North Cook News

The Evanston Human Services Committee and City Council met Feb. 6 to address issues with the police open house.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the council:

HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE and CITY COUNCIL JOINT MEETING

Monday February 6, 2017

6:00 p.m.

Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue, Evanston IL, Council Chambers

Members Present: Alderman Braithwaite, Alderman Fiske, Alderman Tendam, Alderman

Miller, Alderman Holmes, Alderman. Revelle

City Council Members: Mayor Tisdahl, Alderman Wilson, Alderman Wynne, Alderman

Rainey, Alderman Braithwaite, Alderman Fiske, Alderman Tendam,

Alderman Miller, Alderman Holmes, Alderman Revelle

Members Absent:

Staff Present: Henry Ford, Nicola Whyte, Sergeant Jody Wright, Ike Ogbo, Deputy

Chief Aretha Barnes, Lawrence Hemingway, Wally Bobkiewicz,

Richard Eddington

Presiding Member: Alderman Tendam

CALL TO ORDER / DECLARATION OF QUORUM

Ald. Tendam called the meeting to order at 6:07p m.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES OF December 5, 2016

Ald. Fiske moved approval, Ald. Braithwaite seconded; motion moved 6-0

Stone Terrace Bed and Breakfast (1622 Forest Place) License Renewal

Staff recommends approval of the renewal of the Bed and Breakfast License for Stone Terrace

at 1622 Forest Place Evanston, IL. 60201

For Action

Ald. Fiske moved approval, Ald. Braithwaite seconded; motion approved 6-0

Approval of 2017 Human Services Meeting Dates

Due to Labor Day, 4th of July holidays and the upcoming election three meetings dates require

clarification from the committee.

For Action

Ald. Fiske moved approval, Ald. Braithwaite seconded; motion approved 6-0

The conflicts will be addresses at the time of occurrence.

Citizen’s Comment

Betsy Wilson Founder and President of Sentencing Advocacy Group of Evanston

spoke from the perspective of police reforms and accountability. She liked the City of

Champaign long and open involvement of the residents to formulate their police processes. The

investigators should be independent and should not be accountable to the police department or

city hall. In order to build trust the community’s input is necessary. Making a complaint at the

police department and speaking to an officer may deter complainants from coming forward.

Transparency should be automatic, the release of Mr. Crosby’s video should not have taken so

long, and there should be a system in place which would release videos sooner. The

department should monitor the race and ethnicity in- which they have contact.

Teresa Horton a reproductive physiologist stated the only way to control reproduction

in rats is to control their access to food. A 10% reduction in calories in a female rat aborts one

fetus. The way to get rid of rats in Evanston is to close garbage cans and clean up the streets.

Lawrence Heaney a biologist at the Field Museum of Science research shows poison

kills some of the babies. Rats are smart and cautious; they will not go near a source they know

have killed. Feral cats do not kill adult rats.

Peggy Tarr was not happy with the Police Open House held in January. Chief

Eddington explanation of why the police handled Mr. Crosby’s encounter as they did bothered

her. He said the model vehicle driven by Mr. Crosby is used by individuals engaged in gang

activity and that statement confirms the officers profiled Crosby, a black male. She and other

attendees at the meeting were surprised the police did not run Mr. Crosby’s license plate. Chief

Eddington statement of lack of racism within the department because of the diversity of its

officers was not believed by many residents; the officers’ actions are excused and they are not

punished. If changes are not made the police department will be perceived as the enemy and

residents will not assist to combat criminal behavior. Trust is needed between the department

and residents.

Junad Rizki felt the Mayor and City Council are the real problem, not the police.

Stephanie Moffitt a PhD. candidate at Northwestern University stated students need to

feel safe and some students have said that they do not feel save within this community.

Carlos B. Sutton would like citizen’s participants in the next training session.

Betty Sue Ester inquired as to the function of the Police Advisory Board (resident) and

the Evanston Citizen Police Associate (business).

Shawn Jones spoke on the changes to police policy and the impact of arrests made.

He shared the following statistics; 25% of black male not currently in prison have a criminal

record (February 2015 New York Times), 34% of black-male not working between the ages of

25-54 have a record, and an Urban League study showed 43-47% of black male are

unemployed. An arrest stays on your record whether the case was dismissed or time served;

arrests are showing up on background checks. He urged the police to stop arresting for minor

offences and asked for polices towards that end. Also, the legal staff should demonstrate better

judgement when prosecuting and ease up on the never-back-down attitude. The Moran Center

and Curt’s Café can assists with expungements of records.

Jean-Marie Fraise asked the committee to listen to the residents’ concerns on how

their community is being policed; review how citizens’ complaints are addressed; accountability

should be reevaluated to include public input; put in place transparency and consequences for

officers who use bad judgement; implement a system to discourage officers from racial profiling;

examine the police advisory committee’s role, conduct efforts such as the City of Champagne.

