Humboldt County -
 Coalition For Police Review
The Time To Act Is NOW; We need $400 for filing fees for initiatives (mouse over for more)Police Review: The Time To Act Is NOW Humboldt County Coalition for Police Review After numerous police slayings and other acts of brutality and excessive force, Humboldt County residents are coming together to get police review implemented (not just discussed) in their communities. To this end, the Coalition for Police Review is now raising money to file police review initiatives in Eureka and Arcata, as well as working with Blue Lake residents to get their City Council to implement independent civilian review of their respective law enforcement agencies. Some might ask, why aren’t we trying to get the City Councilmembers in Eureka and Arcata to do this without the effort of a ballot initiative campaign? Well, CPR did, and four years later, there’s been no substantive action to reign in the abusive activities several officers from each agency continue to exhibit. In Arcata, police review is only supported by one of the currently serving Councilmembers, despite repeated incidents of physical brutality especially targeted against students and homeless people, including the tasering of a comatose man in an alley behind the Plaza. In Eureka, the well-publicized slayings of several men and women over the last three years (which have given the city the dubious honor of the highest rate of police slayings per person in California) continue to be defended by lame justifications by the new police chief, whose new administration bears many hallmarks of the scandal-ridden one which he replaced. In both cases, elected officials have demonstrated paralysis, blame-shifting and a general lack of concern for the well-being of their constituents. While the City Council in Blue Lake, given the unprecedented level of disrepute their police department has sunk to, is showing interest in civilian review, this is not the case in Arcata or Eureka. Those governments have not acted, despite these outrages, and clearly will not act without an act of the people to make accountability a reality for EPD and APD. That’s why the police review initiatives, which have been exhaustively researched, rewritten and vetted for legality, are ready to roll out in front of voters. But that’s where CPR supporters are needed, and needed now. We need to raise the $200 filing fee for both the Arcata and the Eureka proposals this week. Thus far, thanks to three generous donations, we are $71 closer to that goal for Eureka – but $129 more for Eureka is needed, as well as the full $200 for Arcata. Any amount to help achieve this goal is vitally needed, and needed now. Please drop your cash donations by the Coalition for Police Review office at 917 3rd Street, Eureka (shared with the Redwood ACLU) as soon as you can.

Useful Links
Local
Humboldt County Human Rights Commission
Civil Liberties Monitoring Project
Location of CPR office

National and International
NACOLE
NACOLE's links;
CLMP's links;
POLICE REVIEW MISSION STATEMENT

Police officers are public employees faced with the difficult task of enforcing the law. Of necessity police officers are invested with a great deal of discretion in the performance of their duties. In performing their duties, police officers must obey scrupulously the laws they enforce. Since police officers are often in confrontative situations and violence is a frequent component, the job they do is as a matter of definition is likely to cause questions about the conduct of the police.

While most police departments have a system of internal review, the problem is obvious. A police department is investigating itself.

It is simply unreasonable in logic to expect any one to impartially investigate themselves, their friends or their colleagues.

Civilian police review is the way to monitor the conduct of police officers in the community they police.

As per the ordinance, the Police Review Commission as envisioned would have the power the investigate complaints, review police tactics and policies and report to the city council.

Citizens would have the right and the vehicle to investigate claims of police misconduct, improper tactics, or improper policies. Police officers would have a forum to show that their actions, tactics, or departmental policies are appropriate.

By having a forum to air complaints regarding the local police, it is probable that less claims under the Government Tort Claims Act will be filed against the local police agency.

Independent Police Review makes it possible for the police and the community to get on the same page and work together towards better policing of the community.

