Title
Citizens Review Board Requirements
Action
Action:
Approve the Housing, Safety and Community Committee's recommendation to revise the Citizens Review Board training requirement and process response times by adopting an ordinance amending Sections 16-56 and 16-62 of the City Code of Ordinances.
Body
Committee Chair:
Victoria Watlington, Housing, Safety and Community
Staff Resource(s):
Stephanie Kelly, City Clerk's Office
Kirk McSwain, City Clerk's Office
Explanation
* The Charlotte City Council established the Citizens Review Board in 1997 to review appeals challenging Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's (CMPD) disciplinary decisions.
* The Board reviews appeals filed by citizens concerning CMPD disciplinary decisions in five types of cases:
1. Unbecoming conduct by an officer;
2. Improper use of force by an officer;
3. Unauthorized arrest, search, seizure by an officer;
4. The discharge of a firearm by an officer that results in death or injury; and
5. Arbitrary profiling (added in 2015).
* The Citizens Review Board has eleven members: three appointed by the Mayor, five appointed by City Council, and three appointed by the City Manager.
* In order to qualify to serve, a person must be a registered voter and citizen of Mecklenburg County, have no conviction or nolo contendere plea to a felony or Class A misdemeanor or Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor within three years of nomination, execute a Confidentiality Agreement, and complete the CMPD Citizens' Academy.
Proposed Changes
* The proposed amendments will:
* Revise Section 16-56 to modify annual training requirement for Citizens Review Board members from eight hours to four hours; and
* Revise Section 16-62 to modify the required process response times from seven to 14 calendar days as follows:
a) The Chief of Police shall review the determination and findings of fact of the Citizens Review Board and any other information at his disposal. The Chief of Police shall take such action as he deems appropri...
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