The Coalition for Police Review is an alliance dedicated to the implementation of genuine and effective police review processes for all law enforcement agencies operating in Humboldt County. It includes Redwood Chapter ACLU, Civil Liberties Monitoring Project, Human Rights Commission, Waterfront Greens and many more.
Due to overwhelming public comment on the future of the police department, a public meeting will be held on April 29 at Mad River Grange at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the issue. The meeting is hosted by the Blue Lake City Council: 668-5655 for more information.
posted by Redwood ACLU @ 5:17 PM
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The Coalition for Police Review (CPR) will meet Wednesday May 14th at 5:30 p.m. at the Activist Resource Center (917 3rd Street) to explore methods of getting genuine, empowered police review processes implemented, by either the newly elected City Councils in Arcata, Eureka and Blue Lake, or by ballot initiatives in these respective cities. We are also interested in establishing review for county-level law enforcement agencies such as the Sheriff's Department and Probation Office.
posted by policereview @ 4:10 PM
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The Humboldt County Human Rights Commission is holding a Public Forum on the future of Police Review in Humboldt County on Thursday, April 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the Supervisors' Chamber of the Humboldt County Courthouse, 525 5th Street, Eureka. The forum will be moderated by the Humboldt County League of Women Voters and will feature time for public comment as well as presentations from law enforcement officals, police accountability experts and civil rights leaders both local and from across Northern California, including:
posted by Redwood ACLU @ 12:25 PM
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posted by Redwood ACLU @ 7:11 AM
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To this end, the Coalition for Police Review is now raising money to file police review initiatives in
Some might ask, why aren’t we trying to get the City Councilmembers in
While the City Council in
But that’s where CPR supporters are needed, and needed now. We need to raise the $200 filing fee for both the Arcata and the
posted by Redwood ACLU @ 11:44 AM
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posted by Redwood ACLU @ 11:49 AM
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The Humboldt County Human Rights Commission is sponsoring an Open Mic on Local Law Enforcement issues, to be held Tuesday, December 4th at 5:00 p.m. in the Supervisors' Chambers of the Humboldt County Courthouse. Presentations from the HRC, local law enforcement and the Redwood Chapter of the ACLU will be followed by open public comment for interested community members to voice their concerns.
posted by Redwood ACLU @ 10:50 AM
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Public Endorsements
posted by policereview @ 10:03 AM
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CPR members and supporters are encouraged to attend the next Eureka City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 21st at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd floor of Eureka City Hall.
posted by Redwood ACLU @ 1:06 AM
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February 27th, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker:
Ms. Attard earned her Masters Degree in Public Administration at the University of San Francisco. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Social Science from Humboldt State University in northern California.
Featured Speaker:
The CPR forum will be moderated by Christina Allbright and Greg Allen, and will include your questions for the speakers and a public dialogue on how best to achieve police review in our community.
posted by policereview @ 6:13 PM
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News Article by James Faulk
posted by policereview @ 6:01 PM
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CPR urges all supporters of Police Review in Arcata and Eureka to speak out as their new City Council representatives take their seats.
posted by policereview @ 6:30 PM
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200 gather at special council meeting
News Article by Chris Durant
10/31/06
Times-Standard
EUREKA -- Calls for a police review board accelerated Monday as about 200 jammed the City Council chambers and the hall outside during a special meeting where Police Chief Dave Douglas briefed the council about the shooting death of Christopher Burgess.
One week after Burgess, 16, was shot twice by Officer Terry Liles in a gully off the 2200 block of Chester Street, Mayor Peter LaVallee called the special session to “open up dialogue” in the community. However, no dialogue was allowed by LaVallee, even though more than 40 members of the public trooped to the microphone -- some angrily, some with sadness -- to share community trauma over the incident.
On several occasions, the audience applauded statements by speakers, and was admonished by LaVallee for doing so.
The emotional two-hour meeting came amid other developments:
* Over the weekend, two walls of Washington School had anti-police graffiti sprayed on them. The school, across the street from where the shooting occurred, was locked down during the incident. One person, who did not want to give a name, said the paint said, “EPD = teror.” Lee Ann Lanning, the school's principal, said the vandalism happened sometime between Saturday afternoon and early Sunday, and was painted over Sunday morning.
