[+Bracketed/Underscored Material+] - New
[-Bracketed/Strikethrough Material-] - Deletion
CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTIETH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. F/S R-13-143 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Brad Winter and Rey Garduño
RESOLUTION
title
F/S Initiating A Process To Independently Review The City's Mechanisms Of Police Oversight; Creating An Ad Hoc Police Oversight Task Force To Oversee That Process And Make Recommendations To The City Council; Calling For Three Public Forums To Be Held At Various Locations Throughout The City (Winter, Garduño)
body
INITIATING A PROCESS TO INDEPENDENTLY REVIEW THE CITY'S MECHANISMS OF POLICE OVERSIGHT; CREATING AN AD HOC POLICE OVERSIGHT TASK FORCE TO OVERSEE THAT PROCESS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL; CALLING FOR THREE PUBLIC FORUMS TO BE HELD AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WHEREAS, the City of Albuquerque maintains a highly professional well trained police department; however, an effective oversight mechanism is critical to maintaining the public's confidence in that department; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has enacted a Police Oversight Ordinance to provide oversight of the Albuquerque Police Department and oversee all citizen complaints; and
WHEREAS, recent events have eroded the public's faith in that police oversight process and the City Council feels that the process needs to be reevaluated and changed if necessary; and
WHEREAS, the Police Oversight ordinance requires periodic evaluations so as to undertake a complete evaluation and analysis of the entire Police Oversight Process, and recommend any necessary changes or amendments that would appropriately improve the process. §9-4-1-11 ROA 1994; and
WHEREAS, the City Council believes that the creation of a Police Oversight Task Force is an appropriate first step in bringing expertise to bear on the review of the police oversight process; and
WHEREAS, as an indispensable part of that review process, the City Council finds it necessary to hold public forums to receive public comment on the existing oversight process, and suggestions on ways that it can be approved, from the citizens of Albuquerque; and
WHEREAS, the City Council feels that it is in the best interest of the City for this review to take place as expeditiously as possible.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. There is hereby created an ad hoc Police Oversight Task Force. The Police Oversight Task Force shall consist of eleven (11) members representing the ethnic and gender diversity of Albuquerque and the following interests:
- A member with investigative or prosecutorial experience at the district or statewide level;
- Two members with non-profit advocacy experience in mobilizing community groups to address social concerns;
- A member with experience in an organization that defends and works to preserve individual civil liberties;
- A retired member of the Albuquerque Police Department;
- Five members of the community at large;
- A member with experience in governmental efficiency and accountability.
The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Police Oversight Task Force will be selected by a majority vote of the members of the Task Force. The Task Force shall hold its meetings in compliance with the State Open Meetings Act and shall conduct its meetings in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.
Section 2. Duties of the Police Oversight Task Force. The Task Force shall meet as many times as necessary so as to complete a thorough evaluation and analysis of the police oversight process and report back to the City Council with its recommendations for improving the police oversight process by the end of December 2013. The Task Force shall review the history and evolution of the existing police oversight system by reviewing the results and recommendations of the Walker/Luna study and both the 2006 and 2011 MGT studies. The Task Force shall receive briefings and presentations, as necessary, from subject matter experts on the city's current oversight system, and on best practices and oversight models from other cities. The Task Force may request the City to engage nationally known experts in the field of police oversight to assist them in making their recommendations. Staffing for the Task Force shall be provided by the City.
Section 3. As an indispensable part of the Task Force's work, the Task Force will hold three Town Hall meetings in which members of the public are encouraged to provide comments or suggestions for improving the police oversight process.
Section 4. An amount of up to $50,000 is hereby designated with the City Council Projects activity to pay for consultants and services related to this resolution.
X:\SHARE\Legislation\Twenty\R-143fsfinal.docx
1