HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PCR-1992-09-14 POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS TASK FORCE
CITY HALL,ITHACA,NY 14850
Approved minutes from the Steering Committee meeting held on September 14, 1992(4:15-5:30
pm).
Present: Coordinator Alvin Nelson,Mayor Ben Nichols,Laura Branca in place of Clay Hamilton,
Irene Stein, Sara Shenk,Marilyn Ray
Absent: prior notice-Amy Lewis,Clay Hamilton(sent substitute)
without notice- Rick Williams,Gerald Dumay,Jose Montanez,John Johnson,Drew
Martin,Chief McEwen
1. Minutes of the meeting of August 31, 1992 were amended slightly and approved as amended(with
only Laura Branca abstaining).
2. Marilyn Ray reported that the Subcommittee on the Community-Police Board met again with three
of the four board members. They will soon finalize their report.
a. Three issues remain. One minor one is to find a neutral name for the board. The second is to
institutionalize a way to insure that groups such as the gay/Lesbian community and young
African-American males have input into the board without actually reserving seats on it. The
third is the question of an investigator. There is some opposition to an investigator,but
perhaps there could be an assistant to the board.
b. Ben Nichols remarked in relation to point#2 about broader representation that there still
seemed to be a difference of opinion on increasing the board to seven members. Alvin Nelson
said he would not object to seven. Would it mean more groups being represented? Marilyn
Ray replied that there seems to be support for seven members and little opposition. The
argument for extra members is based primarily on workload. Irene Stein also agreed that there
is no opposition on the committee to seven members. This still leaves the question of how to
designate different interest groups without more and more groups arising and requesting
representation. Ray said this is why we will not designate seats. The Chiefs objection was
mostly to designating seats,not to seven members. How to insure that diversity will be
respected remains a problem.
c. Marilyn Ray said that the committee does plan to address workload and attendance on the
board.
d. The subcommittee will meet Wednesday,September 16th at 7:00 in the Second Floor
Conference Room.
3. Laura Branca reported in place of Clay Hamilton from the Training Subcommittee. Their draft
report has not changed since the August 20 draft.
a. The Training Subcommittee is asking for more time for the survey. They want to continue
until February 28, 1993—five more months. It was quickly agreed that staff support,namely
typing up minutes,copying and mailing them could be provided by the Mayor's Office. Alvin
Nelson asked who they would be responsible to. Laura Branca suggested that they could
report directly to Council or to the Mayor. Irene Stein suggested that the Steering Committee
could be revived for two more meeting. Alvin Nelson summarized that consensus that the
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subcommittee send minutes to the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee would
convene as needed. Ben Nichols added that the continuing Steering Committee could also
monitor implementation of the recommendations. That way the Chief and PBA will hear about
what is being proposed before it goes on to Council.
b. Laura Branca said that it was not clear that the Subcommittee was expected to alter its draft
report. They include a PBA member,Barry Langerlan,who put a lot of time into fine-tuning
the questionnaire on police training. They received no new information at the previous
Steering Committee meeting as to what could be the problem with the questionnaire. As for the
suggestion that they focus on one topic,all of their recommendations relate to training. With
regard to neighborhood policing,they are only working on the question of understanding
neighborhood policing—a training question. Some other group should be appointed to look
into the question of expanding neighborhood policing. Marilyn Ray pointed out that every
group had recommended expanded neighborhood policing,and the question was assigned to
the Community Involvement Subcommittee.
c. Ben Nichols said that the Training Subcommittee had suggested three things: 1) Educate
police officers. 2)Educate the community. 3) First hold a discussion of what the community
wants out of community policing.
d. Sara Shenk guessed that the Chief was upset at the suggestion of calling in outside experts
from other places. Our police will have to be involved in planning neighborhood policing.
Laura Branca pointed out that there has never been a public presentation to the Ithaca
community about what community policing is. The Chief probably knows enough about it,
but the community might be more convinced if several sources advocate it,not just the Chief.
It might also be good for police officers to hear from police officers who actually do it.
e. Branca said that the Training Subcommittee would have to touch base with the Chief before
revising recommendations,because it is not clear what objections he might still have.
f. The Training Subcommittee is not going to oversee neighborhood policing nor to deal with
questions of cost or scheduling,which are the Chiefs domain. A new group,including both
community and police members,might be created to deal with these questions. Sara Shenk
concurred: This is a police question,but a community group can offer support.
g. It the role of the Training Subcommittee to get community support for neighborhood
policing. Alvin Nelson pointed out that people's perception of the chief may stand in the way
of implementing his plans. So the argument will have to come from the one officer already in
the community. Kathy Gillern and perhaps some new black officers are the only ones the
Southside community will listen to. Branca added that people have misgivings about more
officers. They need to see that they will benefit from their presence.
h. Irene Stein pointed out that there will be a report from the Task Force to Council. The Training
Subcommittee could have the role of presenting the report to the community. Marilyn Ray
added that every subcommittee should do this.
i. Ben Nichols pointed out that it would be simple to call for a community forum with the Chief
on neighborhood policing and call for public comment. This suggestion does not come out
clearly in the draft report.
j. Marilyn Ray said that the Subcommittee should recommend that the Chief educate the Police
force,though it will be up to the Mayor to implement the recommendation.
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k. Nelson pointed out that the community itself needs to be supportive too. Ray said that maybe
four different community forums are needed to present the four subcommittee reports.
1. Ben Nichols asked what the order of events would be. First report to Council?
m. Irene Stein suggested deciding on each subcommittee separately. Maybe there is no need for
public meetings on jury selection. But there should be public meetings for the other three.
n. Laura Branca concluded that there would be two educational thrusts: 1) Police internal,and
2) Vis a vis the community, maybe with outside resources. Sara Shenk added that people can
also have input into things in the police domain,but the police have to do it themselves.
o. Marilyn Ray pointed out that III.2 in the Training Subcommittee draft report recommends
seeking out individuals to serve as liaisons with the Community Police Board and the IPD.
The Subcommittee on the Community Police Board is working on this, so the Training
Subcommittee does not have to. Branca replied that the issue is what would make community
liaisons credible. They need training,and that is why the recommendation is here. A
community survey would identify people willing to be liaisons or advocates.
Meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm.
Next meeting 9/21/92 at 4:15 in Second Floor Conference Room
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