Fact #1
"In a nationwide survey conducted in 2005, 178,000 drivers pulled over by police in 2005 felt police used or threatened excessive force against them."
-Courtesy of U.S. Department of Justice
178,000 is too many victims of police misconduct and that was only in 2005. It has been proven that Civilian Review Boards curb misconduct of this sort.
FACT #2
In a recent Police Foundation survey of 121 police departments across the country, 50% of the officers interviewed agreed that police are more likely to arrest someone who displays a "bad attitude" and 25% agreed that it is "acceptable to use more force than is legally allowable to control someone who physically assaults an officer."
- Ronald Weitzer "Can the Police Be Reformed"
If officers themselves admit that they are breaking the law and that the are demonstrating police misconduct it is definitely time to do something about it and form Civilian Review Boards to handle this issue.
Victim Testimonial
“In September 1998, Robert Ellison, a 20-year old African American, was beaten and dragged by two white Bluefield police officers outside a nightclub, leaving him paralyzed below the neck. After filing suit against the city of Bluefield, Ellison and the city reached a settlement in June 2000. Under a consent decree, the city agreed to pay Ellison $1 million, increase its efforts to hire more minority police officers, and establish a civilian review panel by December 1, 2000, to review police misconduct investigations."
-Robert L. Ellison v. the City of Bluefield, U.S. Dist. Ct., Southern District of West Virginia, Consent Decree, June 5, 2000.
In this case "an internal investigation found no wrongdoing by the officers." This is a prime example of why Civilian Review Boards need to be instituted and they need to be made of civilians because obviously the police cannot objectively police themselves. If there was no so called wrongdoing from the officers then why did the City of Bluefield decide to pay Robert Ellison $1 million dollars and agree to other stipulations as well? I think that it is very clear that the City of Bluefield knew that they were in the wrong.
CRB's In Place
Civilian Review Boards are in place in numerous cities throughout the U.S. to oversee police conduct. A CRBs main agenda is to handle all aspects of a civilian complaint regarding a police officer and his or her conduct. In communities where CRBs exist a strong community/police relationship exists. Instances of police misconduct decline and the community’s opinion of the police department is improved. As you can see from the stories listed above, CRBs need to be put into place everywhere in the U.S.
PROOF THAT CIVILIAN REVEIW BOARDS WORK
This model was successfully used by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, where an independent monitor was instituted in part because of strained police- community relations and high profile instances of police brutality. LASD's monitor believes excessive force has been "substantially curbed" to some extent by having a monitor. Indeed, the number of excessive force complaints dropped from 381 in 1992-1993 to only 70 in 1998-1999.
Before the Monitor /After the Monitor
381 /70
- Courtesy of Kendall Stagg, "Who should Police the Police?"
It is clear that police misconduct is and issue and it is proven that Civilian Review Boards work. Why should we the public to wait for more misconduct to occur, lets take a stand against injustice and form a preemptive stick against it. Civilian Review Boards work and are needed to curb police misconduct, brutality, excessive force, and racial profiling.
Support
The West Virginia Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights have conveyed the concerns of the citizens within the state and have conducted that various forms of police misconduct, including unnecessary force, have occurred in many area of the state, and will regrettably continue if action is not taken.
The ACLU, NAACP, NACOLE, and many other national groups are also in full support of external oversight of police in the U.S. There are far too many instances of police misconduct and something needs to be done to protect the rights of citizens.
A study of 17 law enforcement agencies found that Citizen Review Boards sustain police brutality complaints at a higher percentage than do the police, suggesting that such boards operate more fairly.
-Courtesy of Human Rights Watch, "Shielded from Justice; Police Brutality and Accountability in the United States," June 1998
Many Americans doubt that police departments are capable of effectively monitoring and punishing wayward officers. According to a 1992 Harris Poll, about 2/3 of the public felt that police were "too lenient" in investigating complaints against fellow officers. Americans prefer external oversight over internal reviews.
-Ronald Weitzer "Can the Police Be Reformed"
It is clear that the people have spoken. Civilian Review Boards are needed and wanted by the public.