* Eureka City Councilmember Virginia Bass, a candidate for mayor in the Nov. 7 election, announced that she plans on hosting a public forum on “use of force” policies of the Eureka Police Department. A date and time for the forum will be scheduled after Bass talks with law enforcement and community members.
Douglas began his report by asking people to pray for everyone involved. “The prayers, the thoughts and the support hurt none of us,” he said.
The chief said the investigation will take time and some evidence may not come to light for days, weeks and in some cases months. He also pleaded with the public to help find three witnesses, Charles Ray Nelson, Allen Chambers and Janice Chambers, whom investigators are looking for.
He said the Critical Incident Response Team investigating the incident is “pleased with the rapid progress.”
The only new information Douglas provided in the report was that during the confrontation with Liles in the gully, Burgess said, “I don't want to go,” and then moved toward the officer as if he were going to stab him.
”The distance went from 6 feet to 4 feet,” Douglas said.
About halfway through his report, Douglas turned his attention from talking to the council, to talking to the crowd. He also defended his officer.
”It is not necessary for an officer to be shot or stabbed before they defend themselves,” Douglas said.
He also pleaded with the community to refrain from rumors and speculation.
Margorie Burgess, Burgess' mother, was the second to speak. “I'm scared for the children in this county,” she said.
She talked about her decision to call authorities when Burgess was younger and she was having trouble with him.
”This is what happened because I didn't know how to do it right,” Margorie Burgess said. “And I called for help.”
Some speakers defended the police at the same time they criticized them.
”We do have a lot of fine police officers in this town,” one speaker said. “It's a tragedy, in my opinion. What happened to Christopher was cold-blooded murder and reeks of cover-up.”
Some echoed Douglas' calls for not taking part in speculation and rumors. One speaker said the “system” sets police up for failure.
”It takes six months to become a police officer,” the speaker said, “when it takes four to six years to be a lawyer.”
He also said police targets for shooting practice only have the heads and the torso.
But a reoccurring topic among a lot of speakers was the need for a police review board.
”I wish we had a review board,” said Christina Allbright. “I wish that we had a review board last year. I wish we had a review board 10 years ago.”
”I don't believe that the fox should investigate why the hen house got raided,” another speaker said. “That invites corruption.”
Another speaker talked of his efforts in the past to get a police review board. “I'm here six months later, I hope I'm not here six months from now,” the speaker said.
Some demanded Liles be fired and prosecuted. “No more paid vacations for killer cops,” one speaker said. Another added: “I think he should be tried as a murderer.”
One man, who said he's worked with children and teens in trouble, called for police to have more options when dealing with a similar situation.
”I've had a knife pulled on me, I've had baseball bats pulled on me, and those kids aren't dead,” the man said. “From what I understand, there was no crisis until police created it.”
posted by policereview @ 8:30 PM
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Thursday, October 26, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Attention: For Immediate Release
CPR Supports Family's Call For Independent Review of EPD
The Coalition for Police Review (CPR) at their meeting on Thursday expressed their condolences to the family of Christopher Burgess, who was slain by an officer of the Eureka Police Department three days prior, and called for the implementation of changed standards and the immediate creation of a Police Review Commission for
CPR is holding a press conference in coordination with the Burgess family at Noon on Friday, October 27 on the steps of the
“We encourage the Eureka City Council, and in fact all local governments in Humboldt County, to quit stalling and get real, independent police review commissions in place for all regional law enforcement agencies,” CPR member Christina Allbright said. “It’s important that this issue be addressed by the candidates for Arcata,
CPR approached government officials in
“We’re encouraged by the support expressed for police review by Eureka Mayor Peter LaVallee and from Arcata City Council candidates Michael Winkler and Jeffrey Schwartz, and we’d like to see all the candidates come out with their real views on this subject so vital to public safety,” CPR member Tracy Herrin said. “We reject out of hand the notion that internal affairs alone can conduct an independent investigation of themselves. We don’t believe a committee of retired officers provides a standard of impartiality required for an independent review of their former colleagues. Logically speaking, even law enforcement agencies should see the benefit of civilian review.”
