Chambana Sun

The city of Urbana Civilian Police Review Board met April 27 to see Lt. Robert Fitzgerald of the Urbana Police Department review TASER displays and uses.

"The Urbana Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) is a city board, with subpoena power, established by Mayor Prussing and the Urbana City Council in 2011 to provide a fair and independent process for the review of citizen complaints concerning sworn police officers. The Board is not a part of the police department."

Here's the meeting's agenda, as provided by the city:

MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING

URBANA CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW BOARD

DATE: Wednesday, April 27, 2016

TIME: 5:30 p.m.

PLACE: Urbana City Council Chambers

Urbana City Building

400 South Vine Street

Urbana, Illinois 61801

MEMBERS PRESENT: Ricardo Díaz, Scott Dossett, Diane Gottheil, Megan McGinty, Grace

Mitchell

MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Tom Costello, Ivy Williams

STAFF PRESENT: Alex Bautista; Lt. Robert Fitzgerald

1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM

a. Chair Mitchell called this meeting of the Urbana Civilian Police Review Board to order at

5:30 p.m. Roll was taken. A quorum was present.

2. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA a. There were none.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. October 28, 2015 Draft Minutes

i. Revisions to the draft minutes of the October 28, 2015 meeting were proposed by Mr. Dossett. With regards to item 8b in said draft minutes, Mr. Dossett proposed that the draft minutes further reflect the request by Durl Kruse at the same meeting that the Board review all complaints, rather than only those complaints made formally and subject to the Board’s process. Mr. Dossett proposed the addition of the following language to item 8b: Mr. Dossett’s comments were made to caution the group about agreeing too hastily to Mr. Kruse’s request for a review of ALL complaints by citizens. In his (Mr. Dossett’s) memory, this is a complicated idea, which needs much work and which contains some areas of concern, as indicated by UPD, specifically the Chief. Discussion ensued. Chair Mitchell suggested that the Board discuss this matter in further detail at its next regular meeting.

Ms. Gottheil made a motion that the draft minutes of the October 28, 2015 meeting be approved as amended. Mr. Díaz seconded the motion. Chair Mitchell called for a voice vote. All were in favor. The motion carried unanimously.

b. January 27, 2016 Draft Minutes

i. Mr. Díaz made a motion that the draft minutes of the January 27, 2016 meeting

be approved as presented. Mr. Dossett seconded the motion. Chair Mitchell called for a voice vote. All were in favor. The motion carried unanimously.

4. STAFF REPORT

a. Mr. Bautista introduced intern and mentee Rexly Peñaflorida, who was in attendance of

this meeting as an audience member.

5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION a. There was none

6. OLD BUSINESS

a. There was none.

7. NEW BUSINESS

a. CPRB Review of Recent TASER Displays (Utilizations)

i. Lieutenant Robert Fitzgerald of the Urbana Police Department reviewed TASER displays/utilizations that had occurred since the previous meeting of the Board. The audiovisual recordings of each case were presented by Lt. Fitzgerald and discussion of each was undertaken. Comments and questions from the Board were addressed by Lt. Fitzgerald and Mr. Bautista.

Discussion of each case was undertaken by Mr. Díaz, Mr. Dossett, Chair Mitchell, Ms. McGinty and Ms. Gottheil individually. A general discussion followed. Mr. Dossett made a motion that the Board render no recommendation of changes (to current TASER policy) and that the Board voice its satisfaction with the information provided (by the Urbana Police Department). Ms. Gottheil seconded the motion. Chair Mitchell called for a voice vote. All were in favor. The motion carried unanimously.

b. Discussion: Order of Proceedings for Recommendations Following TASER Reviews i. Mr. Bautista introduced this agenda item and reviewed current TASER review

practices of the Board. Discussion followed. No official action was taken and no

changes to current review practices were made at this meeting. c. Discussion: CPRB Member Name Badges and CPRB Business Card

i. Mr. Bautista introduced this agenda item and requested approval from the Board to order name badges for each member. A mock-up of said name badges was reviewed by the Board. Mr. Bautista further requested approval from the Board to order a quantity of business cards for distribution at outreach events and/or to the community upon request. A mock-up of the business card’s layout and verbiage was reviewed by the Board. Mr. Dossett suggested that the Board review the verbiage of the business cards as presented on the mock-up.

Mr. Díaz made a motion that the Board approve the purchase of said business cards after revisions to the verbiage as presented in the mock-up had been made. Mr. Dossett seconded the motion. Discussion followed. Chair Mitchell called for a voice vote. All were in favor. The motion carried unanimously with the proviso that members of the Board have changes to the business card’s verbiage submitted to the Human Relations Office within ten days of this meeting.

8. ANNOUNCEMENTS

a. Mr. Bautista announced that both he and Ms. McGinty would be attending the Citizen’s

Police Academy in the near future.

b. Mr. Bautista made note of the C-U Fresh Start program and stated that he would forward to the Board the memorandum that had already been reviewed by City Council regarding the same.

c. Mr. Dossett suggested that the Board purchase a banner to be displayed at the table held by the Civilian Police Review Board at public events such as the Market at the Square. Mr. Dossett further urged the members of the Board to attend more events throughout the community. Discussion followed.

9. ADJOURNMENT

a. With no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Dossett made a motion that the

meeting be adjourned. Ms. Gottheil seconded the motion. Chair Mitchell called for a voice vote. All were in favor. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:52 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tony Weck Recording Secretary