Community Forum: Police Accountability Board Update & Action

On March 19, 2018, members of the Police Accountability Board transition team, members of the PAB Alliance, and supporting organizations held a community forum meant to update the public as well as offer actions to take in support of the campaign.

Full video of forum above.

The event took place in the evening at the Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word with the help of Pastor Doug Stewart. The event was wheelchair accessible and had ASL interpretation.

Source documents pertaining to civilian review and police accountability

The Police Accountability Board proposed legislation demands five items be included in any City Council ordinance: 1) the creation of an agency of the city, independent of the Rochester Police Department; 2) independent investigative authority; 3) subpoena power; 4) the power discipline officers who are found to have committed misconduct; 5) assess and review RPD policy and procedures and make recommended changes.

The next community forum will take place in mid-late April at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Details are being sorted out now. Check EnoughIsEnough.rocus.org for details as they become solidified.

This forum gave a chance for the general public and PAB-endorsing organizations to learn and talk about the Police Accountability Board. There was also an update on the status of the PAB with City Council. Action items were discussed. The coalition pushing this proposed ordinance has momentum, but are calling for the community to come together and mobilize in order to push it through.

Rochester Police Department documents obtained through Freedom Of Information Law requests

Speakers included: Pastor Wanda Wilson (ROC/Acts), Betty Hancock (ROC/Acts), Barbara Lacker-Ware (Enough Is Enough), AJ Durwin (Rochester Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild), Ted Forsyth (Enough Is Enough), Matt DeLaus (Flying Squirrel Community Space) and Chris Amato (Rochester Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America). Scean Gordon and Jessenia Edgeston shared their personal experiences with police violence.

Remember: justice requires accountability and accountability requires independence.

Donate to the PAB Legal Fund!

Enough is enough!

Related: Panel on the overhaul of bail, speedy trial & discovery laws in New York State | Community demands Police Accountability Board with discipline | The Intersection of Black Lives Matter and Palestine