Ms. Fraise requested an official response to her approach.

Melissa Blount expressed concerns over the policy and procedure information that was

included in the meeting packet. The community piece is missing; there does not seem to be

much “community engagement in a real way”. When policies and procedures are made far from

the community in which it impacts you will not have success.

Another concern was that Chief Eddington demonstrated a lack of informed perspective on

community policing, race and white supremacy in the current political climate. She advised to

slow down on implementing policies and procedures and the inclusion training. City Manager

Bobkiewicz currently is being sued for racial discrimination and his participation in the Crosby

case seems conflicting because it speaks to city government not being thoughtful with how

white supremacy impacts policies and procedures.

The current climate is heading into a dangerous place of us versus them dynamic especially

with the police. The police functions “within a raciest narrative that the fearful narrative that is

often impacting and influencing their engagement regardless of their race or gender impacts

and influences how young people or people of color are seen in the community”.

She gave the names of Professor Rachel Godsi, JD and Dr. Tracie Keesee a former police

leader in Denver as leaders in the field of implicit bias and white supremacy in policing

practices.

Josh Leh a PhD candidate at Northwestern said the recent police incidents with Mr.

Crosby and Mr. Reid has had an impact on the graduate students and Northwestern community

overall.

Anna Roosevelt an archeologist and an Evanston resident has noted two biased

actions from the police towards people at her home. Her house-sitter, an elderly AfricanAmerican

man, has mentioned the attention he has receives from the police when house sitting

and officers has banged on her kitchen door inquiring about the two African-American boys who

rakes her yard, they thought them to be thieves. She also noted 22 years ago her neighborhood

on Judson was integrated, it is not today.

Betsy Clarke, President of the Juvenile Justice Initiative, says by not saddling young

people with arrests records and getting out of their way the research has shown the majority of

these young people will go on to be productive individuals. Miami Dade County has done an

excellent job of keeping their young people from having arrest records with diversion programs,

and crime and arrest records are down due to their stance. There should be a greater use of the

Moran Center by the police department.

Pastor Michael Nabors, Second Baptist Church, NAACP President said there is a large

issue, this is an Evanston issue, not just the African–American community issue. If there is a

wrong within any aspect of the community the entirety of Evanston feels the pain. A plan that is

formulated and thrust upon the community will not succeed because it won’t be supported by

the residents. The communities of Evanston voices and concerns have to be heard and to be

able to give their input and offer suggestions. The perception is the African-American

community versus the police. The communities and City has to work together.

Madelyn Ducre thanked everyone in the audience for coming out to the meeting. She

wrote a letter to the attorney general in Washington DC to check on Evanston as they did for

Chicago. Some police officers try their best with the current climate and the problem officers

should leave.

Ms. Giles opinion is that Evanston is on its way to another holocaust and it seems

people of color are being driven out of Evanston.

Mr. Reid stated these discussions and policy changes are due in part to the release of

Mr. Crosby’s video and moving forward video tapes should be more transparent to the public.

Tracy Fulce-Gentle a Professor of Business at Oakton Community College stated

there are a disconnection with what Evanston values and the community being built within the

Evanston Police Department. She suggested looking at onboarding of new officers, how are

they supported.

Police Department Policies and Procedures Update

It is recommended that the Committee receive update and provide direction to staff as

appropriate.

City Manager Walter Bobkiewicz reviewed several of the items discussed by the Human

Services Committee during his 7 year tenure. The actions in Mr. Crosby’s video are difficult to

watch and the discussion tonight is to discuss changes to policy and procedures. To minimize

the reoccurrence of the interactions by police and residents such as in the case of Mr. Crosby

and Mr. Reid requires a review of policies and procedures. The continued contribution of the

community will be sought.

The proposed changes included the areas of training, transparency, citizens’ complaints and

procedure changes;

1. Training in use of force will now be included every year in annual officers’ training

classes beginning with 2017 training cycle.

2. A separate eight hour in-service training on de-escalation tactics (6 hours) and

mental health first aid (2 hours) is scheduled for February 20 and 28, 2017 for all

sworn officers.

3. Public Safety Telecommunicators will participate in an annual Police Department

training session focusing on specific issues impacting EPD beginning in Spring,

2017.

4. The Police Department will begin participating in the Cook County Sheriff’s

Department forty hour Crisis Intervention Team training program in February, 2017

5. Continue training offered by Dr. Logan.

6. Creation of a Corporate Compliance Sergeant to be part of the Office of Professional

Standards to monitor compliance with all training standards for all officers and

inclusion of future training mandates (changes to existing procedures, use of body

cameras, etc.).