Police review stands for openness, accountability, and transparency in policing our community. It does not suggest impropriety on the part of our local police agencies. It is unequivocal that no one, least of all one in the public sector, can, or should, be required, entrusted, or allowed to investigate themselves.
Police Review Blog
Public Forum: The Future Of Blue Lake Police Tuesday April 29th 6:30 p.m.
posted by Redwood ACLU on 12-31-1969 5:00:00pm
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CPR Meeting Wednesday May 14th 5:30 p.m.
posted by policereview on 12-31-1969 5:00:00pm
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HRC FORUM: Police Review In Humboldt County Thursday April 10th 7pm
posted by Redwood ACLU on 12-31-1969 5:00:00pm
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CPR FORUM: Does Arcata Need A SWAT Team? Thurs. Mar. 27th 6-8pm
posted by Redwood ACLU on 12-31-1969 5:00:00pm
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Police Review: The Time To Act Is NOW
posted by Redwood ACLU on 12-31-1969 5:00:00pm
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PRESS RELEASE: CPR Praises SWAT Dissolution, Calls For Greater Disclosure Regarding Public Safety Committee
posted by Redwood ACLU on 12-31-1969 5:00:00pm
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Coalition For Police Review Blog
news
Target targets you
posted by admin on 03-23-2007 10:31:33am
After recent police shootings heated debates took place in Eureka with most opposing the shootings and condemning the apparent kangaroo style self “investigations” and others, mostly anonymous, defending the “rights” of police to “clean up our streets” by simply shooting people on dubious pretenses. Who exactly it is that supports these extra-judicial shootings will likely [...](continued)
American Civil Liberties Union

ACLU Sues Denver Seeking Disclosure Of DNC-Related Purchases Of Police Equipment
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
DENVER -- Invoking Colorado's open records laws, the ACLU of Colorado filed suit today in Denver District Court, asking that Denver be ordered to disclose records related to budgeting for and purchase of police equipment dating from January 2007, when Denver was selected as the host city for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.(continued)

ACLU Foundation of Arizona to Honor New Times Executives at Annual Bill of Rights Dinner on March 29
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
PHOENIX ? The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Foundation of Arizona will honor New Times executives Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin at its annual Bill of Rights Dinner on March 29 at the Heard Museum. The evening will feature a keynote address by Lacey, who along with Larkin, was arrested by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for exposing police misconduct and refusing to turn over records about their readers to local law enforcement.(continued)

ACLU Defends Border Patrol Agents for Exposing Practice of 'Shotgunning'
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
TUCSON ? The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico today filed suit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authorities on behalf of two CBP agents who were suspended from duty after speaking out against the agency's practice of "shotgunning traffic"--i.e., randomly stopping vehicles without reasonable suspicion. Agents Juan Curbelo and William Leafstone, Jr. have worked for the CBP for 12 years.(continued)

MCLU to Appeal Verdict in Excessive Force Case
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
PORTLAND, ME ? Attorneys with the Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation today said they would appeal a U.S. District Court decision granting summary judgment to a South Portland police officer who was accused of using excessive force against a Westbrook woman.(continued)

ACLU/SC Says LAPD Has Not Addressed Root Causes Of Last Year's Melee
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
One year and numerous investigations later, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has still not addressed the root causes of last year?s melee in MacArthur Park in which hundreds of peaceful demonstrators and journalists were beaten and injured by LAPD officers, according to the ACLU of Southern California.(continued)

ACLU of Washington Supports Professor Detained for Taking Photos on Public Property
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
SEATTLE ? The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today filed a lawsuit on behalf of Shirley Scheier, a University of Washington professor who was detained by city of Snohomish police for taking photographs of power lines as part of an art project. Filed in Snohomish County Superior Court, the lawsuit seeks compensation for her wrongful detention.(continued)

ACLU of Washington Wins Compensation For Wrongfully Arrested Photographer
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
SEATTLE ? The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today announced that a Seattle man has obtained a settlement of $8,000 from the city of Seattle after he was arrested simply for taking photographs of police making an arrest. The ACLU represented the photographer in his wrongful arrest case.(continued)

ACLU Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Protecting Fourth Amendment Rights of Car Passengers
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union applauded today?s decision by the United States Supreme Court in Brendlin v. California, recognizing that passengers in a car that is stopped by the police are seized as well as the driver, and therefore have the same right under the Fourth Amendment to protest an unconstitutional stop that is based on the police officer?s whim rather than evidence of wrongdoing.(continued)

HipHop Against Policy Brutality, ACLU of Texas and Abilene NAACP to Co-Host Youth Summit
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
ABILENE, TX ? Three civil rights organizations are joining forces to host the first annual Abilene HipHop Summit. The HipHop Summit will be held Saturday, June 16, 2007 at the Abilene Civic Center, 1100 North 6th St. Abilene, Texas from 10 am to 2pm. Registration will begin at 9:30am. The HipHop Summit theme urges young people to ?Express, Empower, and Educate? themselves to become positive agents for change in their schools and community.(continued)

