After hearing more than 3 hours of passionate testimony on an ordinance that proposes to strengthen the authority of the City's Office of Independent Police Review, the Council moved to continue the hearing until the evening of March 31, so that more interested parties would have an opportunity to consider the changes.
The comprehensive overhaul includes a number of important changes, including expanded authority for the IPR Director to initiate investigations into police misconduct, subpoena witnesses, review investigative findings, compel reviews of police misconduct cases, and recommend disciplinary action to the Chief and Commissioner in Charge. Additionally, the Police Review Board is formally created in City code, and its decisions will be released to the public, among a host of other changes.
The proposal is opposed by the Police union and the leadership of the Police Bureau but widely supported elsewhere. The Council hearing will begin at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, March 31 in the City Council Chambers in City Hall. Public testimony will be taken by the Council, and a vote on the measures will follow.
For more information on the proposed changes, click here.
For information about why Commissioner Leonard believes these changes are needed, click here.