[CPRB] When to meet to discuss CPRB?

[John W.]

At 06:21 PM 12/27/2006, Esther Patt wrote:

>I spoke with a city council member and got clarification about the changes 
>to the Ordinance that were made during bargaining:
>
>Good news: Only rank and file officers will be affected by the rule that 
>they don't have to appear before the Board.  However, the Chief, Asst 
>Chief and Lt. can be called before the board to answer questions about an 
>investigation.  So, the ability to question the police about police dept. 
>investigation results will still exist.
>
>Not so good news:  While the Gazette story said that the PD will 
>investigate all complaints, it didn't clarify that the Board's power to 
>hire an independent investigator was eliminated.  On the plus side, most 
>complaints will not require an independent investigation.  I believe 
>that's what Jen Walling reported to us from her conversations with people 
>from other cities at the conference she attended a year ago (correct me if 
>I'm wrong, Jen).  But, in those few cases where concern arises about 
>whether an investigation was thorough, the independent investigator option 
>will not be available.
>
>I'd be available to meet next week if folks are around.  If a lot of 
>people are still out of town, perhaps we should try for the week of 
>January 7.   I'm free every night that week except Wednesday the 10th.
>
>Esther Patt


I'm as free as a man living a life of quiet desperation can be.  It would 
probably be best for all concerned, though, to wait until the week of 
January 7.

I'm curious to know how the CPRB's power to hire an independent 
investigator could be bargained away during negotiations with the police 
union.  It certainly doesn't strike me as a mandatory subject of 
bargaining, or even as an elective subject of bargaining.  Can someone explain?

John Wason



>---- Original message ----
> >Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2006 13:50:47 -0800 (PST)
> >From: Ricky Baldwin <baldwinricky at yahoo.com>
> >Subject: [CPRB] When to meet to discuss CPRB?
> >To: cprb at lists.chambana.net, C-U Citizens for Peace and Justice 
> <announce at lists.communitycourtwatch.org>
> >
> >Thanks for the report, John, and the discussion,
> >Esther!
> >
> >I know I raised this before and then didn't do
> >anything to make it happen, but I really think now the
> >Champaign County Coalition for Citizen Police Review
> >should have a meeting, and explicitly invite CU
> >Citizens, ACLU, NAACP and Urban League folks, among
> >others.  We have at least three topics to discuss:
> >
> >1. This FOP/Urbana contract and mobilization plans to
> >show support for a cprb in Urbana (we should try to
> >find out, as Esther says, when the Council is likely
> >to discuss it, so we can be ready)
> >
> >2. The Champaign situation, such as it is
> >
> >3. The state of our coalition (bank account, coalition
> >partners, etc.)
> >
> >How about the second week of January?
> >
> >I'm pretty open at the moment, so what are other
> >folks' schedules like?
> >
> >Ricky