Document of Interest Provided By Councilmember Hamann on Civilian Review Boards

Home Browse Search

result, the PRC officer was trying to develop a referral process that would comply with the statute and the PRC ordinance. • The chief normally reviews IA findings on cases and, as appropriate, hands out discipline before he or the city manager receives PRC’s findings. • PRC’s twice monthly public meetings make it possible for any citizen to express concerns about police mis- conduct or policies and procedures. The hearings have resulted in PRC making significant recommendations to the department for changes in policies and procedures. For further information, contact: Barbara Attard Police Review Commission Officer Police Review Commission 2121 McKinley Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 510–644–6716 Dash Butler Chief of Police Berkeley Police Department 2171 McKinley Avenue Berkeley, CA 94703 510–644–6568 The Flint, Michigan, Ombudsman’s Office: An Ombudsman Investigates Selected Citizen Complaints Against All City Departments and Agencies Background Sweden first incorporated the ombudsman concept in its constitution in 1909 as a means of curbing governmental abuses and protecting citizen rights. Today, an ombudsman typically investigates unlawful or unfair acts on the part of government agencies and complaints about their services. In 1974, Flint voters adopted a new charter establishing an Office of the Ombudsman along with a strong may- oral form of government. Because some citizens felt a stronger mayor would need some checks and balances, the electorate simultaneously voted to include the ombudsman’s office in the new charter for a 5-year period. In a 1980 referendum, nearly 60 percent of the residents voted to continue the ombudsman’s office indefinitely. C HAPTER 2: CASE S TUDIES OF N INE O VERSIGHT P ROCEDURES 26 THUMBNAIL SKETCH:FLINT Model: citizens investigate (type 1) Jurisdiction: Flint, Michigan Population: 134,881 Government: strong mayor; city council Appointment of chief: mayor appoints Sworn officers: 333 Oversight funding: $540,744 (includes overseeing complaints against all city agencies) Oversight staff: seven full-time professionals (two exclusively handle complaints against the police), one full-time secretary Oversight supervisor: city council The Flint, Michigan, City Office of the Ombudsman investigates complaints from residents dissatisfied with any city agency, but about half of its complaints are filed by citizens concerned with police officer behavior.The office settles some complaints by pro- viding citizens with information about police depart- ment policies and procedures or through informal mediation. In serious cases, office investigators inter- view complainants and witnesses and require written answers to questions by subject officers.The office submits a report on each investigated complaint to the chief, who arranges for an internal investigation before deciding on a finding.The ombudsman’s prin- cipal power lies in its ability to criticize openly the behavior of officers by name to the press.