The Police Accountability Board Alliance thanks City Council and calls on the community to attend public forums (January 18, 2019)

The Police Accountability Board Alliance thanks City Council and calls on the community to attend public forums

The Police Accountability Board (PAB) legislation released by Rochester City Council is unreal. It is a stunning victory for the community on the journey toward justice. It very closely mirrors what the Alliance has called for and includes our five pillars meaning that a body of civilians will not only have the powers to investigate claims of police misconduct and issue subpoenas, but they will be able to discipline Rochester police officers!

When Enough Is Enough and the Rochester Coalition for Police Reform jointly released The Case for an Independent Police Accountability System: Transforming the Civilian Review Process in Rochester, New York it pointed to nine cities and one county (Chicago, IL; Syracuse, NY; Newark, NJ; Oakland, CA; New York, NY; Albuquerque, NM; Albany, NY; Austin, TX; La Angeles County, CA; and Seattle, WA) that were ranked in the order that demonstrated which aspects of each were “essential for an accountable and transparent review process and which [were] not.” Assuming Rochester City Council passes the legislation that they’ve introduced, Rochester, NY will shoot to the top of the list as having the most comprehensive police accountability system in the nation. We are looking at a 50 year demand finally being addressed in this city. This work was built upon the vision, labor, and tenacity of those before us, particularly in the Black community. We are grateful. We are at historical precipice.

The Alliance and its Executive Committee acknowledges and thanks Rochester City Council, especially under the leadership of President Loretta Scott, for introducing Police Accountability Board legislation. We appreciate City Council’s courage in challenging and holding the Mayor’s proposed police accountability legislation in committee, as well as their persistence in working with the community to create a PAB inclusive of the five pillars of accountability: (1) an entity of City government, independent from the Rochester Police Department, (2) investigatory authority, (3) subpoena power, (4) disciplinary authority using a disciplinary matrix, and (5) the power to review patterns, practices, policies and procedures to prevent misconduct from happening in the first place. President Loretta Scott has assured the Alliance, and the media, that a veto proof piece of legislation will be passed next month.

As the public reviews the legislation with more scrutiny, there will no doubt be concerns raised. The Alliance welcomes this feedback and we will sit with members of the community to find solutions. There is always work to be done to ensure that the most heavily policed communities have sufficient representation on the PAB to effectively use the powers noted above. As Angela Y. Davis has noted, “Freedom is a constant struggle.”

Now that City Council has released their legislation, the next steps in the process are three community forums, and then a vote by City Council. The Alliance encourages all City residents, especially communities regularly targeted by police, to come to these forums and make your voices heard:

• January 23rd @ 5:30-7:00 - Frederick Douglass R-Center - 999 South Avenue

• January 28th @ 5:30-7:00 - Danforth R-Center - 200 West Avenue

• January 31st @ 5:30-7:00 - City Hall - 30 Church Street

If you can't make it, please send your comments to council@cityofrochester.gov.

On February 19, 2019, 6:30pm, at City Hall, Rochester City Council will vote on this legislation. We encourage all those seeking justice and accountability from police violence to attend.

The struggle for justice and equitable policing is not over, but establishment of a powerful PAB is a solid foundation from which to build upon.

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