PRESS RELEASE: CPR Praises SWAT Dissolution, Calls For Greater Disclosure Regarding Public Safety Committee

Monday, November 19, 2007

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

CPR Praises SWAT Dissolution, Calls For Greater Disclosure Regarding Public Safety Committee

At their regular monthly gathering, the Coalition for Police Review took the opportunity to both praise recent moves by Eureka'’s new Police Chief, Garr Nielsen, as well as taking his bosses in City Hall to task over the lack of public disclosure as to whether the proposed Eureka Public Safety Committee will include the review functions previously promised to CPR spokespersons
over a year ago.

"“It’'s certainly a welcome move on the part of Nielsen to dispense with the SWAT Team in favor of more community-oriented approaches to local police work,”" said CPR Spokesperson Christina Allbright. "“Nationwide, SWAT Teams have again and again resulted in the needless escalation in levels of police violence, and considering the recent record of police-related deaths in Eureka, this is a well-timed decision on the part of the Eureka Police Department.”"

CPR also praised Nielsen’'s revision of the cover letter given to members of the public who express interest in filing a complaint against an EPD officers' conduct, with the threat of prosecution against “false reports” now replaced with additional resources which citizens can turn to if they are dissatisfied with the department’s response to their report. Additionally, CPR now provides complaint forms on the CPR website at coalitionforpolicereview.info to alleviate the concerns and fears some members of the public have expressed with obtaining and/or completing complaint forms at the EPD headquarters.

"“We'’ve received numerous reports of local residents who not only felt intimidated from filing a complaint in the first place, but also from those who didn'’t feel safe when they were told they had to actually walk into EPD headquarters to file their complaint,”" Allbright said. “"There is no law or precedent which says people have to file their complaints in person, and until Nielsen follows through on making this a more user-friendly process, the Coalition for Police Review will take the initiative to make these forms available to all community members on our website and at our office.”"

Of more grave concern to CPR members is the perception of manipulation and back-room dealing concerning the proposed Public Safety Committee for Eureka. The Coalition has received reports that the charter of the proposed committee will specifically exclude any police review functions concerning the policies, practices and procedures of the EPD, not to mention any review of specific complaints regarding officer conduct. Unconfirmed reports from members of the ad-hoc committee have alleged that their recommendations were altered after-the-fact by city officials, and that one member of the ad-hoc committee resigned in protest due to their frustration over such actions.

“"When we met with City Manager Dave Tyson back in the summer of 2006 when our initial Police Review Act was in circulation in Eureka, he promised us that the City would take concerted action to implement police review, and we've since heard similar promises from Councilmembers Glass, Kerrigan and Endert,"” CPR Spokesperson Greg Allen said. “"To see these pledges of support made false through a convoluted ad-hoc committee which completely excluded any members of our Coalition is a grave disappointment. We need full disclosure of what happened during and after these ad-hoc committee meetings, and we insist that city officials not misuse their authority to frustrate the same review procedures which Police Chief Nielsen has already expressed willingness to work with.”"

CPR is looking forward to the Open Mic on local law enforcement tentatively set for Dec. 4th at 5:00 p.m. in Supervisors’ Chambers, and will hold its next meeting on Dec. 12th, 5:30 p.m. at their shared office with the Redwood ACLU, located at 917 3rd Street in Old Town Eureka.