Champaign Police Review Subcommittee

An overview of the new police review subcommittee, created by the Champaign City Council, after it's first meeting (working with a mock case) was in the News-Gazette today. Members selected by Mayor Deb Feinen:

Chair: Emily Rodriguez
Vice Chair: Demario Turner
Regular Members: Alexandra Harmon-Threatt, Mike Ingram, and Melissa Keeble

From the full article:

The subcommittee of citizens was approved last fall, after city staff spent more than a year gathering public input toward establishing it. The group will provide input on Champaign Police Department-led investigations into complaints filed against police...

After a complaint is reviewed by the police department's Office of Professional Standards, information is sent to the subcommittee, which then meets publicly to decide if the review was proper and thorough. After that, Police Chief Anthony Cobb will make a final response to the complaint.

If the subcommittee determines that an investigation wasn't handled well, Cobb can instruct investigators to re-examine the areas of concern.

Subcommittee members were given a list of criteria at the meeting to help guide their review of investigations. It includes:

— Were witnesses and others with information about the incident contacted or interviewed? Were all of them interviewed, and if not, why not?

— Were interviews conducted in an appropriate manner and tone? Was the complainant allowed to reschedule his or her interview date? Were there appropriate attempts to get in touch with witnesses?

— Was investigation evidence sought, collected and maintained appropriately based on current police department protocol?

— Did the investigating officer follow up thoroughly if any new information or leads were developed during the investigation? And how did the officer utilize the new knowledge?

— Is there a factual and logical basis for the investigating officer's findings and conclusions? Do the findings and conclusions match information the officer presented? Do Joy and the officer agree with the findings and conclusions?

If needed, the subcommittee has subpoena power to obtain witness statements or other evidence to aid in its reviews. To prepare for its first meeting, the group was trained in policing basics.