In addition to these needed commissions, CPR will also detail proposals to improve training standards at the police academy, including sensitivity training, as well as to implement more specific and restrained “use of force” standards for EPD along with greater openness to community concerns.
“Officers aren't above the law and officers should be prosecuted if they've committed criminal acts,” Allbright said. “No public servant should have some special immunity from the law, and perhaps the department needs to look at their policy of placing people on leave regarding such incidents.”
Pictures of the injuries sustained in a previous encounter between Christopher Burgess and the EPD officer in question will be made available at the press conference, according to Margorie ‘Marty’ Burgess, the mother of the slain boy.
“The officer had no right to kill my son,” Marty Burgess said. “I don’t want to see this happen to any other teenagers in this situation.”
Members of the public and local organizations are encouraged to make public their endorsement of police review by signing the on-line petition at policereview.blogspot.com. Citizens will also have the opportunity to make their endorsement known with written petitions, which will be available at the special Eureka City Council meeting on Monday, October 30 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall.
For more information, contact the Coalition for Police Review at 215-5385 or visit policereview.blogspot.com. All CPR meetings are open to members of the public, with the next one scheduled for Wednesday, November 1 at 6:00 p.m. at their joint office with the Redwood Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is located at 917 Third Street, Suite Q in Eureka.
posted by policereview @ 6:00 PM
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| Can police review commission work here? |
| Editorial 5/19/2006 Times-Standard |
Proponents are circulating the idea of a police review commission. While it's too soon to make a final determination, serious consideration should be given to whether the idea has merit. There had been calls for such a commission before the tragic shooting of Cheri Lyn Moore last month. But the shooting -- in which Moore, wielding a flare gun, was killed by a SWAT team -- has added to the urgency of open and full discussions on the possibility. The Coalition for Police Review is proposing the formation of a police review commission in Eureka to investigate complaints made against the police department, review policies and procedures, make determinations about complaints and report to the City Council. South of us, the Berkeley Police Review Commission investigates complaints of misconduct against Berkeley police officers. The nine commissioners live in Berkeley and are appointed by the City Council. In Portland, Ore., the Independent Police Review Division and the nine-member Citizen Review Committee were created to help improve police accountability, promote higher standards of police services and increase public confidence. In Pittsburgh, the Citizen Police Review Board is an independent agency set up to investigate citizen complaints about improper police conduct. It is made up of seven unpaid board members appointed by the City Council and mayor. Citizen involvement of this sort can be a good way to ensure checks and balances, transparency and accountability. Discussions should continue on whether the idea would work for Eureka. |
posted by policereview @ 8:00 AM
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The Eye's divisive, disrespectful disinformation campaign
4/25/2006
Arcata Eye
The suppositions printed by your publication from Michael Smith are completely baseless and reveal the further unawareness of someone who never attended a CPR function. We also object to the lack of opportunity for us to rebut him, unlike the sneak preview you gave Michael Smith to the statement from Greg Allen, in complete contradiction of any semblance of fair play.
We can only express the greatest offense at the use of our names, both of which were even misspelled, by Michael Smith to advance his agenda to destroy Greg Allen and disrupt the work of CPR. We are not interested in being misused and we are certainly unwilling to be cast in a false light to perpetuate a hateful mythology which the Arcata Eye seems eager to adopt as gospel.
The real truth is we wouldn’t be where we are today, with initiatives filed, published and going into circulation in Arcata and
We do not operate on the basis of tearing each other down to grab power. CPR works together as a collective of members from the Green Party, the ACLU, the Human Rights Commission and the Civil Liberties Monitoring Project. We know that our strength is found in the unity we share, based on the values implicit to police review: Accountability, responsibility, transparency, democracy. These are the values we have observed practiced by every member of CPR, including Greg Allen.
Four days passed since the brutal slaying of Cheri Moore but the time of mourning was brief indeed for these consistent critics of citizen oversight. Apparently no sense of urgency or humanity has entered into their calculations as they are content to tear down Greg Allen and police review, even if it means we wait years more, if ever, to actually do something real and lasting to make sure her death was not in vain. Do Michael Smith and the Arcata Eye truly feel no shame?
