Citizen Police Review Board

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB CITIZEN POLICE REVIEW BOARD August 10, 2023 The Citizen Police Review Board (CPRB) of the City of DeKalb, Illinois, convened on August 10, 2023, at the DeKalb Police Department, 700 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, Illinois. A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Maurice McDavid called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Board Secretary Melissa Neblock called the roll, and the following members of the CPRB were present: Maurice McDavid, Kate Noreiko, and Andre Powell. Others in attendance included Commander Steve Lekkas. B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION: Ms. Noreiko moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Mr. Powell. VOTE: Motion carried by a 3-0 voice vote of the CPRB members present. C. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 1. July 11, 2023 Ms. Norieko brought up an editorial correction to the minutes. In section F. 4-the third paragraph, the sentence said “the board unanimously decided to” but it should say “the board unanimously decided not to”. MOTION: Ms. Noreiko moved to approve the minutes with the correction; seconded by Mr. Powell. VOTE: Motion carried by a 3-0 voice vote of the CPRB members present. D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Mark Charvat said that the meeting minutes were just approved and asked if the meeting minutes were published on a website after they were approved. Ms. Neblock said they are published online next to the agenda for the meeting they correspond to on the city website. Mr. Charvat stated that other boards and councils post their draft version on minutes for the public to look at ahead of the meetings and stated that this board has not done this. Mr. Charvat asked the board to look into, section 302.1 which is the department's policy on FOIA. Mr. Charvat stated that he has filed several FOIAs, but he did not get an acknowledgment or response from the city in reference to this FOIA regarding information the board has been looking at. Mr. Charvat has filed a request for review with the attorney general's office in reference to the lack of response. Mr. Charvat states that he has heard from other members of the public that they are not getting the information they have requested. Mr. Charvat pointed out that the lack of response from the police department is against department policy. Mr. Charvat asked that the documents he is providing from the attorney general's office be added to the record. Mr. Charvat stated that he is all about transparency and feels that information being withheld goes against the reason the commission was started in the Citizen Police Review Board Minutes August 10, 2023 Page 2 of 4 first place. Ms. Neblock let Mr. Charvat know that the board has sent the documents regarding the cases out each time that they have been requested to the FOIA department and that she would check with Commander Woodruff regarding the FOIA that Mr. Charvat has not received. E. CHAIRMAN UPDATE Mr. McDavid said that he received an email from Chief Byrd on behalf of a citizen asking for the board to create an annual report for review by the public. Ms. Noreiko asked Mr. McDavid to give an in-person report to the city council as well. Mr. McDavid brought up the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement conference that is happening in November in Chicago. The board was sent the link for the conference for everyone to look at the information for the conference and use the training on the website to supplement the training that has been provided by the police department. F. CASE REVIEW 1. 23CPRB11 Mr. McDavid reminded the board that the process is to decide in open session if they will be taking the case and that they have previously accepted any complaint that claimed there was a bias. Mr. McDavid stated that previously the board had combined similar complaints from the same person. Ms. Neblock stated that 23CPRB11 and 23CPRB13 are from the same person and that 23CPRB13 was the same complaint that was heard at the last meeting. Mr. McDavid reminded the board that this is a city of DeKalb board and that if the complaint involved another agency the board could not hear the complaint. Brief discussion ensued regarding the contents of the complaint. The board unanimously decided to take the case at this time. 2. 23CPRB12 Brief discussion ensued regarding the contents of the complaint. The board unanimously decided to take the case at this time. 3. 23CPRB10 Mr. McDavid shared with the board that in the past he has reached out to the person to ask for extra information to go with the case for it to be reviewed. Mr. McDavid said that he would like the board to not hear the case at this point until he is able to reach out for more information and to also let her know that she has multiple warrants from multiple counties and that it could be multiple agencies knocking on her door. Brief discussion ensued regarding the contents of the complaint. The board unanimously decided not to take the case at this time until more information could be gathered. G. EXECUTIVE SESSION Chair Maurice McDavid read the following Executive Session exemption title in its entirety: Citizen Police Review Board Minutes August 10, 2023 Page 3 of 4 1. The consideration of performance and/or discipline of employees pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). 2. The consideration of security procedures, and the use of personnel and equipment to respond to an actual, threatened, or a reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, staff, the public, or public property Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/(2)(c)(8). MOTION: Mr. Powell moved to recess for Executive Session; seconded by Ms. Noreiko. VOTE: Motion carried by a 3-0-0 roll call vote. Aye: Maurice McDavid, Kate Noreiko, and Andre Powell. Nay: None. Chair Maurice McDavid declared the motion passed and recessed the meeting at 6:25 p.m. Following adjournment of the Executive Session, Chair Maurice McDavid opened the meeting to the public at 7:28 p.m. H. DECISION 1. 23CPRB11 Mr. McDavid stated that the board reviewed the case. The board took a vote on if the complaint was founded or unfounded regarding: Policy: Admin Fee: VOTE: McDavid: Unfounded, Ms. Noreiko: Unfounded, Mr. Powell: Unfounded. The board’s decision was that the complaint was unfounded. The board took a vote on if the complaint was founded or unfounded regarding: Policy: 625 ILCS 5/4-203 (g) (4) regarding property that can legally be removed from a towed vehicle: VOTE: McDavid: Unfounded, Ms. Noreiko: Unfounded, Mr. Powell: Unfounded. The board’s decision was that the complaint was unfounded. 2. 23CPRB12 Mr. McDavid stated that the board reviewed the case. The board took a vote on if the complaint was founded or unfounded regarding: Policy: Rules of Conduct 103.5, A. Professional Conduct and Responsibilities, A1. Standard of Conduct. Employees shall not engage in any conduct on or off duty which adversely affects the morale or efficiency of the department, or in the alternative, engage in conduct on or off duty which has a tendency to destroy public respect for the employee and/or the department and/or destroy confidence in the operation of the municipal service: Citizen Police Review Board Minutes August 10, 2023 Page 4 of 4 VOTE: McDavid: Unfounded, Ms. Noreiko: Unfounded, Mr. Powell: Unfounded. The board’s decision was that the complaint was unfounded. The board took a vote on if the complaint was founded or unfounded regarding: Policy: Biased Enforcement 103.4, I. Officer Conduct and Responsibilities, F. Officers shall treat every person with courtesy and respect. An officer shall provide his/her name, and badge number whenever a motorist or passenger requests such information. An officer will inform every motorist or pedestrian of the reason why they were stopped following initial contact with the person: VOTE: McDavid: Unfounded, Ms. Noreiko: Unfounded, Mr. Powell: Unfounded. The board’s decision was that the complaint was unfounded. I. POLICY REVIEW Mr. McDavid said that the police department is in the process of reviewing all policies for accreditation and that this would be a good time to start reviewing policies that the board would like to give opinions on. Mr. McDavid suggested that the biased enforcement policy should be one that should be reviewed. He suggested that the board take a look at the other policies to be added to the next agenda. J. APPROVAL RELEASE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES 1. 07/11/2023 The board decided to not release the Executive Session Minutes. MOTION: Ms. Noreiko moved to not release the minutes; seconded by Mr. Powell. VOTE: Motion carried by a 3-0 voice vote of the CPRB members present. K. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Mr. McDavid stated the board is scheduled to meet on September 14th but due to scheduling conflicts, the board will meet on September 12th. L. Adjournment MOTION: Mr. Powell moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Ms. Noreiko. VOTE: Motion carried by a 3-0 voice vote of the CPRB members present. Chair McDavid adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m. Respectfully submitted, __________________________________________ Melissa Neblock, Board Secretary Approved: 09/28/2023