ACLU Sues City of New Orleans and Chief Riley on Behalf of Business Manager Brutalized by Out of Control NOPD Officers
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
NEW ORLEANS - The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of a Central City businessman Steven Elloie, who was brutally beaten up, tasered twice with up to 50,000 volts of electricity while handcuffed and lying on the ground, falsely arrested on trumped up charges and eventually cleared of the accusation. A complaint with the Public Integrity Bureau (PIB) or internal affairs was given short shrift and appeared to be a part of a conspiracy at the highest levels to protect the offending officers.(continued)

ACLU Applauds State Senate Vote to Restore Public Oversight of Police
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
SACRAMENTO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California applauded today's state Senate vote to restore public access to records and public hearings related to complaints about police misconduct.(continued)

New York City to Pay $60,000 to Settle Lawsuit by Bronx Teachers Arrested for Questioning Police Treatment of Students
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union and co-counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP today announced the settlement of a lawsuit filed last year on behalf of two high school teachers who were arrested, handcuffed and verbally abused by the New York Police Department without cause after they questioned police officers handcuffing students who had been involved in a fight.(continued)

ACLU of Southern California Statement on LAPD MacArthur Park Investigation
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
LOS ANGELES ? American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California staff attorney Peter Bibring today criticized the L.A. Police Department?s preliminary after-action report about the May 1 action at MacArthur Park. His expanded remarks to the L.A. City Council are below:(continued)

ACLU of Southern California Asks Court to Address L.A. Police Action at MacArthur Park
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
LOS ANGELES - Today the ACLU of Southern California asked a judge to evaluate the May 1 actions by the L.A. Police Department's Metropolitan Division in light of the federal consent decree adopted in the wake of the Rampart brutality scandal.(continued)

Police Documents Released by NYCLU Show Broad Surveillance of Peaceful Political Activity Before RNC
03-23-2007 10:31:33am
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today released approximately 600 pages of NYPD intelligence documents that detail a major and often unlawful NYPD political surveillance operation of political activity preceding the 2004 Republican National Convention.(continued)
News Releases
Does Arcata Need A SWAT Team? -3-24-08This question and more will be explored at an upcoming forum in Arcata, whose police chief has previously stated he thought it was a "good idea" for a county-wide SWAT Team to operate in Arcata and throughout Humboldt County. While the event's sponsors are not necessarily against a SWAT Team, questions of use-of-force policies, weapons procurement and conditions under which such a team would be deployed remain unanswered, especially in light of the deployment of a county-wide team of officers who broke up a pro-homeless protest in Arcata last year. The forum will also discuss the upcoming November election, in which activists hope to see an Arcata Police Review Act on the ballot, which would create an independent civilian review board for the Arcata Police Department. The forum, sponsored by the Redwood Chapter ACLU and the Coalition for Police Review, will include speakers and plenty of time for open comment and discussion for local residents. It will be held on Thursday, March 27, 6 p.m. at the Arcata Branch Library, at the corner of 7th and F Street behind Arcata City Hall. For more information, call CPR spokespersons Greg Allen or Christina Allbright (215-5385), or visit redwoodaclu.blogspot.com or coalitionforpolicereview.info.

