HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-PCR-1992-09-28 POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS TASK FORCE
CITY HALL,ITHACA,NY 14850
Approved minutes from the Steering Committee meeting held on September 28, 1992 (4:25 -5:30
pm).
Present: Coordinator Alvin Nelson,Mayor Ben Nichols,Clay Hamilton,Irene Stein, Sara Shenk,
Marilyn Ray,Chief Harlin McEwen,Amy Lewis,John Johnson,Drew Martin
Absent: without notice-Rick Williams,Gerald Dumay,Jose Montanez
1. Minutes of the meeting of September 21, 1992 were amended to clarify agreed-on procedures and
approved as amended.
2. Alvin Nelson reintroduced discussion of the new name to be recommended for what is now the
Community Police Board.
a. The Steering Committee does not have to recommend the name that the subcommittee
recommends,but it does have to transmit the recommendation of the subcommittee.
b. Marilyn Ray recapped the arguments. The Police can't live with the name"Civilian Review
Board"even though it is well recognized elsewhere. The subcommittee heard from the
African-American community that the use of the word"Police"in the name was anathema;it
implied that the board was part of the police process and would have no independence. So the
subcommittee sought a name with neither element in it and suggested"Citizen's Commission
on Community Relations".
c. Chief McEwen said that the name is OK,but without the word police it makes no sense.
d. He added that the police are upset that only they have to have a review board. Others
mentioned that most departments report to boards. Clay Hamilton pointed out that the Miami
Board has all City employees under its charge. Mayor Nichols pointed out that the Ithaca
group was set up to deal with police.
e. Sara Shenk said that the subcommittee heard the argument against use of the word police from
one person. It is a leap to say that this person speaks for the whole community.
f. The Steering Committee came to a consensus to recommend the name"Citizens'Commission
on Police-Community Relations". Marilyn Ray dissented and Irene Stein abstained.
3. Amy Lewis thanked the Steering Committee for its understanding during her absences,presented
the report of the subcommittee on Police/Community Involvement,and asked for comments.
a. Mayor Nichols noted that the Introduction should say that the subcommittee was set up by the
Task Force to report to the Mayor and Common Council.
b. Under Recommendation#1 it was agreed to change the term "manpower"to "police officers".
c. Chief McEwen said he was disappointed that the group sees community policing as a walking
beat. It's more complex than that;it involves walking,driving,and doing social work. The
Steering Committee agreed that the term"Walk Beat"should be changed to"Community
Beat."
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d. Chief McEwen wondered why the Ride Along Program required a committee. Amy Lewis
explained it was so people wouldn't be afraid. The Chief emphasized that he controls who
participates. Amy explained that they need kids to recruit kids to participate,at least initially.
She also clarified that the Ride Along program is for adults and older teens,age 15 and up. It
is separate from the ride along component of the Police Efforts to Enhance Relations(PEER)
Program for younger children. Mention of a committee will be dropped from the
recommendation.
e. The PEER Program was separated from discussions of a mentoring program. It is for children
7 to 14.
f. Amy Lewis said that the Chief had introduced the "card collecting"idea. (A set of cards,
perhaps of the Cornell football team,is distributed to police officers. Children collect the
cards; to do this they have to approach and ask the officers for them.) The Chief said that he
had heard of the program in another city,but had not received information about it.
g. The Ride along under the PEER program is for kids 7-14 years old. The Chief said it would
be OK to take these younger children on a ride along,but he would only let one person at a
time go.
h. The idea of mentoring involving only police officers has been dropped.
i. Chief McEwen is concerned that we have narrowed the program too much. There are Asians
and others in downtown. Why just Southside residents? Amy replied that was because the
biggest problem is in Southside. The PEER program will be open to all kids. Clay Hamilton
suggested the wording "City residents,but particularly Southside residents."
j. Alvin Nelson was more concerned that the numbers of children wanting to participate would be
overwhelming. How to publicize it without getting an unmanageable number of participants
was discussed. Perhaps existing programs like Learning Web could recommend participants.
It could be a reward for good grades or perfect attendance. However,this might defeat the
purpose of bringing in the kids most in need of positive contacts with the police.
k. Amy Lewis will make the above minor revisions to the subcommittee report.
4. Clay Hamilton handed out the revised report of the Training Subcommittee dated September 24,
1992.
a. He had spoken with Drew Martin about the questionnaire and everything is set. The
questionnaire is to be produced this week and distributed next week. There were no significant
changes. Drew Martin had no comments.
b. Clay Hamilton pointed out that Phase I,Rec.#2 was new. The term"police commissioners"
will be changed to "citizen commissioners"and the term "grievance"to"complaint".
c. Chief McEwen complained that the subcommittee had missed the whole point about
neighborhood policing. The police will still have to make arrests and break up fights. That is
not their main occupation even now. It was agreed that the sentence in questions be changed to
read: "The reason our sub-committee sees neighborhood policing as appealing is because it
emphasizes developing crime prevention strategies and cooperative problem solving within
communities."
d. Phase H,Rec.#4 Clay Hamilton noted that if Neighborhood Policing is going to be expanded,
orientation would be needed not only for the police but also for the community.
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e. Under Phase III#2 reference to the Police-Community Board will be changed to"Citizens'
Commission on Police-Community Relations."
f. Clay Hamilton will make the final revisions and turn in the report to the Mayor's Office for
distribution.
5. The Steering Committee set its work schedule for the coming month.
a. Marilyn Ray,Amy Lewis,Clay Hamilton and Alvin Nelson will draft the cover letter for the
Steering Committee. Marilyn Ray will coordinate the work.
b. The Steering Committee will hold its final meeting on Monday,October 19 at 4:15 in the
Second Floor Conference Room of City Hall to discuss the text of the cover letter.
c. Any Steering Committee member who wishes to see a particular topic covered in the cover
letter should send paragraphs to Marilyn Ray.
Meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm.
Next meeting 10/19/92 at 4:15 in Second Floor Conference Room
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