Former Geneva Police Review board chair Jess Farrell says she was disappointed, but not surprised at the recent court ruling invalidating the board.
Related: Judge sides with police union, strikes down Geneva Police Review Board
Supreme Court Justice Craig Doran ruled that the board should have been subject to public referendum. The Geneva City Council decided not to appeal the ruling. Farrell says she hopes the city will start over and try to create a board that will pass legal muster.
Related: Organizers react to Geneva City Council’s vote not to appeal judge’s decision that invalidated Police Review Board
Related: Geneva City Council votes not to appeal judge’s decision to strike down Police Review Board
Farrell says the debate over the creation of the board got caught up in national politics in the wake of highly-publicized incidents between police and residents in other cities. She says her interactions with Geneva Police Chief Michael Passalacqua were all positive.
For now, there is no Police Review Board an no effort underway to create a new one. After her experience, would Farrell want the job as chair of a new board?
Listen to my full Inside the FLX conversation with Jess Farrell below.
