[Peace-discuss] Police Review Board before Urb. Cty Council TONIGHT!

[John W.]

Brian and others:

The Coalition for Citizen Police Review has a meeting tentatively scheduled 
for next Wednesday, July 19, 7:00 PM at the IDF to discuss organizing 
strategy regarding the proposed Citizen Police Review Board.  I'll confirm 
this with you as soon as I know definitively.

Meanwhile, if you'll follow the instructions so graciously provided to us 
by Mark Enslin, you'll find on the City of Urbana's web site a copy of the 
draft ordinance for an Urbana CPRB, put together by the task force that has 
been meeting for the past 6 months or so.  You can download and print the 
draft ordinance, which is a PDF file.  I encourage each of you to read it 
and critique it.  You'll find that the draft ordinance does give the CPRB 
subpoena power and the power to hire an independent investigator.  The only 
real bone of contention seems to be the degree to which a representative of 
the police will be involved with it, but there is no threat in any of the 
alternative proposals that the police would ever have anything remotely 
approaching a voting majority on the proposed CPRB.

Here, again, are Mark's directions to the document:  "The text of the 
proposal can be downloaded at
http://www.city.urbana.il.us/urbana/  (click "city council" on the left, 
"council agendas" on the right, and "agenda 7-10-06", item 15)"

As I said, as soon as I know definitely when we're meeting I'll send out 
another e-mail to this group of addressees.  We'll also be trying to find 
out what the City of Urbana's timeline is for consideration of the CPRB 
proposal; the mayor and/or the city council may be waiting for conclusion 
of the currently ongoing collective bargaining with the police.  In any 
event, I hope and trust that we can count on your united and unwavering 
support when the time is right.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

John Wason
Coalition for Citizen Police Review



At 11:53 AM 7/10/2006, Brian Dolinar wrote:

>Hello all.
>
>Please help us show the public support for a Police Review Board in Urbana.
>The issue is going before the Urbana City Council tonight at 7pm.
>They meet at 400 S. Vine St., across from Lincoln Square.
>
>We have been working for 2 years to get this board.
>We insist that it be an independent board with power to subpoena.
>The Police Union is trying to undermine the independence of the board
>by placing a police officer on it.
>
>The police cannot police the police.
>
>For instance, why did Officer Hediger of the Urbana Police Dept. fail
>to collect any evidence in Sunnycrest Apt. 203, although he visited
>the apartment complex twice on Aug 24, 2004?  This infomation may have
>proved, or disproved, the allegations against Patrick Thompson.
>Did he already believe Patrick Thompson was guilty?
>
>Peace, BD
>
>--
>Brian Dolinar, Ph.D.
>204 S. Lynn St.
>Champaign, IL 61820
>briandolinar at gmail.com