The Geneva City Council will consider a proposal at its meeting tonight to replace the Police Review Board that was invalidated by a judge’s decision with a police accountability committee.
The Finger Lakes Times reports the panel will consist of members of the council and members of the public. The resolution to offer the new panel will be introduced by Ward 4 City Councilor Ken Camera. The committee would make recommendations to the council and City Manager “so they may better perform oversight of police operations and management for the citizens of Geneva.” Camera hopes some of the councilors who voted against appealing Supreme Court Justice Craig Doran’s ruling against the panel will support the new committee.
Related: Organizers react to Geneva City Council’s vote not to appeal judge’s decision that invalidated Police Review Board
Camera: Council has investigatory power
Camera says the city charter gives the council investigatory authority, including over the Police Department. He says by introducing his measure, he hopes to find out whether the five councilors who voted against appealing Doran’s decision are really for police accountability. Doran’s ruling said creation of the Police Review Board should have been subject to a public referendum.
Related: Former Geneva Police Review Board chair Jess Farrell would do it again: “sign me up”
The union representing Geneva police officers took the matter to court, saying creation of the Police Review Board violated their collective bargaining agreement with the city.
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