Statement from President Loretta Scott on Council’s Examination of the Civilian Review Process:

“After an exhaustive review, the Council has concluded its examination and analysis of the material that was subpoenaed regarding the arrest of Rickey Bryant. This fact-finding review was critical to furthering our understanding of our civilian review process as we embark on making changes to its current structure.

Each Council member spent hours going over information obtained through the subpoena, including but not limited to: reviewing statements and Professional Standards Section findings, listening to 911 calls, watching videos, reading policies and procedures, and meeting with the Chief of Police to ask questions regarding this case and police training.

Our intent in reviewing this case was to gain a more intimate knowledge of the civilian review process with a goal of identifying ways to increase transparency, accountability, independence and ultimately community trust.

The City Council also contracted with the Center for Governmental Research for an analysis of our civilian review process. To ascertain best practices their analysis included an examination of police accountability structures in other cities highlighting each programs’ strengths and challenges allowing for a comprehensive review of the various structures.

At today’s City Council work session, the Center for Governmental Research presented the Council with their highly detailed report.

Over the next few weeks the Council will work to develop possible changes to the civilian review process. We, as a Council, have heard the community and understand there is a strong desire for our civilian review process to be more transparent, accountable and independent.

The Council will be hosting public meetings in early 2018 to gather community feedback.

Information will be released in advance of the public meetings; our intent in doing this is to create a more productive dialogue at the meetings. The meetings will be a forum for the community to make comments regarding the potential changes and/or offer their support

The Council anticipates that these changes will be substantive and will ultimately require legislation. It is the hope of the Council that legislation will be voted on at the April 2018 Council Meeting so that the changes can take effect on July 1, 2018 with the start of the new fiscal year.”