Review Board Plans Get Mixed Reaction

Tue., Feb. 21, 1995

By Kristina Johnson kristinaj@spokesman.com

Plans to overhaul a review board that looks into complaints of police misconduct got mixed reviews from Spokane residents Monday.

City Council members last week learned about plans to replace the troubled Citizens Review Panel with the Citizens Review Commission, a smaller board that has greater access to public records.

This week, they learned how the public felt about the proposal.

Several complained the board still didn’t have the power it needed to be effective. Others said the proposal would discourage people from coming forward with complaints. Still others worried the police chief had too much control over the board’s decisions.

Under the proposal, Chief Terry Mangan would forward complaints about police misconduct to the commission. Complaints about police procedure would be sent to the Police Advisory Board, a 31-member board made up of representatives from various organizations.

The proposed seven-member commission, including a retired police officer, a retired judge or attorney and five residents, would first review a condensed complaint before deciding whether to have a hearing.

After a hearing, members could get the entire case file, but their review would be limited to the police department’s investigation.

Julia Schauble, a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, said, “Basically, the ACLU is pleased with the general direction,” but doesn’t think the plan goes far enough.

She said the ACLU would like to see all complaints forwarded to the commission, not just those involving misconduct.

Schauble also said those with complaints should be allowed representation during hearings before the commission. Under the proposal, only the complainant can speak.

Jim O’Conner, an attorney, said that as the proposal stands, he wouldn’t advise clients to take complaints to the commission.

“As I read it, here’s a procedure that seems to be afraid of real stringent review of police behavior and procedures,” he said.

But Mel Carter, chairman of the Police Advisory Board, applauded the plan, saying it would “really mean a step forward for the city of Spokane.”

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