Notes from the June 30, 2009 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

•    Police Commissioner John Mack called Police Commission President Anthony Pacheco a man of tremendous integrity as he bid Mr. Pacheco farewell. 

•    Police Commissioner Alan Skobin said President Pacheco has served as a mentor to a number of individuals from the Police Department as well as other City departments.  He added what he was most impressed with was Mr. Pacheco’s upbringing and his rise to the position he occupies today.  He stated President Pacheco never forgot where he came from and thanked him and his law firm for allowing him to serve.

•    Police Commissioner Andrea Ordin echoed the sentiments of her fellow Commissioners and said it was a pleasure to work with President Pacheco.

•    Police Commissioner Robert Saltzman said he appreciated President Pacheco’s leadership and friendship.

•    Police Commission President Anthony Pacheco said he had a wonderful four year stint as a Police Commissioner, two of which were as President. He added it was a great pleasure to work with Police Chief Bratton, Inspector General Andre Birotte, Executive Director Richard Tefank and their respective staffs. 

•    Police Chief William Bratton spoke on behalf of the men and women of the Department and thanked President Pacheco for his leadership through the years.  He added President Pacheco can take great pride in the change he has witnessed during his tenure on the Commission. 

•    The Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the status of pending disciplinary actions as a result of the May Day 2007 incident was given by Deputy Chief Mark Perez.  He informed the Commission all investigations pertaining to the May Day incident had been completed.  Five officers were suspended as a result of a Board of Rights and one Sergeant was found Not Guilty.  He added the absence of training had a determination on the outcome of the complaints.

•    The Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the status of the discipline settlement process was given by Deputy Chief Mark Perez.  Chief Perez stated since 2004, the number of settlements has declined steadily and the criteria have changed.  The Department does not plea bargain and the settlement must meet four main requirements: Command staff belief in development in an employee, employee acceptance of responsibility, core facts must not be in dispute and the proposal must be accepted by Professional Standards Bureau command staff.  The goal is to have less settlement agreements in the end.

•    The Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the status of the in-car video system was given by Chief Information Officer Tim Riley.  Mr. Riley informed the Commission 300 cars in South Bureau have video installed and the corresponding area stations have equipment which has been tested.  City Hall East stores all the video captured and Scientific Investigation Division is responsible for making videos for court requests.  The video policy draft has been completed and Senior Lead Officers from Southeast Area are going to be the first to be trained on the new system beginning next week. The TEAMS II section will be responsible for training Department personnel and training will take approximately 30 days.  As early as next week the Department could have in-car cameras online and ready to go on a very limited basis.

•    The Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the status of the Miranda admonishment guidelines was given by Captain Sargent.  He said they looked at the issue of when personnel are supposed to stop questioning.  Realizing there were wider issues with laws, he gave it to Planning and Research Division (PRD) to craft a Department-wide policy.  PRD pulled directives, training bulletins and other documents and is working with the City Attorney to compose a draft. Police Commission Pacheco asked to have the item revisited in a few weeks.

•    The Department’s report, dated June 24, 2009, relative to the Categorical Use of Force Investigation Audit (IAID No. C08-008), was approved.

•    The Department’s report, dated June 9, 2009, relative to the Audit of the Non-Categorical Use of Force Investigation Process (IAID No. C09-064) was received and filed.

•    The Executive Director’s report, dated June 30, 2009, relative to the Police Commission Distinguished Service Medal, was approved.  Police Commission President Anthony Pacheco was presented with the Police Commissions highest honor.

Comments

[Lew Parker, Retired]

Although Chief William Bratton recommended that the four officers sent to the Board of Rights be fired, with regard to the 2007 May Day incident at MacArthur Park, he did not interfere with the July 1, 2009, findings of the Board. Only one officer received a 20-day suspension; the other three got lesser punishments. The Chief, to his credit, recognized the importance of the independence of the Board and did not seek to intimidate its members or influence its outcome. His behavior demonstrates his even-handed, mature approach to departmental discipline and should be commended for his tolerant, understanding approach to the mechanisms of it's system of justice.

[CITIZEN]

I think this board is a joke. The cops should have been fired. Long live the CD.