In Mpls: Four slots open on Civilian Police Review Authority Board; Are three already decided?

[annm4peace]

http://twincities.indymedia.org/2010/mar/four-slots-open-civilian-police-review-authority-board-are-three-already-decided-city-docum


Four slots open on Civilian Police Review Authority Board; Are three already decided? City documents suggest that Mayor Rybak made his decisions before the public hearing!

On Wednesday, March 24th, the city will host a public hearing to choose four open slots on the Minneapolis Civilian Review Authority (CRA). The mayor is able to appoint three people to the position and the city council may appoint one person. For 2010, 15 people applied for these four positions including Dave Bicking, who wants to be reappointed, and has a strong backing from many in the community who are impressed by his work on the CRA.

Recently, the Minneapolis Public Safety and Health Committee released a document announcing the public meeting. There is one important thing to note in this document – it appears that Mayor Rybak already made his three choices BEFORE the public hearing! For the 2010 appointments, the mayor has three selections and the city council is allotted one recommendation. The document clearly shows that the mayor (“M”) has three people assigned for his three openings: Dean Kallenbach a former endorsed DFL candidate for City Council, Alexandra Jasicki, and Arlene Santiago.

With three of the four already “filled” before the public hearing, this leaves only one position open. The rest of the twelve candidates then have to vie for the last appointment assigned to the city council.

Is this the norm for CRA appointments in the City of Minneapolis? Other city documents suggest that candidates had an equal chance at mayoral or city council appointments. Approximately 2 years ago in 2008, the CRA appointment memorandum was quite different. The candidates were not divided by mayoral (“M”) or city council (“CC”) recommendations. In theory, this means each of the applicants had an equal chance to be appointed by the mayor or city council – or at least an equal chance to be heard at the public hearing.

The residents of Minneapolis should be concerned about with these sly moves being made at City Hall. Tim Dolan was reappointed in an 8-5 decision despite the fact that he regularly ignores the recommendations of the CRA for discipline in sustained cases and the growing concerns about police misconduct. If the CRA board continues to be weakened, then this thread will only get worse.
http://twincities.indymedia.org/2010/feb/minneapolis-police-chief-tim-dolans-reappointment-cra-and-out-control-mpd


The public hearing for the CRA appointments will take place on Wednesday, March 24th at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.

:grr: Why are our Democrat Politicans behaving like Republicans????

[annm4peace]

1. Letter to the CRA in support of Dave Bicking

To: Minneapolis City Council

We, the undersigned, support the reappointment of Dave Bicking to the board of the Minneapolis Civilian Police Review Authority (CRA).

For nearly two years, Dave Bicking has been an active and effective member of the CRA. He has strengthened the important work of civilian oversight of the Minneapolis police. We see his reappointment as an indication of whether the Mayor and City Council are committed to the importance and independence of the CRA.

In addition to the central work of hearing cases, Bicking has taken the initiative in other important roles for the CRA, and has worked with other board members to gain support for these ideas and projects. Bicking led the work to bring to light the Police Department´s overturning of the Taser policy that was developed by the CRA and passed by the City Council. He did much of the work of bringing together CRA data and board members´ observations to produce the CRA report on the performance of the Police Chief.

Dave Bicking has brought to the board a long history of activism, hard work, and skills. He has remained outspoken in his support for police accountability and civilian review, and in his critique of current police policies and leadership. That has not precluded fair and impartial adjudication of the complaints against individual officers, nor has he been criticized for bias by any who have witnessed his work on hearing panels.

It would be unprecedented to not reappointment a dedicated CRA board member who wishes to continue on the board. Four year terms for CRA board members help insure the independence of the CRA. Bicking is up for reappointment after less than two years only because he was originally appointed to fill an unexpired term.

Effective civilian review has always been opposed by powerful interests. The attempt to remove Dave Bicking from the CRA is part of an effort to eliminate the CRA or make it too weak to matter. We support strong provisions for police accountability and we support those who stand up for victims of police misconduct. We appeal to the Mayor and the City Council
to reappoint Dave Bicking to another term on the CRA.

[geardaddy]

2. Who are the undersigned?

Bicking's a Green Party member, not a DFLer.

[annm4peace]

5. Is this the Democratic Underground or the DCCC?

So what if Bicking is a Green Party member. He has helped DFL as well as Green people running for elections. And there have been DFL as well as Green members who have helped on his campaigns.

He is a great citizen and an advocate for the people. I would saw we would want him on our side.

If you want to see the undersign here you go.

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?CUAPB004&1

[geardaddy]

6. While I agree that there should be community input.

I think the Green Party in Minneapolis has terrible leadership. Just my opinion.

[ISUGRADIA]

3. Really

"Why are our Democrat Politicans behaving like Republicans????"

" Mayor Rybak made his decisions before the public hearing! "

DUH, that's how the process works, it's an executive decision. That's how it works on appointments made by the mayor, there is not a public hearing. He makes his recommendations and they are approved/rejected by the Council.

The mayor appoints 3 of these positions. It's his choice. Notice, he is not at the meeting.

The Council gets ONE appointment and gets public input as to _their_ choice. This is the process, it's no big conspiracy.

[annm4peace]

4. to ISUGRADIA

"Approximately 2 years ago in 2008, the CRA appointment memorandum was quite different. The candidates were not divided by mayoral (“M”) or city council (“CC”) recommendations. In theory, this means each of the applicants had an equal chance to be appointed by the mayor or city council – or at least an equal chance to be heard at the public hearing."


There should be a balance.. not a Mayor picking 3 and the City Council 1 person.

Having a credible civilian Police Review Committee/Board/Advisory is very important to a community.

It is part of the reason why Minneapolis has a lower crime rate for the size of the city. But it would be even better if the Police Chief took some of the CRA advice. And it is even better if the CRA is real and not just window dressing.

[MNmom]

7. Absurd that Bicking is having a hard time being reappointed!

What's wrong with our Democrats???