Citizen's Review Board

Wichita Citizen Review Board Minutes December 12, 2019 4 p.m. City Hall Board Room 455 N. Main Wichita, KS 67202 Present: Jay Fowler, Dennis Bender, Sharon Ailslieger, Stephanie Luna, Paul Kitchen, Roger Thompson, Jaime Lopez, Chief Ramsay, Captain Duff, Captain Pinkston, Jennifer Magana, Keely Bean. 1. Call to Order— Chairperson Fowler The meeting was called to order at approximately 4:07 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes No additions or corrections made to minutes. Sims made a motion to approve the November 7, 2019 minutes. Second by Lopez. The motion passed unanimously. 3. Public Agenda - 15 minutes is set aside for this portion of the meetings. No one signed up for Public Agenda. 4. Chief’s Update – Chief Ramsay Pinkston noted that Chief Ramsay was double booked and asked the Board if Ramsay could provide statistics prior to the Staff Report update. The Board agreed. Ramsay gave crime trend statistics regarding robberies, auto thefts, residential burglaries, aggravated assaults, and homicides. Ramsay stated robbery reports are down and auto theft is down 50%. Aggravated assaults continue to rise with gun crime, which includes domestic violence (DV) related incidents. Approximately 3-4 (DV) incidents result in homicide. Ramsay wants to continue to build partnerships with other agencies for women who remain in DV situations or want to attempt to leave a DV situation. Approximately 11 incidents resulting in homicide have occurred within 30 days. Crime Stopper tips have risen and is the highest amount as of November 2019. Ramsay provided staffing numbers, stating WPD is staffed at 660 and will hire approximately 100 people by 2020. A class of 34 is set for January 2020, which will hold 13-14 women. WPD hired 3 people for lateral positions; these individuals will start in January 2020. Ramsay discussed the racial profiling numbers provided by KAKE. Ramsay stated that discrepancies were found with the numbers prior to being released. Ramsay asked Walt Chappell if he would hold off on submitting the numbers; however, Chappell made promises to the media and went ahead to present the numbers. Wichita Citizen Review Board December 12, 2019 Page 1 of 3 Ramsay stated he would be bringing in a third party, Dr. Birzer, to review racial profiling statistics, and will keep the Board updated. Fowler inquired what the Board’s duties are regarding racial profiling qualifications. Magana stated that members attend training, but no specific duties are necessary. Magana would review the ordinance. Bender asked of the plans the Department has regarding parolees throughout the state. Ramsay stated he met with the new DOC Commissioner over these concerns. It was provided to the Board that the Commissioner and Ramsay are concerned regarding available housing, transportation, services, etc. Sims inquired about new recruits to be commissioned officers. Ramsay stated the recruits would be commissioned and 3 lateral positions would be filled. Sims inquired about the content of field training (FTO). Ramsay asked Pinkston if he would contact Captain Weible at Training regarding the Board’s request. Bender noted he went on a homicide callout with Deputy Chief Salcido. 5. Staff Report Update – Captain Pinkston and Captain Duff Pinkston began the update stating 8 entries of the previous month had been closed. Pinkston stated there were 36 new entries. External and internal entries came out even. Pinkston noted the Year-to-Date statistics show 204 external complaints and 137 internal complaints. Pinkston provided a summary report to the Board. The Board was asked to send an email to Pinkston or Bean with PSB numbers for Executive Sessions. Ailslieger voiced her concerns regarding rude conduct complaints. Pinkston stated that rude conduct is very common regarding external complaints. Pinkston stated that the Department does sustain for rude conduct, but officers may also be coached and mentored. Sims asked for clarification that 18PSB-3291 was an old case to be reviewed. 6. Report – Community Engagement Meeting – Board Members Fowler wanted feedback from the Board members who attended the Community Engagement Meeting: Ailslieger, Thompson, Harris, and Fowler. Thompson stated the event was positive; however, citizens arrived at their table and had no idea who the Board members were or who they represented. Thompson stated there is a disconnect where information isn’t being sent out to the community. Fowler noted Luna’s suggestion at a Facebook page for the Board members. Wichita Citizen Review Board December 12, 2019 Page 2 of 3 Magana stated there was no legal issue to have a Facebook page. Ailslieger noted that the event was positive, but there seemed to be an organizational issue. Pinkston wanted to know if there was an outline for the tables, and Ailslieger stated there was not. Fowler mentioned there was a flyer of who attended the event. Duff took notes regarding Ailslieger’s request for a more organized event and better opportunity to speak with other representatives. Fowler stated that the event could have used younger people participating in the event, but thought the subject matter was the best event he had attended. 7. Executive Session– Captain Duff and Captain Pinkston Duff noted the Board will review investigation 18PSB-3291. A summary was given to the Board prior to dismissal that the Board would be reviewing an suspicious character incident at a QuikTrip location where force was used. Fowler moved that the Board go into Executive Session to return no sooner than 30 minutes to discuss a personnel matter. Second by Sims. The motion passed unanimously at approximately 4:44 p.m. The Board reconvened at 5:24 p.m. and Fowler noted that no action was taken in Executive Session. 8. New Business – Chairperson Fowler The Board requested a review of racial profiling statistics for February or March. Sims requested a member from the racial profiling training be invited to speak to the Board regarding the racial profiling statistics. Fowler requested a date for the January meeting. The Board agreed the next meeting to be held on January 23, 2020. Bean mentioned that the Advanced Learning Library was booked for this date. Bender requested that a member of the Board be present during racial profiling statistic meetings. Pinkston stated he would get clarification from the Chief regarding Bender’s request. Bender noted that the December 12th meeting would be his final meeting. Bender requested the Chief contact the City Manager about extending his term. 9. Adjourn Lopez made a motion to adjourn. Second by Ailslieger. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m. Wichita Citizen Review Board December 12, 2019 Page 3 of 3