Committee to Review Policing Policies — Burlington, VT
Date: 2019-08-27
Time: 12:00

August 27, 2019
 Committee to Review Policing Policies


@ Click here to view the minutes for this meeting
1. Agenda

 1.01 Adopt/Amend the Agenda


 2 190826_0184.WMA

2. Public Forum

 2.01 Public Forum



3. Deliberative

 3.01 Elect Committee Chair



4. Communication

 4.01 Duties of Committee


 2 June 3 2019 CC Resolution re Formation of a
 Special Committee to Review Community Policing
 Practices.pdf


 4.02 Future Meetings


 4.03 Timeline/Report



5. Adjournment

 5.01 Adjournment




City of Burlington, Vermont Page 1 of 1

Committee to Review Policing Policies
 8/27/2019



Committee to Review Policing Practices

CR12 at City Hall

Tuesday, August 27th, 2019

Generated by Laura Cheney on August 29, 2019



Members present: Chief of Staff Jordan Redell, Deputy Chief Jon Murad, Officer Vinny Ross, Sergeant Jesse Namdar, Police
Commissioner Randall Harp, Police Commissioner Jabulani Gamache, City Councilor Perri Freeman, City Councilor Joan
Shannon, Jim Dunn, Melo Grant, CD Mattison, Skyler Nash, Kevin Rodgers, and Carter Neubieser.



Staff present: City Attorney Eileen Blackwood, Clerk Laura Cheney



Public present: Mark Hughes and Kesha Ram.



1.0 Call to Order

City Attorney called the meeting to order at 8:34 PM. The members of the Committee introduced themselves. COS Jordan
Redell took over facilitation.



1.1 Agenda

  • Motion by Joan Shannon, second by CD Mattison, to approve the agenda with the following amendment:

Amend the agenda to move the election of the committee chair to item 4.04.



VOTING: Unanimous; motion carried



2.01 Public Forum

No speakers.



4.0 Communication

4.01 Duties of Committee


 Page 1 of 3
 Committee to Review Policing Policies
 8/27/2019


  • COS Jordan Redell referenced lines 30 & 79, and suggested requesting all information from the PD.
  • Joan Shannon suggested putting on the table any additional items that should be addressed by the committee.
  • CA Eileen Blackwood suggested reviewing the structure of the BPD and the role of the Commission.
 ◦ DC Murad reviewed the structure and roles within the PD and the general role of the Police Commission.
 ◦ Kevin Rodgers asked if there is any civilian oversight of the PD.
 ◦ CA remarked there are various models around the country. If an officer or BPOA is unhappy with a decision of
 the Command Staff, then they can turn to the commission with their appeals. Our model has shifted, and is
 more like the VSP model.
 ◦ Joan Shannon noted the City Council appoints commissioners, who report to the council and questioned
 whether the city would want non-elected, non-professionals exercising authority over the PD. The PD is
 accountable to the City Council and the Mayor. The Council can make policy change as needed.
  • Jordan Redell expressed the need to step back and layout the process and structure by which the committee will
 proceed.
  • Jim Dunn noted that the City Council requested implementation of an oversight body and the commission looked
 into how this would be structured. There has been some internal conflict about how that oversight could be
 effective.
  • Joan Shannon remarked that we’ve yet to hit 105 officers and inquired why.
 ◦ DC Murad noted the state of the economy, recruitment and retention is a national challenge. There are a
 variety of contributing factors - perception of policing, changes to individual’s career goals/preferences,
 bonuses and extras offered by other departments, a downward trend in crime and escalation in calls related
 to mental illness, addiction, and homelessness, and shifts to community.

 Data requests

 COS Jordan Redell asked for data not noted in the resolution, but advised data can be requested from the department
at any time during the process. The Committee then discussed the following data it would like to consider:

  • Body worn cameras
  • Disciplinary process
  • Preventative policing, proactive initiatives, including specific roles
  • Scheduling and shifts
  • Citizen complaints, to include those which may not be considered excessive use of force
  • Response to homelessness and folks suffering from mental illness
  • Role of the police commission
  • Details on the union contract, including its role in accountability and transparency
  • Car stop data
  • Response to individuals suffering from addiction
  • Response to LQBTQ individuals
  • Training Directives
  • VPA Training
  • Outreach to the community, community engagement, particularly among those marginalized

 COS Jordan Redell will meet with the PD and review data requests and put forth a timeline.



 Professional Consultant

  • COS Jordan Redell noted this would involve an RFP process, and therefore the committee would need to act quickly.

 Page 2 of 3
 Committee to Review Policing Policies
 8/27/2019


  • Perri Freeman expressed reluctance to move forward at this point.
  • Carter Neubiser remarked that too often city government use outside contractors when committee members are
 equipped to offer the most insight and perspective on these issues.
  • Joan Shannon remarked that the $50K is a great resource to have, but is not yet sure what the need is. The
 committee needs to get into its work, and rely on that money when the need is identified.
  • Melo Grant agreed that it is too early to move forward with and RFP, and suggested that experts could be brought
 in as needed, without dipping into those funds.
  • Mattison noted we have a short window and may need help with facilitation to ensure impactful work, and requests
 an openness to a consultant.

 Ride-Along with Officer

  • Officer Ross suggested all members go on a ride along, and consider joining the community academy.
  • Contact DC Murad or Laura Cheney to facilitate a ride-along, and the waiver can also be found online.

4.02-.03 Future Meetings

  • Note recommendations are due to the City Council on November 18th, though Jordan Redell remarked that the
 committee could ask for an extension.
  • Consensus to use Doodle Poll to meet 2/month, 2 hour meetings, including daytime and evening, with conference
 call in available.
  • Kevin Rodgers suggested sub committees to work between meetings on specific topics.

4.04 Elect Committee Chair

  • Joan Shannon expressed the role of the chair is to facilitate conversation, stay focused, set the agenda, ensure
 information is received in a timely manner from contributing parties, and to facilitate subcommittee work.
  • Joan Shannon moved to nominate Mattison to serve as chair of this committee, second by Jordan Redell.
  • Mattison welcomes the opportunity.

VOTING: Unanimous; motion carried.



Adjournment

  • Kevin Rogers moved to receive all the data requested in the resolution, as well as the additional requests called out
 today (see above). Second by Randall Harp.

VOTING: Unanimous; motion carried.

  • Chair Mattison moved to adjourn the meeting, second by Joan Shannon

VOTING: Unanimous; motion carried.

Adjourned at 9:42am.




 Page 3 of 3