Civilian Police Review & Advisory Board

MINUTES CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW AND ADVISORY BOARD Special Meeting March 28, 2024 In Person at the Morgantown Public Library, and by Zoom Members Present: Rich Burks, Rachel Fetty (by Zoom), Bob Cohen, Dady Dadyburjor, Catherine Fonseca, Megan Gandy Also present in person: John Evans 1. Call to Order: 12:07 pm 2. Minutes of the regular meeting held on March 14, 22024 were approved on motion of Catherine, seconded by Megan 3. NEW BUSINESS A. Procedure for responding to emails sent to the Board Discussion of this issue was deferred because of the absence of Board member Bryan Church. B. Morgantown Police Department Complaint Form The Board extensively discussed the new MPD Complaint Form and Instructions that have been posted on the Police Department website. It was agreed that this form and set of instructions represent an improvement, but questions remain. It was not clear that a complaint could be filed without first going informally to a police officer. Questions were raised about the form asking for a complainant’s Social Security number and witnesses. When a complaint was mailed to the MPD, it was not clear how receipt was documented. It was also felt that the instructions should contain a statement of the MPD’s standards of professionalism, or a link to those standards, as a guide to the public. It was decided to get input from people in the community about the form and instructions, to discuss it at the Board’s next meeting, and then present the Board’s concerns to MPD Chief Powell. C. Body Cameras The Board reviewed MPD General Order 311 entitled “Mobile and Officer Worn Recording Equipment”. There was concern that Section 311.09.02, which sets forth the circumstances under which events will be recorded by officer-worn body cameras in their entirety, was extensive but did not include all situations where police officer encounters with civilians should be recorded. An appropriate standard might be that all contacts with civilians other than incidental or casual contacts should be recorded. Questions were also raised about the reported absence of mobile video recording on MPD vehicles. Additionally, the Board discussed whether structural barriers existed which limited the MPD’s ability to increase video recording and, if so, what those barriers are. It was decided that Rich would draft a letter to Chief Powell raising the Board’s concerns, and circulate it to the members of the Board prior to sending it. 4. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments. 5. The meeting was adjourned at 1:26 pm. Minutes prepared by Bob Cohen