C I T Y O F F O R T P I E R C E
POLICE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Regular Meeting - Thursday, October 8, 2020 - 4:30 p.m.MINUTES
Fort Pierce City Hall, Commission Chambers, 100 N US Highway 1, Fort Pierce, FL
- Present:
- Melvin Jones, Sr.; Charles Hayek; James Edwards; Dr. Pinkie Hendley; Derrick Gibbons
- Staff Present:
-
- Chief of Police Diane Hobley-Burney
- Sergeant Jason Braun
1.
CALL TO ORDER
4:39 pm
2.
OPENING PRAYER
Member Hendley prayed.
3.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4.
ROLL CALL
5.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.
Approval of the Meeting Minutes from the September 10, 2020 meeting.
Motion was made by Melvin Jones, Sr., seconded by Derrick Gibbons to approve the agenda for the meeting with the correction to state that a motion was moved by Member Jones to have the agenda adjusted to allow for the presentation by the New Leadership Society.
- AYE:
- Charles Hayek, Derrick Gibbons, James Edwards, Melvin Jones, Sr., Dr. Pinkie Hendley
Passed
6.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Any person who wishes to comment on any subject on this Agenda may be heard at this time. Please sign the sign-up sheet in order to speak. Please limit your comments to no more than three (3) minutes, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The Police Community Advisory Board will not be able to take any official action under “Comments from the Public” section.
Any person who wishes to comment on any subject on this Agenda may be heard at this time. Please sign the sign-up sheet in order to speak. Please limit your comments to no more than three (3) minutes, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The Police Community Advisory Board will not be able to take any official action under “Comments from the Public” section.
None
7.
OLD BUSINESS
A.
PCAC Community Survey update.
Member Hayek reported that he made contact with Mr. Mimms about placing the survey on the city’s website. Since the survey was developed by the Committee, it would need to be presented to the City Commission.Staff Braun reported that he contacted City Clerk, Linda Cox for guidance on how to proceed, and that an agenda item would need to be created for the Committee to make its presentation to the Commission.
8.
NEW BUSINESS
A.
Finalize recommendation by the CPAC on the presentation by the New Leadership Society of Fort Pierce.
Staff Hobley-Burney informed the Committee that the Citizens’ Academy has commenced at the police department. Attendance and interactions from participants have been going well. The Academy will take place every Tuesday until the second Tuesday of November 2020.
The department is in the process of conducting training. These trainings will cover report writing and the compilation of body worn camera reports. Random samples of these reports are being pulled for quality assurance purposes. Staff Hobley-Burney also shared that the policies and procedures of the department are being streamlined.
As it relates to traffic stops, the Committee was apprised that the process is being scrutinized. A script is being utilized to guide officers on how to conduct these stops. Officers are required to introduce themselves, explain the reason for the traffic stop, as well as to share with drivers, their rights. Discretion is also being exercised since more traffic warnings are being issued than citations to prevent any undue stress on drivers. Officers are also required to report all traffic stops, and that body worn cameras are being reviewed to identify any significant patterns.
The department is in the process of conducting training. These trainings will cover report writing and the compilation of body worn camera reports. Random samples of these reports are being pulled for quality assurance purposes. Staff Hobley-Burney also shared that the policies and procedures of the department are being streamlined.
As it relates to traffic stops, the Committee was apprised that the process is being scrutinized. A script is being utilized to guide officers on how to conduct these stops. Officers are required to introduce themselves, explain the reason for the traffic stop, as well as to share with drivers, their rights. Discretion is also being exercised since more traffic warnings are being issued than citations to prevent any undue stress on drivers. Officers are also required to report all traffic stops, and that body worn cameras are being reviewed to identify any significant patterns.
B.
Department Update.
9.
STAFF COMMENTS
As it relates to the development of the citation for the decriminalization of marijuana, Staff Hobley-Burney noted that the City Attorney’s involvement would be needed.
10.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Motion was made by Derrick Gibbons, seconded by Melvin Jones, Sr. to proceed with the recommendation of a written citation for the decriminalization of marijuana by Member Jones and seconded by Member Gibbons.
- AYE:
- Charles Hayek, Derrick Gibbons, James Edwards, Melvin Jones, Sr.
