Document of Interest Provided By Councilmember Hamann on Civilian Review Boards

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As shown in exhibit 2–6, the ombudsman’s 1998–99 budget was $540,744; 91 percent of the budget represent- ed wages and benefits. With two investigators devoting nearly full time to complaints against the police, and the deputy devoting about one-quarter time to police cases, the proportion of the budget devoted to complaints against the police is about $174,000. Distinctive features Few jurisdictions in the country make use of an ombuds- man to review police misconduct complaints. • Because the ombudsman serves as a generalized com- plaint handler for all government agencies, the city cannot be criticized for singling out the police for oversight. • The ombudsman’s office provides citizens with an alternative place to file complaints against the police department. • The ombudsman’s office helps IA to address com- plainants’concerns by offering a satisfactory explanation for an officer’s behavior that the complainant could not or would not get from the subject officer or patrol desk. • The office can subpoena department heads, including the chief, as well as employees and all case files. It has never used this power. • The office can—and does—criticize officers by name in the media for their behavior. This may serve to deter some misconduct and anger officers. The public has the opportunity to become aware of police misconduct when the press prints the information. • Politics could emasculate the office. Because the mayor appoints the chief and the city council appoints the ombudsman, conflict between the two could stymie the office’s leverage if the mayor were to choose to ignore the ombudsman whenever the ombudsman wished to take serious exception to a chief’s findings. For further information, contact: Jessie Binian Ombudsman Office of the Ombudsman City of Flint Flint Municipal Center North Building 120 East Fifth Street, Second Floor Flint, MI 48502 810–766–7335 The Minneapolis Civilian Police Review Authority: An Oversight System Investigates and Hears Citizen Complaints Background The Minneapolis city council established the Civilian Police Review Authority (CRA) by ordinance in 1990 after African-American community leaders led protests at city hall because officers had killed an elderly African- American couple in a raid and had broken up an appar- ently peaceful African-American college student party in EXHIBIT 2–6. FLINT OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE 1998–99 BUDGET C HAPTER 2: CASE S TUDIES OF N INE O VERSIGHT P ROCEDURES 30 Budget Item Funding Level Wages and salaries $273,639 Fringe benefits 220,123 Supplies 5,784 Newspapers, professional dues, and publications 240 Professional services 20,000 Micro software and leases 1,000 Data processing services 3,358 Professional services and commissions 3,400 Communications 2,500 Transportation 900 Printing and publishing 1,500 Insurance and bonds 100 Repairs and maintenance 2,000 Miscellaneous 200 Education, training, and conferences 6,000 Total $540,744