By: Karen Miller
On July 12, WGLT posted an article entitled “Year later, Some Want More Distance between Civilian Board and Police”. http://wglt.org/post/year-later-some-want-more-distance-between-civilian-board-and-police
The Pubic Safety and Community Relations Board (PSCRB) was formed to serve as a citizen advisory committee to the Chief of Police and the City Manager, providing different perspectives on police policy and training that improves police-community interactions. These words are taken straight from the ordinance that Mayor Renner signed just a little over a year ago. PDF page 120: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=14322
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However, this board is taking into consideration citizen comments stating the board should distance itself away from the police department. How does the board believe that they can be of any vital input in police and community relations when they seek to do their own agenda with very little knowledge of policies and procedures? Chairman Arthur Taylor goes on to further state ” that the PSCRB is available to help review any complaints. Has the Mayor and or City Manager not explained that the board is not here to help review complaints? Is the Board not aware that Office of Professional Standards reviews complaints first and that only if a complaint can not be resolved amicably that the PSCRB would become involved?
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Another part of the ordinance is clear when is states ” The PSCRB is purely advisory, focuses on recommending any necessary policy changes, and is designed to WORK CLOSELY with the Chief of Police, as well as serve as citizen conduit for any citizen concerns involving the Police Department. Maybe the Mayor, City Council and City Manager should remind the PSCRB of the language in the Ordinance and exactly what they are to be doing.
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Finally, this is the second media piece on the PSCRB patiently waiting for that first case to review. Can anyone do a piece that states the Bloomington Police Department is able to handle complaints without need for the PSCRB?
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In the meantime, they continue to spend money on brochures and posters to get the word out on a Board who at this point has done nothing including sitting down to read the Ordinance.
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Another bunch of liberals thinking they know what is best for you. I see this group as causing problems instead of helping. How about suggesting they disband.
Bloomington government at its finest
Bottom line – they just want their stupid little leftist fingers in EVERY little pie, stirring stuff up with no reason and besmirching everything they touch.. Sometimes, they need to sit themselves down, shut up and let people who know what they are doing handle it – but they are like spoiled rotten children who THINK they know it all, and they won’t, and don’t sit back and be quiet.
Oh and I want to add, it would be different if any of them had a lick of sense.
This distancing and grasping for power has always been their goal. Opponents warned that once the “board” was formed, they would try to over-reach.
Of course, it’s part of their “nudge” strategy that they think is so clever and people have been falling for it for decades so no wonder they keep trying to use it.
Red wave in November, people are sick of the cry babies.
I BPD had the history of the chicago police department, then I can understand this committees purpose. The BPD are dealing with characters and dynamics that have not been part of this area. Let them do their job without micro-management from people who have proven their own incompetence in running the city and caring for the members of their community.
What I don’t remember is where it says that the Bloomington City Council can abrogate their oversight responsibilities over a creature of their own making- The Bloomington Police Department. The council members wanted the job, and this is part of it.
To the Council: Disband this worthless little committee and do your jobs.
Or maybe people who want to file a complaint with police are uncomfortable going to the police without knowing there’s a civilian backstop in the complaint process. If I were a person of color, I’d be really concerned about complaining to the cops. Or worse yet, I complain and the complaint goes into the shredder. The police serve and protect the citizens and that point seems to get lost with some cops on the street. AND is your guest writer the same Karin Miller with the extensive DUI/police record. Wow…
What’s your record Rich? Of course you don’t use your real name so we can’t check! The Board has spent money getting the word out, obviously there isn’t a problem.