| REPORT: |
Dr. Belinda Leon, 5850 NW 111 Avenue, Miami, Florida representative of Miami-Dade County Internal Review Panel (IRP) working group presented the final IRP report. She noted the IRP working group was established in November 2016 through a resolution created by Commissioner Jordan, and was tasked with formulating a set of recommendations regarding what the IRP should be if it were re-established. Dr. Leon pointed out that the IRP was established in 1980 and subsequently defunded in 2009. She said the working group had been meeting since January 2017, and after much discussion input and research, was recommending that the code be amended to re-establish the IRP as the Independent Community Panel (ICP). She noted the purpose of the ICP would be to listen to grievances from citizens against any Miami-Dade County employee including police officers. Dr. Leon further explained that the ICP would be a place for citizens to go for an impartial review or for dispute resolution for any issue they believed had not been resolved.
She noted the following working group recommendations for the ICP:
-that the ICP be a hybrid model, where the members would have the power to investigate, review, mediate, conduct dispute resolution and audit depending on the case brought before them; the ICP would not have jurisdiction over any investigation that was being handled by Miami-Dade County’s Inspector General.
-that the ICP be composed of 13 members and be staffed by six positions, some part-time and consultants.
-A budget of $750,000.
-that the ICP have subpoena power.
Dr. Leon pointed out that the working group recognized that in June 2017, Florida’s Supreme Court ruled that an entity, such as the ICP, could not have subpoena power over police officers in certain situations; however, that subpoena power could be used for other witnesses and documents. She noted the working group members believed the ICP could be a way to increase trust between community and government; this was a tool that could be used to educate the community; and a forum for fair and impartial review for all participants to be heard. In closing, Dr. Leon urged the Board to accept this final report and to allocate funding to launch the ICP.
Commissioner Jordan apprised Board members that this same report was presented as the preliminary report which had been accepted by the Board of County Commissioners several months ago. She pointed out the critical issue at the time was the subpoena power and it had been clarified that there were restrictions to only receive information that was needed to make judgement, but did not impact subpoena power relating to police or open investigations. Commissioner Jordan said documents that may be needed to make decisions and for people to appear before the Board would be allowed.
It was moved by Commissioner Jordan to accept the Independent Review Panel’s final report. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Monestime and upon being put to a vote, passed by a vote of 12-0 (Commissioners Bovo and Moss were absent).
It was moved by Commissioner Jordan to accept the Independent Review Panel’s final report. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Monestime and upon being put to a vote, passed by a vote of 12-0 (Commissioners Bovo and Moss were absent). |