Xandra Manns
Eureka
Christina Allbright
posted by policereview @ 9:00 AM
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| Animal control could have done a better job |
Letter to the Editor 4/22/2006 Eureka Reporter |
| A couple of things came to mind when I heard about the shooting of Cheri Moore. First, why wasn’t tear gas or some other non-lethal weapon used? We treat rabid animals better than we treated this poor woman. A park ranger can drop a bear with a tranquilizer dart, yet in our progressive society we treated the poorest and sickest worse then we treat animals. Beside the fact that if Cheri came from a family with money she would have been treated differently, as I’ve seen in the past, old boys with guns don’t even get charges pressed by the EPD. On top of all that, it was Good Friday right before Easter, the same day an ancient SWAT team killed another person whom that society proclaimed a mentally ill homeless man. As Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew. 25:40 We need a citizens’ police review board. Eric Heimstadt Eureka |
posted by policereview @ 9:00 AM
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Poster Children for Police Review
College kids on bikes bring out the immaturity of the EPD and its misguided courtship of the CHP
Editorial
11/04/2005
Humboldt Sentinel
| The apparent mishandling of the ‘security’ for this week’s anti-war protests in Arcata and Eureka was no accident. Protestors were clearly doing a better job of regulating their own free expression than peace officers were, especially with the unnecessary roadblocks, overdeployment and use of inappropriate levels of force. Somehow it’s difficult to imagine police handing out so many jaywalking tickets at a comparably-sized pro-war demonstration. |
Clearly a group of 40 or so bicyclists mostly consisting of Humboldt State students looking to express their independence from oil dependency and its consequent affects on national security presented such a threat to the Eureka Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and federal authorities as to engender scenes reminiscent of Seattle’s crackdown on dissent in 1999 during the World Trade Organization conference.
A safe corridor for forms of transportation outside the automobile still doesn’t exist between Arcata and Eureka. We hope even apologists for such conduct will agree with the need for viable alternatives such as a restored rail-and-trail route.
Federal representatives must be held accountable for their response to these incidents, especially given the constant concessions of supposedly progressive Democrats like Congressman Thomspon and Senator Feinstein, for taxpayer dollars were surely wasted that day in protecting the ‘homeland’ from its own. Likewise, our voices in Sacramento may be considered by many lame ducks, but this shouldn’t block a fair assessment of concerns regarding the behavior of state troopers.
It is locally where this controversy will have the most lasting impact in providing poster children for implementing police review. Whether the Critical Mass participants or the police will end up looking the most mature will depend on how much distortion of these events the public is willing to accept from their government and media. At least in Eureka, false arguments regarding the impossibility of general law cities creating such boards are mute in this unique example of charter government in Humboldt County.
The Humboldt Sentinel stands behind civilian control of the armed forces, whether in regards to our military, state troopers or local peacekeepers. Police review is clearly overdue in Humboldt County.
posted by policereview @ 12:00 PM
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POLICE REVIEW MISSION STATEMENT
posted by policereview @ 8:15 PM
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The people of the City of Arcata do ordain as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as “The Arcata Police Review Act of 2006.” This Act may also be cited as the “Act.”
SECTION 2. Findings and Declarations.
The people of the City of Arcata find and declare the following:
(A) The people of the State of California are protected in their inalienable rights by the provisions of the Constitutions of the United States and the State of California.
(B) The people of the City of Arcata reserve to themselves the right to set and review Police Department policies, practices and procedures and to provide a means for prompt, impartial and fair investigation of complaints brought by individuals against the Arcata Police Department.
(C) The Public Safety Element, codified in Chapter 6 of Arcata General Plan 2020, created the requirement concerning the establishment of a police review commission to provide a means for independent, prompt, and impartial investigation and mediation of complaints brought against the Arcata Police Department, and to set and review law enforcement policies, practices, and procedures.
(D) To date, the Arcata City Council has taken no action to implement the provisions of Policy PS-7d of the Arcata General Plan 2020.
