Civilian Police Review & Advisory Board

MINUTES CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW AND ADVISORY BOARD Regular Meeting November 14, 2024 In Person at the Morgantown Public Library, and by Zoom Members Present: Rachel Fetty (by Zoom), Bob Cohen, Catherine Fonseca, Bryan Church (by Zoom) , Dady Dadyburjor (by Zoom), Megan Gandy (by Zoom) Also present: Ben Conley Also present by Zoom: John Evans, Joe Nelson, Mary Ann 1. Call to Order: 12:09 pm 2. Minutes of the regular meeting held on October 28 2024 were approved on motion of Dady, seconded by Bryan 3. COMMITTEE REPORTS – A. Statistics and Reporting Committee No report. B. Community Outreach Committee Megan reported that the creation of the Board’s Facebook page was blocked by Facebook’s automated technology for the reason that we were allegedly “[c]reating a page or profile that looks like it belongs to a brand or business.” Rachel said that she had tried to create the page using her personal Facebook page. She thought that this was why Facebook rejected the Board’s page. It was agreed that Megan will contact the City and get assistance in setting up a Facebook page for the Board. Additionally, Rachel asked Megan to the City for assistance in setting up an Instagram page for the Board. 4. OLD BUSINESS A. Regarding the Police Department’s citizen complaint form and instructions, Bob had circulated the workgroup proposal for revisions to the complaint form and instructions prior to this meeting. The proposal also included a commendation form so that Morgantown residents could easily inform the Police Department of instances where officers and other employees should be commended. Rachel explained that the 1  proposed changes were intended to make the complaint form and instructions more accessible and easier for citizens to use. Members of the Board who were not part of the workgroup generally liked the proposals for revisions to the instructions and complaint form, and the inclusion of a commendation form. Dady stated that he agreed with all of the major changes in the proposal but had a number of stylistic or editorial changes. It was agreed that Dady would put those suggestions in writing and send them to the workgroup. Megan and Catherine questioned the proposal’s naming of the Police Department social worker as the person to contact if citizens needed help understanding the instructions or filling out the form (a provision not in the present instructions). It was agreed that the workgroup would contact the City for suggestions on a City official who could be identified in the instructions as a person to contact for help with the form. It was also suggested that the Board be identified as an entity that a person could go to for help with the form. If contacted, the Board member would only provide assistance in understanding the instructions or filling out the form, and would not be involved in any consideration or investigation of the citizen’s substantive allegations about the Police Department. It was agreed that Board members would circulate any written comments about the workgroup’s proposal within a week. Then the workgroup would submit another draft of revised instructions and forms at the Board’s next general meeting. Megan offered to help with putting the document in final form for submission to the Police Department. B. There was discussion of the need to increase membership on the Board. It was understood that a number of people have applied for membership but have been rejected by City Council. It was agreed that Rachel would talk with the Mayor about putting the matter of increasing Board membership on the agenda of a City Council meeting. 5. NEW BUSINESS Plans for the preparation of the Board’s Annual Report were discussed. A motion was approved to make this matter the responsibility of the Statistics and Reporting Committee. 6. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments. However, Rachel reported that she had heard from a homeless couple of an incident where an unidentified Morgantown Police officer had been very helpful. The couple was experiencing car trouble when the officer approached them. The officer realized that the couple had health problems and 2  purchased hygiene supplies for them from CVS using his own money. It was agreed that Rachel would communicate this incident to the Chief of Police. 7. The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 pm. Minutes prepared by Bob Cohen 3