- NAY:
- Dr. Pinkie Hendley
Passed
Member Hayek in reference to the New Leadership Society’s presentation stated that the proposal was reasonable. He enquired if members of the Committee had conducted any research on the decriminalization of marijuana in other jurisdictions.
Clarification was sought by Member Hendley about the expectation of the Committee as it relates to the decriminalization of marijuana. She pointed out that the task given by the Commission to the Committee, to review the proposal from the New Leadership Society should be undertaken by the police department.
As an advisory Committee to the Commission, Member Gibbons noted that the Committee has an obligation to hear the concerns of citizens. As such, the Committee would serve as a gatekeeper for the Commission.
Member Jones informed members that in Palm Beach County testing for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is only being done on the trafficking amount. He said the Committee needs to make a rational decision based on the Commission’s request so we can move forward. He suggested that a review of the required bylaws was critical.
Clarification was sought by Member Hendley about the expectation of the Committee as it relates to the decriminalization of marijuana. She pointed out that the task given by the Commission to the Committee, to review the proposal from the New Leadership Society should be undertaken by the police department.
As an advisory Committee to the Commission, Member Gibbons noted that the Committee has an obligation to hear the concerns of citizens. As such, the Committee would serve as a gatekeeper for the Commission.
Member Jones informed members that in Palm Beach County testing for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is only being done on the trafficking amount. He said the Committee needs to make a rational decision based on the Commission’s request so we can move forward. He suggested that a review of the required bylaws was critical.
Staff Braun will seek clarification from the City Clerk on how to proceed with adding the Committee’s recommendation to the agenda for the Commission’s meeting.
Member Edwards enquired about the department’s procedures on the use of body worn cameras. Staff Hobley-Burney outlined that officers cannot manipulate body worn camera information, and that disciplinary procedures are in place to deal with officers who do not comply. She outlined that there is rumor spreading about how officers can manipulate the information on the body worn camera, and that they are not disciplined for non-compliance. She said those claims were unwarranted. Reference was made to the recent call for officers to be arrested for failure to upload their camera, and that the department’s policy was not strong enough to deal with non-compliance. She pointed out that Fort Pierce was the only city in the Treasure Coast that has body worn cameras for police officers.
Staff Hobley-Burney pointed out that when officers are in breach they are properly disciplined. In the hospital incident, she noted that one officer was charged and one was being disciplined. She said the police department has been working assiduously so that it is compliant with the required procedures for law enforcement agencies. As a result, the Department of Justice (DOJ) was invited to conduct a thorough review of the department’s policies and procedures. Reference was made to the number of trainings that officers have had so that the department can remain compliant as a law enforcement agency.
Member Edwards enquired about the department’s procedures on the use of body worn cameras. Staff Hobley-Burney outlined that officers cannot manipulate body worn camera information, and that disciplinary procedures are in place to deal with officers who do not comply. She outlined that there is rumor spreading about how officers can manipulate the information on the body worn camera, and that they are not disciplined for non-compliance. She said those claims were unwarranted. Reference was made to the recent call for officers to be arrested for failure to upload their camera, and that the department’s policy was not strong enough to deal with non-compliance. She pointed out that Fort Pierce was the only city in the Treasure Coast that has body worn cameras for police officers.
Staff Hobley-Burney pointed out that when officers are in breach they are properly disciplined. In the hospital incident, she noted that one officer was charged and one was being disciplined. She said the police department has been working assiduously so that it is compliant with the required procedures for law enforcement agencies. As a result, the Department of Justice (DOJ) was invited to conduct a thorough review of the department’s policies and procedures. Reference was made to the number of trainings that officers have had so that the department can remain compliant as a law enforcement agency.
Motion was made by Derrick Gibbons, seconded by Melvin Jones, Sr. to excuse the absences of Members Hendley and James.
- AYE:
- Charles Hayek, Derrick Gibbons, Melvin Jones, Sr.
- Other:
- James Edwards (ABSTAIN), Dr. Pinkie Hendley (ABSTAIN)
Passed
Members Hendley and Edwards were absent from the September meeting due to personal and family reasons.
11.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Melvin Jones, Sr., seconded by Derrick Gibbons to adjourn the meeting at 5:24 pm.
- AYE:
- Charles Hayek, Derrick Gibbons, James Edwards, Melvin Jones, Sr., Dr. Pinkie Hendley
Passed