(E) A Police Review Commission will facilitate improved communication and cooperation between the people of the City of Arcata and the Arcata Police Department.
(F) The people of the State of California reserve to themselves the right to enact municipal ordinances by direct affirmative vote in a regular or special election under, and within Division 9, Chapter 3 of the Elections Code.
SECTION 3. Purpose and Intent.
The people of the City of Arcata hereby enact “The Arcata Police Review Act of 2006” to provide for the establishment, powers, duties, composition and procedures of a Police Review Commission, to provide for community participation in reviewing Police Department policies, practices and procedures and to provide a means for prompt, impartial and fair investigation of complaints brought by individuals against the Arcata Police Department.
SECTION 4. Article 15 is added to Title II, Chapter 3 of the Arcata Municipal Code to read:
ARTICLE 15 POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION
SEC. 2270. Purpose.
The general purpose of this article is to provide for community participation in setting and reviewing Police Department policies, practices and procedures and to provide a means for prompt, impartial and fair investigation of complaints brought by individuals against the Arcata Police Department.
SEC. 2271. Establishment. Number of members. Appointment procedure.
There is established a Police Review Commission of the City of Arcata. Said commission shall consist of seven (7) members. Four (4) members shall be determined by lot from the group of applicants who are part of at least one of the following constituencies: Low income, racial minority, sexual minority, college student, disabled. Council shall then appoint three (3) additional at-large members to the commission, attempting to include any unrepresented constituencies. All members shall be residents of the City of Arcata. No officer or employee of the City shall be appointed to the commission. No former police officer serving in the Arcata Police Department shall be appointed to the commission.
SEC. 2272. Term of Office. Term Limitation. Filling of Vacancies.
The term of each member shall be two years commencing on January 1 of each odd numbered year and ending on December 31 of each succeeding even numbered year. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms. Any vacancy occurring during the term of any member shall be filled by an appointment by the Council.
SEC. 2273. Appointment Terminated Automatically When. Temporary Vacancies. Procedures. Removal.
The appointment of any member of the commission who has been absent and not excused from three consecutive regular or special meetings shall automatically expired effective on the date the fact of such absence is reported by the commission to the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall notify any member whose appointment has automatically terminated and report to the City Council that a vacancy exists on the commission and that an appointment should be made for the length of the unexpired term. A member of the commission may be granted a leave of absence not to exceed three months, and a temporary vacancy shall thereupon exist for the period of such leave of absence. During the period of such temporary vacancy, the Council may fill such a vacancy by a temporary appointment to said commission; provided, however, that the period of such temporary appointment shall not exceed the period of the temporary vacancy. At the expiration of a leave of absence so granted, the member shall automatically resume full and permanent membership on said commission. Any member of the commission may be removed by a unanimous vote of the Council.
SEC. 2274. Officers. Succession of Officers.
The commission shall elect one of its members as Chairperson and one as Vice-Chairperson, who shall each hold office for one year and until their successors are elected. No officer shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself in the same office. Officers shall be elected no later than the second meeting of the commission following its appointment.
SEC. 2275. Secretary.
The City Manager or his/her designee shall serve as the Secretary to the Police Review Commission. The Secretary shall not be a member of the Police Review Commission.
SEC. 2276. Meetings.
A. The commission shall establish a regular time and place of meeting and shall meet regularly at least once every month or more frequently as workload requires. The regular place of meeting shall be in an appropriate central location in the City capable of accommodating at least fifty people, but shall not be held in the building in which the Police Department is located. At least once every three months, or more frequently if the commission desires, the commission may meet in other places and locations throughout the City for the purpose of encouraging interest and facilitating attendance by people in the various neighborhoods in the City at the meetings.
B. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or by two members of the commission, upon personal notice being given to all members or written notice being mailed to each member and received at least thirty-six hours prior to such meetings, unless such notice is waived in writing.
C. All commission meetings, and agendas for such meetings, shall be publicized in advance by notice given to newspapers, radio and television stations and Internet sites serving the City as are designated by the commission at least three days prior to regular meetings, and at the same time as members are notified of special meetings. In addition, notice of meetings shall be posted regularly on such bulletin boards and at such locations throughout the City as are designated by the commission.
