Document of Interest Provided By Councilmember Hamann on Civilian Review Boards

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calls from interested parties to share information about what works best for them and why. The names and tele- phone numbers of these individuals follow each case study. Chapter 8, “Additional Sources of Help,” identifies other individuals with national experience with oversight systems who are available for consultation. The Berkeley, California, Police Review Commission: A Citizen Board and the Police Department Investigate Complaints Simultaneously Background After allegations of police use of excessive force in clear- ing street people from a local park, Berkeley voters in 1973 approved a ballot initiative that created by ordi- nance the Police Review Commission (PRC), the oldest continuously operating citizen oversight agency in the Nation. Citizens filed 42 cases with PRC in 1997. The board con- ducted hearings in 12 cases, which sometimes included multiple allegations (some of which came from the previ- ous year’s filings). The board sustained at least 1 allega- tion in 2 of the 12 hearings, for a total of 4 sustained allegations. The board did not sustain 30 allegations. The board closed another 34 cases without hearings, either because the case lacked merit or the complainant failed to cooperate. For the first half of 1998, in 5 of the 11 hearings held, there was at least 1 sustained allegation. The review process Exhibit 2–3 illustrates the Police Review Commission’s procedures. C ITIZEN R EVIEW OF P OLICE: APPROACHES AND I MPLEMENTATION 21 THUMBNAIL SKETCH:BERKELEY Model: citizens investigate (type 1) Jurisdiction: Berkeley, California Population: 107,800 Government: city council/city manager Appointment of chief: city manager nominates, city council approves; city manager can remove Sworn officers: 190 Oversight funding: $277,255 Oversight staff: two full-time professionals; two full-time clerical Oversight supervisor: city manager appoints Police Review Commission officer A nine-member, all volunteer Police Review Commission (PRC) appointed by the city council holds public hearings of citizen complaints against the police department (with three commissioners participating in each hearing). A PRC officer appointed by the city manager forwards each complaint she receives to the police department’s internal affairs (IA) bureau, and she and IA conduct simultaneous but independent investigations of the complaint. The PRC officer forwards her investigation results to the PRC board for a hearing. After the hearing, the board submits its findings to the city manager and the chief. Any citizen may express concerns about department poli- cies or procedures at full commission meetings. Based on these public meetings and examination of complaints citizens have filed, PRC recommends policy and procedure changes to the city manager and chief.