CPR Praises SWAT Dissolution, Calls For Greater Disclosure Regarding Public Safety CommitteeCPR Praises SWAT Dissolution, Calls For Greater Disclosure Regarding Public Safety Committee At their regular monthly gathering, the Coalition for Police Review took the opportunity to both praise recent moves by Eureka's new Police Chief, Garr Nielsen, as well as taking his bosses in City Hall to task over the lack of public disclosure as to whether the proposed Eureka Public Safety Committee will include the review functions previously promised to CPR spokespersons over a year ago. "It's certainly a welcome move on the part of Nielsen to dispense with the SWAT Team in favor of more community-oriented approaches to local police work," said CPR Spokesperson Christina Allbright. "Nationwide, SWAT Teams have again and again resulted in the needless escalation in levels of police violence, and considering the recent record of police-related deaths in Eureka, this is a well-timed decision on the part of the Eureka Police Department." CPR also praised Nielsen's revision of the cover letter given to members of the public who express interest in filing a complaint against an EPD officer 's conduct, with the threat of prosecution against "false reports" now replaced with additional resources which citizens can turn to if they are dissatisfied with the department's response to their report. Additionally, CPR now provides complaint forms on the CPR website at coalitionforpolicereview.info to alleviate the concerns and fears some members of the public have expressed with obtaining and/or completing complaint forms at the EPD headquarters. "We've received numerous reports of local residents who not only felt intimidated from filing a complaint in the first place, but also from those who didn't feel safe when they were told they had to actually walk into EPD headquarters to file their complaint," Allbright said. "There is no law or precedent which says people have to file their complaints in person, and until Nielsen follows through on making this a more user-friendly process, the Coalition for Police Review will take the initiative to make these forms available to all community members on our website and at our office." Of more grave concern to CPR members is the perception of manipulation and back-room dealing concerning the proposed Public Safety Committee for Eureka. The Coalition has received reports that the charter of the proposed committee will specifically exclude any police review functions concerning the policies, practices and procedures of the EPD, not to mention any review of specific complaints regarding officer conduct. Unconfirmed reports from members of the ad-hoc committee have alleged that their recommendations were altered after-the-fact by city officials, and that one member of the ad-hoc committee resigned in protest due to their frustration over such actions. "When we met with City Manager Dave Tyson back in the summer of 2006 when our initial Police Review Act was in circulation in Eureka, he promised us that the City would take concerted action to implement police review, and we 've since heard similar promises from Councilmembers Glass, Kerrigan and Endert," CPR Spokesperson Greg Allen said. "To see these pledges of support made false through a convoluted ad-hoc committee which completely excluded any members of our Coalition is a grave disappointment. We need full disclosure of what happened during and after these ad-hoc committee meetings, and we insist that city officials not misuse their authority to frustrate the same review procedures which Police Chief Nielsen has already expressed willingness to work with." CPR is looking forward to the Open Mic on local law enforcement tentatively set for Dec. 4th at 5:00 p.m. in Supervisors' Chambers, and will hold its next meeting on Dec. 12th, 5:30 p.m. at their shared office with the Redwood ACLU, located at 917 3rd Street in Old Town Eureka.
News
Commission Report on California?s Death Penalty Points to Excessive Costs, including the Costs of Fixing the System?s Flaws

The first comprehensive study of California?s death penalty was released today by the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice (CCFAJ), a nonpartisan statewide advisory board. The 116 page report highlights a myriad of problems, including the failure to adequately fund defense counsel for poor people facing death sentences, a decades-long appeals process, and the risk that innocent people will be sentenced to death, as has happened in California and other states. (continued)
Settlement with Lake County School District Calls for Comprehensive Approach to Protecting Students from Anti-Gay Harassment

SAN FRANCISCO?The ACLU of Northern California (ACLU-NC) has reached a settlement with the Upper Lake Union Elementary School District that contains a comprehensive series of steps the District will undertake to protect students from anti-gay harassment and discrimination. The agreement is on behalf of a student who was persistently subjected to verbal taunting and physical abuse throughout elementary and middle school based on his gender identity and perceived sexual orientation. The ACLU-NC sought this settlement in light of federal and state laws that allow for school administrators to be held liable if they fail to take adequate measures to remedy anti-LGBT harassment and discrimination.(continued)
Fresno Homeless Residents Win Settlement Over City?s Destruction of Personal Property

United States District Judge Oliver W. Wanger gave preliminary approval today to a $2.35 million class-action settlement between a class of hundreds of homeless Fresno residents and the City of Fresno and the California Department of Transportation. The court had already determined that Fresno?s practice of immediately seizing and destroying the personal possessions of homeless residents violates the constitutional right of every person to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. The homeless plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Kincaid v. Fresno, were represented by a team of attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU-NC), the Lawyers? Committee for Civil Rights (LCCR) and the law firm of Heller Ehrman LLP.(continued)
Lawsuit Seeks Documents Regarding ICE Raids

The ACLU-NC and the Lawyers? Committee for Civil Rights today filed a lawsuit to compel Immigration and Customs Enforcement to comply with requests for documents under the federal Freedom of Information Act.(continued)
Court?s Decision on Marriage Should Go into Effect on Schedule, Says Legal Brief on Behalf of Couples

SAN FRANCISCO ? Attorneys representing same-sex couples, Equality California and Our Family Coalition filed a legal brief today opposing a request to stay the court?s ruling and prevent couples from marrying for several months.(continued)
Judge Overturns Students? Expulsions from High School in Antioch

SAN FRANCISCO ? A Contra Costa County Superior Court has ruled that the Antioch Unified School District violated the rights of two students when it improperly expelled them from school following an off-campus incident in which police officers pepper sprayed the students and forcefully arrested them. The judge overturned the expulsions.(continued)
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