Submitted By
Cara Pavlicek, Village Manager
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Motion Directing Staff to Prepare the Necessary Actions to Undertake a Series of Public Forums and Special Meetings of the Village Board beginning in July 2020 in support a Review of Police Use-of-Force Policies Inclusive of a Community Engagement Process which Considers a Diverse Range of Input and Experiences Prior to Reviewing with the Community Those Stories and Seeking Public Feedback in Advance of Reform Oak Park’s Police Use-of-Force Policies
End
Overview
Overview
In anticipation of the Village Board’s adoption of a Resolution pledging to work in support of diversity, equity and inclusion with the participation of the community to review of the police use of force policies pursuant to the Obama Pledge, a motion and discussion is requested to outline the elements necessary for a public discussion of our police department with a specific emphasis on a review of police use of force policies in Oak Park.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Adoption of the motion.
Fiscal Impact
The proposed meetings will have a nominal financial impact in addition to staff time.
Background
Following a citizen petition filed July 2, 1901, and subsequent election, Oak Park was decreed by the presiding judge of the County Court of Cook County the “Village of Oak Park” in November 1901. Subject to the Illinois Constitution of 1970, and by virtue of a population above 25,000, the Village of Oak Park operates as a home rule municipality and since 1952, under the managerial form of government. Additional details about Oak Park’s municipal government can be found at <https://www.oak-park.us/sites/default/files/2019-04-08-village-board-handbook.pdf>.
On May 31, 2020, Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb, Village Manager Cara Pavlicek, Chief of Police LaDon Reynolds and Deputy Chief of Police Joe Moran issued a “Statement in Response to the Death of George Floyd” and shared publicly their reflection upon a shared grief, anger and even futility about the recent senseless murder of George Floyd while in the custody of a Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer.
The Statement also included a pledge to support a public discussion about police training, policies and technology such as body cameras to determine the best ways to improve how we serve the Oak Park community.
As part of this special meeting, the Village Board is also asked adopt a Resolution in support of the Obama Foundation Mayor’s Pledge, which was taken by Mayor Abu-Taleb, as a part of a national effort to address police violence and systemic racism by evaluating local police use-of-force policies.
Therefore, it is recommended that a series of public forums and special meetings of the Village Board, beginning in July 2020, be held regarding the Oak Park Police Department with a specific emphasis on a review of police use of force policies in Oak Park. As Village Manager, I have taken a number of steps to initiate the internal infrastructure necessary to support this important community dialogue.
Assistant Village Attorney Rasheda Jackson will be the internal staff lead and tasked with the administrative responsibilities for managing the review of Oak Park’s police use of force policies. Assistant Village Attorney Jackson will work with Chief Reynolds who will be responsible for a great deal of the information that must be provided as we undertake this public discussion about police training, policies and technology (such as body cameras) to determine the best ways to improve how we serve the Oak Park community.
I am requesting Village Board support for a process that is comprised of three primary steps.
A. The first step will be provide a series of information sessions with Q&A about the current structure of the Oak Park Police Department and will incorporate review of:
1) Legal foundation in Illinois Law
2) Hiring
3) Training
4) Rules, Regulations and General Orders (GOs)
5) Equipment and Facilities
6) Promotions
7) Discipline procedures
8) Organizational structures
9) Collective Bargaining
10) Funding
11) Citizen commissions which directly work with police
B. The second step will be a series of community conversations to listen and hear from the public about their experiences and perception to Oak Park policing which shall include:
1) Public Opportunity for input on police interaction with Oak Park
2) Private Opportunity for input on police interaction with Oak Park (for individuals who wish to share their experiences, but not in a public forum at the determination of the individual
C. The third step will be a series of information sessions with Q&A to review current Rules, Regulations and General Orders which are deemed under the umbrella of Use of Force, including:
1) Current policies, as well as proposed edits, if any, to those documents proposed by staff
2) Public comment period for review (must be minimum 10 days)
3) Village Board meeting for review and discussion of staff recommendations, with modifications based upon public comment.
4) Posting of proposed final SOPs and GOs with Public comment period for review (must be minimum 10 days)
Generally, the above process will require at least five months or approximately 115 business days which will mean it could be concluded by mid-November. This is of course subject to the impact on public health from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as adjustments to schedule which may be warranted from time to time based upon public feedback.
In regards to many other police related matters which members of the Village Board and/or public would like to review, I encourage the Village Board to allow this first conversation to be about the most important matter, use of force. Matters other than use of force, should be identified by the Village Board after this review of use of force is completed and a subsequent public process can be established to begin in early 2021.
Alternatives
The Village Board can amend the motion as deemed necessary.
Previous Board Action
N/A.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Public forums and special meetings of the Village Board.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A.