
r
r
N
r
00
N
N
pi
x P< O
O
m
O
o�
x
CA rn
oZ
�d
d
%00
00 to
z"
d °x
r (/i
O
%O
r�
N
O
O
O
H
O
1
x
H
b
O
A
w
O
Community Police Board
Report of Activities and Summary of Complaints
October 21, 1998
The Community Police Board hired Deborah Clover as staff in April, 1998, officially opened our new
office in the GIAC building in May, and celebrated with an Open House in June. Approximately 40
people from the community attended that event, including a photographer from the Ithaca Journal. A
photo and announcement of the office opening was published shortly afterwards in the Journal.
Our efforts to date have largely revolved around establishing the new office, reviewing policies and
procedures, updating information, and producing a new brochure. Great effort was put into painting,
decorating and setting up the office to make it both professional and comfortable, a place that would feel
welcoming for community members. Besides regular staffed office hours on Tuesday and Thursday from
5:00 -8:00 p.m. (now changed to Monday and Thursday), the office is used at other times for meetings
between staff, commissioners, and council liaison, as well as meetings with complainants. Commissioners
periodically drop in to say hello, and several community members who are in the GIAC building for other
purposes have stopped by to ask more about what the Community Police Board is and does.
In August we set up an information table at the Neighborhood Mixer sponsored by the Tompkins County
Human Service departments and held at their new building on West State Street. The event was well
attended, and our participation allowed us to talk informally with people who stopped at our table and
greatly increased our visibility in the community. We are planning to participate in other similar
community events in the future.
Our new brochure went through several drafts and revisions, but was completed in time for the
Neighborhood Mixer. We're now in the process of distributing it more widely around the community.
The Community Police Board holds regular monthly meetings on the fourth Thursday of each month at
3:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room at City Hall. Meetings are publicized in the Ithaca Journal
and are open to the public.
Summary of Complaints and Findings, 1997 -1998
One important function of the Community Police Board is listening to community concerns and
investigating citizen complaints against police officers. In this capacity, the Board acts as an objective
"ear" for the community and as a liaison between the community and Police Department. The table below
summarizes the formal complaints filed with the Community Police Board for 1997 and through
September 30, 1998. Complaints have ranged from procedural questions to allegations of rudeness and
insensitivity, improper conduct, disagreement with police action, and harassment and brutality.
While such allegations are serious, it is important to note that following Community Police Board
investigation, it has been decided that not all of these allegations are founded. On the other hand, it is
important that citizens know they have a place to turn when they have a concern or complaint with the
Police. Certainly some citizens go directly to the Police Department to make their complaint and look for
resolution. But many citizens are more comfortable going to a neutral location and having their complaint
investigated by someone who is seen as more objective. Moving the Community Police Board operations
out of the Police Department and into our own office at a community center was a crucial move for just
this reason. The statistics bear this out.
In the first four months of 1998, prior to opening the GIAC -based office, the Community Police Board
received three complaints, one of which was withdrawn by the complainant. In the first five months of the
office's operation, seven complaints were received. Most of these are still under investigation, one was
discovered to be unfounded, and one was withdrawn by the complainant due to fear of retaliation. This
clearly indicates a greater comfort level in the community for taking a complaint against the Police to a
location other than the Police Department.
Our first months of operation have not been all smooth sailing. With limited office hours, we rely on
having an answering machine to keep us fully accessible to the community. However, we've had
problems in compatibility between our answering machine and telephone, and have discovered that All
Mode needs to come back to the office to do some additional wiring to make the equipment work
together. Because of this problem, we have no way of knowing how many community members have
tried to contact our office when it is not staffed. The needed wiring work is scheduled for the week of
October 19, and we hope to finally have this problem resolved at that time. We will then be fully
operational.
Reviewing our activities and accomplishments to date, the Community Police Board believes we have
made good progress. Looking forward to 1999, we plan to focus on increased community outreach, public
visibility and awareness, and further refining general operating procedures, all of which are now possible
with an office and staffperson.
21 Oct 98
Total
Complaints
Currently
O en
Founded
Unfounded
Withdrew
Other
Disposition
1998 Total
10
5
0
2
2
1, Dismissed, Not
1/1- 4/30/98
3
0
0
1
1
filed in timely fashion
5/1- 9/30/98
7
5
0
1
1
1, Referred to Chief
1997 Total
11
0
4
2
3
to discuss with officer
1, Memo to officers
hy actin Chief
Our first months of operation have not been all smooth sailing. With limited office hours, we rely on
having an answering machine to keep us fully accessible to the community. However, we've had
problems in compatibility between our answering machine and telephone, and have discovered that All
Mode needs to come back to the office to do some additional wiring to make the equipment work
together. Because of this problem, we have no way of knowing how many community members have
tried to contact our office when it is not staffed. The needed wiring work is scheduled for the week of
October 19, and we hope to finally have this problem resolved at that time. We will then be fully
operational.
Reviewing our activities and accomplishments to date, the Community Police Board believes we have
made good progress. Looking forward to 1999, we plan to focus on increased community outreach, public
visibility and awareness, and further refining general operating procedures, all of which are now possible
with an office and staffperson.
21 Oct 98
Community Police Board
Report of Activities and Summary of Complaints
December 31, 1998
Complaints
*One complaint received in 1998 had two components. The Community Police Board
found that one of these was founded while the other was not; consequently the .5
added to Founded and .5 added to Unfounded in the table above.
Incident Clarifications Handled by IPD
In order to better track all complaints and issues brought by the community regarding
the IPD, the Community Police Board asked Chief Basile to institute a tracking system
of incidents handled internally by the department. The Chief developed an "Incident
Clarification Sheet" to be used by himself, the Deputy Chief, and
to keep the requested statistics. Implementation will begin in January 1999.
Commendations and Recognition of Officers
Total
Complaints
Currently
O en
Founded
Unfounded
Withdrew
Other
Disposition
1998 Total
16
7
2.5*
2.5*
2
1, Dismissed, Not
1 /1- 4/30/98
3
0
0
1
1
filed in timely fashion
5/1- 9/30/98
9
7
2.5
1.5
1
1, Referred to Chief
1997 Total
11
0
4
2
3
to discuss with officer
1, Memo to officers
by acting Chief
*One complaint received in 1998 had two components. The Community Police Board
found that one of these was founded while the other was not; consequently the .5
added to Founded and .5 added to Unfounded in the table above.
Incident Clarifications Handled by IPD
In order to better track all complaints and issues brought by the community regarding
the IPD, the Community Police Board asked Chief Basile to institute a tracking system
of incidents handled internally by the department. The Chief developed an "Incident
Clarification Sheet" to be used by himself, the Deputy Chief, and
to keep the requested statistics. Implementation will begin in January 1999.
Commendations and Recognition of Officers