Civilian Police Review & Advisory Board

MINUTES CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW AND ADVISORY BOARD Regular Meeting March 14, 2024 In Person at the Morgantown Public Library, and by Zoom Members Present: Rich Burks, Rachel Fetty, Bob Cohen, Dady Dadyburjor, Catherine Fonseca, Megan Gandy (by Zoom), Bryan Church (by Zoom) Also present in person: Brian Butcher, Ben Conley Also present by Zoom: Brandon Viola, Joe Nelson, Kelly Rice, Thomas Tuttle III, John Evans, Kyle Wiggs, Rob ______ 1. Call to Order: 12:11 pm 2. The Minutes of the regular meeting held on February 1, 22024 were approved on motion of Rachel, second by Catherine. 3. OLD BUSINESS A. Review and Evaluation of the Community Forum held on February 8, 2024 It was generally agreed that the Community Forum went very well. A large number of people were in attendance, communications were respectful and were addressed to relevant issues. The presence of Chief Eric Powell and other officers of the Morgantown Police Force was appreciated. It was suggested that for future Community Forums be in a different venue with better audio. This should not be a problem when the renovated City Building is opened. It was also suggested that the 6 pm start time of the Community Forum in February was too early. The 6 pm start time was chosen because of the library’s closing time. If we hold a Community Forum at the renovated City Building, the start time can be set later. One of the Municipal Forum attendees asked for more information about how the ordinance creating the CPRAB came about. It was also felt that there is confusion in the community about the scope of the Board’s authority to consider complaints about the MPD, i.e., a belief that the Board does not want to investigate complaints. It was agreed to expand the brochure to address these points. Rachel will work on this with Catherine’s assistance.  Megan reported on the results of the Community Forum Survey, noting that only 11 attendees answered the survey. However, 10 of the 11 people who answered provided contact information. Megan has prepared a summary of the results of the Community Forum Survey, and it was agreed to send the summary to Chief Powell. The Community Forum Survey should be considered as preliminary to a comprehensive community survey which Megan is working on. This community survey will include focus groups as well as a paper survey. Work designing the comprehensive survey will extend through April. Megan noted that there will be expenses in connection with paying for supplies for the survey. It will be necessary to explore reimbursement for these expenses by the city. B. Review and Evaluation of the Training provided by Prof. James Nolan on February 15 It was agreed that the training was useful. Rich said that he appreciated the data which Prof. Nolan included in the training. Bob stated that after the case study meeting with Chief Powell he had sent an email to Prof. Nolan asking whether the Sheetz incident discussed in the case study was an illustration of the kind of “social control” law enforcement which Prof. Nolan had described in the training. Prof. Nolan replied that it was and suggested an alternative approach to “social control” law enforcement. Board members discussed Prof. Nolan’s suggested approach, which involves bringing the Police Department together with business owners and other stakeholders to try to address issues such as loitering. After a long discussion, it was decided to place this matter on the Agenda for the Board’s next meeting. C. Review and Evaluation of Presentation to City Council on February 27 Rich described his presentation of the Board’s 2023 ANNUAL Report and 2024 Work Plan to City Council at a Committee of the Whole meeting on February 27. The presentation went well and City Councilors’ reaction to the Board’s work was favorable. D. Review and Evaluation of Case Study meeting with Chief Powell on February 29 It was agreed that the discussion of the case study meeting with Chief Powell was useful in gaining an understanding of the MPD’s procedures in situations like the Sheetz incident on August 30, 2021. Rich observed that Chief Powell brought up matters such as the training of MPD officers on which the Board’s input could be useful. Rachel noted that the Board is trying to build a relationship with the MPD, and that the meeting to discuss a particular incident of policing was a way to accomplish this goal. E. Board Vacancies Rachel said that it was her understanding that the city has received more applications for membership on the Board. However, Councilor Brian Butcher stated that no interviews are presently scheduled.  F. Committee Reports i. Training Committee It was decided to seek another training session with Prof. Nolan. ii. Community Outreach Committee To follow up on the Community Forum, the Board intends to have members go to neighborhood meetings around Morgantown to explain what the Board is and what it does, and to get input on how the community views and interacts with the Morgantown Police Department. Rachel will check on when neighborhood meetings are being held. iii. Statistics and Reporting Committee Rich is working to set up a meeting with Chief Powell and MPD data base technician Angie Bell to discuss the “Proposed Data Points for Statistical Reporting.” Rich, Catherine and Bob will attend this meeting for the Board. 4. NEW BUSINESS Rachel noted that the closure of the Bartlett House emergency shelter represents a crisis for the City, and will impact the Morgantown Police Department in that the MPD will be called upon to deal with more situations involving people without housing. Rachel also mentioned that other non-profit agencies in Morgantown are having troubles. Because of the lateness of the hour and the number of members of the public present for the meeting, the Board decided to pass over the remaining new business items and move directly to the public comment period. 5. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Catherine stated that there was a request in the Zoom Chatto record the Board’s meetings and make them available for viewing in the future. By way of response, Bryan noted that this will be more easily accomplished when the renovated City Building is opened and the Board can hold meetings there. There were no other public comments. 6. The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 pm. Minutes prepared by Bob Cohen