Strong Police/Community Relationships
Civilian Review Boards not only build a strong relationship between the community and the police they also assist the police department in handling complaints. This saves the police departments’ time and money and ensures the public that their concerns are being heard and addressed. The officers also benefit because CRBs handle all the paper work so that officers can focus their efforts on their job which is to protect and serve the community.
I feel West Virginia is in need of a review board, as soon as possible. Throughout history many people in power have taken advantage of the common man and woman. That is why it is very important to have a separate system in place to review governing bodies actions to make sure they are upholding rights of the common man and woman. The motto is " To Protect and Serve." not " To protect and serve ourselves." I just can't see how the men and woman of the blue that are guilty of these infractions, can go home and sleep at night. If they can sleep, what does that say about us as a whole.
What happen to yesteryear, when we could walk down the street and feel safe ? What does that say when the criminals are the ones we call in our time of need " To protect and serve." ? To me its a red flag for change. While on the internet I found a report that I thought would be great for this blog. Please click on the title to go to the main page, also there is a link to look at the report in pdf format. Good job Monica.
Sassysailorboy
A secretary assigned to the Hinton State Police detachment sued the state police in 2000 alleging a supervisor made sexual advances toward her. The state awarded her $95,000 in a settlement. In addition to the settlement, BRIM incurred $12,199 in investigative expenses.
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BRIM settled for $1 million a case for the family of a women shot and killed in 1999 by her former boyfriend, a state trooper. Reports indicated BRIM spent $34,491 handling the case.
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An unidentified Raleigh County woman sued state police troopers assigned to the West Virginia Turnpike in 1999. She alleged that a state trooper and two other men who were not troopers had sex with her in a park when she was too drunk to give consent. BRIM settled the lawsuit for $75,000. Expenses were $25,144.16, including attorneys’ fees.
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Following the death of her daughter, a mother filed a lawsuit against the state police in 1997 claiming her daughter died as the result of a car chase by a state trooper. The family was awarded $775,000. Expenses were $23,697.
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James Minghini, whose lawsuit alleged troopers beat him (see above), settled for $60,000. BRIM spent $454,519 handling the case.
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Neal Rose of Welch was awarded $1 million after alleging that a state trooper and others broke down his apartment door and beat him. BRIM spent $31,958 to handle the case. (The trooper resigned in October 1999 and was convicted on both federal and state charges in the incident.)
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BRIM awarded a Logan resident $40,000 who alleged a trooper battered him in 1998. Expenses were $36,435.
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A Kanawha County man received a settlement of $1 million because testimony by a former state police chemist led to his conviction in the murder of his neighbor. The state supreme court questioned the chemist’s testimony in several cases. BRIM’s expenses were $8,006.
I agree with you.. I believe that we do need a review board to help out the citizens in need.. even though that is supposed to be the polices jobs.
The code of silence among officers is quite common and they will say and do anything to help another officer out. They bleed blue so to speak.
I was in a six year relationship,with a policeman. While for most part,he was a good person. I was witness to the asking,from fellow officers, to lie about certain situations, or back me up on this one man?I don't think this is a isolated incident.Ibelieve this to be true for the most part.Policeman are a different breed, they in my oppion,have a god complex to some extent.However, a police review board would in my oppion keep the playing field somewhat even.More so than it is now!
Thanks to everyone for your support and comments. Its kinda sad that the police need to be policed but I guess thats just the society that we live in.
This was well written!!!!! I believe in the fact that we do need a Review Board because no cop should be allowed to think that they are above the law!!!!! Good job guys!
I agree with you that the review boards should be put in place. However, I do think that the police would find some way around it and still be able to abuse their power.
I believe that there should be an outside review board for all police departments and it's staff.
Great job on the blog, it's looks great.
good job, great blog, the police due need put in their place.
I agree with you 100%! I have had some bad experience with law enforcement also. There definitely needs to be some type of review board.
I agree that police review boards should be put into place. I think its a great idea!
LOVE your blog...very good points! I have had some bad experiences with a police officer. Civilian review boards would be a BIG help!!!! Some officers take advantage of their position and do things based upon how they feel toward a certain individual....this is illegal and should be taken very seriously!!!! GREAT job guys (Monica lol)!!!!
The blog is finished and you are welcome to respond.