D. All meetings shall be open to the public, unless the commission, in order to protect the rights and privacy of individuals, decides otherwise and if such closed meeting is not waived by the individual concerned. The commission shall cause to be kept a proper record of its proceedings. The records and files of the commission and its officers shall include, but not be limited to, all official correspondence, or copies thereof, to and from the commission and its members, gathered in their official capacities, and shall be kept and open for inspection by the public at reasonable times in the office of the secretary to the commission.
E. A majority of the appointed commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the affirmative vote of a majority of those present is required to take any action.
F. The commission may appoint such subcommittees as are deemed necessary or desirable for the purposes of this chapter, provided, that membership on such subcommittees shall not be limited to the commission members but may include members of the public who express an interest in the business of the subcommittees. The members of such subcommittees shall serve without compensation.
SEC. 2277. Special Meetings – Petition Requirements.
On the petition of twenty or more citizens in the City, filed in the office of the secretary of the commission, the commission shall hold a special meeting in an appropriate and convenient location for the individuals so petitioning for the purpose of responding to the petition and hearing and inquiring into matters identified therein as the concern of the petitioners. Copies of the petition shall be filed by the commission with the City Clerk and the City Council. Notice of such meeting shall be given in the same manner as notice is given for other meetings of the commission. In no case shall the commission meet later than five working days following the date the petition is filed.
SEC. 2278. Powers and Duties.
The commission established by this chapter shall have the following powers and duties:
A. To advise and make recommendations to the public, the City Council, and the City Manager;
B. To review and make recommendations concerning all written and unwritten policies, practices and procedures of whatever kind and without limitation, in relation to the Arcata Police Department, other law enforcement agencies and intelligence and military agencies operating within the City, and law enforcement generally, such review and recommendation to extend to, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Treatment of rape victims,
2. Police relationship with minority, disabled and low income communities,
3. Police relationship with college students,
4. Use of weapons and equipment, including chemical agents,
5. Use of tactics,
6. Hiring and training,
7. Sanctions,
8. Priorities for policing and patrolling,
9. Other concerns as specified from time to time by the City Council;
C. To receive complaints directed against the Police Department and any of its officers and employees, and fully and completely investigate said complaints and make such recommendations and give such advice relating to departmental policies and procedures to the City Council and the City Manager in connection therewith as the commission in its discretion deems advisable; provided as follows:
1. That investigation of all complaints filed with the commission shall begin immediately after complaints are filed and proceed as expeditiously as possible,
2. That all such complaints filed with other offices, boards, bureaus and departments of the City, including the Police Department, shall be referred to the commission for investigation,
3. That regular quarterly reports relating to the number, kind and status of all such complaints shall be made by the commission to the public, the City Council, and the City Manager;
D. To the extent permissible by law, to exercise the power of subpoena;
E. To adopt rules and regulations and develop such procedures for its own activities and investigations as may be necessary and to publish and file same with the office of the City Clerk, and to do such other things not forbidden by law which are consistent with a broad interpretation of the ordinance codified in this chapter and its general purposes; and
F. To take testimony under oath.
SECTION 5. Inconsistent Legislation.
In the event that between March 8, 2006 and the effective date of this measure, legislation is enacted by the Arcata City Council or by the voters that is inconsistent with this Act, said legislation is void and repealed irrespective of the code in which it appears.
SECTION 6. Severability.
The provisions of this Act are severable. If any section or provision of this Act is determined to be illegal, invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision of the court shall not affect or invalidate any of the remaining sections or provisions of this Act. It is the express intent of the citizens of Arcata, California that this Act would have been adopted if such illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional section or provision had not been included.
SECTION 7. Effective Date.
This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2007.
posted by policereview @ 5:30 PM
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The Coalition for Police Review is an alliance dedicated to the implementation of genuine and effective police review processes for all law enforcement agencies operating in Humboldt County. It includes Redwood Chapter ACLU, Civil Liberties Monitoring Project, Human Rights Commission, Waterfront Greens and many more.