7. Creation of Police Department statistic dashboard to be presented at each Human

Services Committee meeting beginning in March, 2017.

8. Re-assign one Problem Solving Team (PST) officer to focus on programs and

initiatives that will enhance police/community relations citywide

9. Reformat presentation of monthly crime statistic data to Human Services Committee

and community via department website by April 1, 2017.

10. Weekly deployment crime maps will be added to the Department’s weekly email “In

the Squad Room” beginning February 10, 2017.

11. Commitment to implement body cameras department-wide beginning with pilot

program starting July 1, 2017 and full implementation by January 1, 2018.

12. Allow for use of video statements in addition to written statements as of February 1,

2017.

13. Establish office hours for the Office of Professional Standards at the Civic Center to

receive citizen complaints by appointment as of February 1, 2017.

14. Reformat citizen complaint data presented at monthly Human Services Committee

meeting for easier reading and tracking beginning in March, 2017.

15. Schedule monthly Executive Sessions with the Human Services Committee to review

specific compliant complaint issues beginning in March, 2017.

16. Reformat citizen complaint data on EPD website for easier review as of March 31,

2017.

17. Police Chief will disband Chief-appointed Evanston Police Advisory Committee as of

March 1, 2017.

18. As of February 1, 2017, revised Field Contact procedure to continue to request all

existing information on card, but to add to card notation “subject declined to ID” for

any information declined to be provided.

19. Adoption of the National Consensus Policy on Use of Force through incorporation in

General Orders by May 1, 2017.

20. By May 1, 2017, creation of Department Use of Force Committee to review all

incidents including officers outside the chain of command of officers involved in

incident.

21. By September 1, 2017, the Police Department will implement use of Lexipol, an online

service that provides state-specific policies that are customizable and vetted by

law enforcement professionals, attorneys and subject matter experts to provide

consistent, uniform policies that properly reflect federal and state law as well as law

enforcement best practices.

22. Inclusion of City Equity and Empowerment Coordinator in weekly review of use of

force incidents by City Manager and Corporation Counsel and as an ex-officio

member of the Citizen Police Advisory Committee upon hire.

Ald. Wilson asked if the demographics information will be collected on the contact card. City

Manager Bobkiewicz replied the officers will complete the cards to the best of their ability.

Mayor Tisdahl would like citizens to have input in the citizens complaint process.

Alderman Braithwaite noted:

• In the Crosby case if Mr. Crosby ethnicity was Caucasian the approach and outcome

would have been different; it’s not policy but the culture of the department that has to

change.

• Dispatch should have advised the caller to pull over and not follow Mr. Crosby.

• Assumption of the dispatcher that the car was stolen

• Have a clear process to eliminate officers who performs outside of the community

standards

• A notification process for complainant as to the date their case will be reviewed by the

committee.

Ald. Wilson suggested the Police Advisory Board and Citizen Police Advisory Committee meet

and discusses forming a working group.

Mayor Tisdahl would like the mayor to have more control over appointments to the mayors

committee. In the past at times it was not easy for the alderman to submit names to fill an

opening.

Ald. Miller asked why the City of Champaign model was choosen. Chief Eddington felt as a big

10 town with similar issues their review of citizens complains speaks to several things such as

accountable and transparency which seems well thought out.

• Ald. Miller asked to include demography information and to keep a running tally of

founded/unfounded complaints and report to committee and suggested reviewing how

corporation counsel as municipal prosecutor is pursuing municipal violation cases and

requested reports on statistic and review of the types of ordinance violations,

prosecution and dismissed cases from counsel.

Evanston Police Department – Diversity & Inclusion Retainer Agreement with Dr. Gilo

Kwesi Logan, Logan Consulting Services, LLC

Staff recommends authorizing the City Manager to approve the Diversity and Inclusion Retainer

Agreement with Logan Consulting Services, LLC for a two year term beginning February 15,

2017

For Action

Ald. Braithwaite moved approval, Ald. Holmes seconded; motion approved 6-0

Ms. Ester wanted to clarify that the Citizens Network of Protection have been working on

establishing an independent police review committee for many years and she was not happy

with that fact being overlooked.

ITEMS FOR COMMUNICATION

Rodent Update

Ald. Rainey suggested lowering the curb your dog and ground feeding signs because the

current height is too high.

Ald. Braithwaite and Holmes will be speaking to Veolia soon and will bring up how to engage

them in helping identifying damaged cans and hotspots.

Ald. Fiske recommends a CLOSE THE LID TIGHTLY label for the garbage cans and purchasing

cans with a mesh inner lid.

ADJOURMENT

Ald. Braithwaite motioned to adjourn seconded by Ald. Fiske11

Unanimously approved, meeting adjourned at 8:45p.m.