Panel sees a ‘positive direction’
Schenectady review board could signal change for more autonomy from the city police department
Changes and new leadership at Schenectady Civilian Police Review Board could signal a new direction to make the watchdog group more independent from the police department.
Critics have long charged that the CPRB is nothing more than a tool of the police department instead of a watchdog panel to ensure officers are treating the citizens they are supposed to be serving and protecting with respect.
“We’re taking a very methodical approach to talking about changes, we’re not just changing things for the sake of changing them — they’re asking questions, we’re responding, we’re listening to their requests, they’re listening to our response, we’re taking time to consider them,” Police Chief Eric Clifford said last week when
asked about what recommendations related to the CPRB from the police reform process have been implemented.
One area where the two sides have struck a compromise is on police body-worn camera footage that the CPRB board requested to view as part of their review process of complaints.
“It’s really too labor-intensive for us to redact body worn camera on every complaint but what we’ve tentatively agreed to is that on a request basis, we will provide them,” Clifford said.
Though the idea is off the table, newly minted CPRB chairwoman Sheila Rivera said Friday that she anticipates new board members might push the elimination of the so called double blind, which would allow board members to see the name of the police officer and the complainant, which are now redacted.
Some CPRB members are also advocating to be able to see police disciplinary files since 50-a, the state civil rights law that shielded that from happening before the law was repealed.
Clifford countered that police, like everyone else, have a presumption of innocence when it comes to a complaint lodged against them by a civilian.
Rivera said the long game is to make the panel an entity that operates independently of the police department.
“I think some of the recommendations from what I’ve heard is to make the board completely separate from the police department, not having them participate, and having a budget, attending the NACOLE (National Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement) convention,” added Rivera, who has been chairwoman since January.
The city website lists a police lieutenant as the main contact for the CPRB.
For now, Rivera said her more immediate goals are to formalize the training or orientation for new members, get the two vacant seats filled so the board is at full strength with nine members, and to have every board member attend the NACOLE convention annually and attend the citizens police academy.
The City Council would have to approve recommendations.
Former CPRB Chairman Dick Shave said the CPRB has mostly dealt with “discourtesy cases” or cops who are not polite with people they are supposed to serve and protect.
Justin Chaires with the Schenectady branch of the NAACP, said the civil rights group is working on drafting recommendations “to try to improve the efficiency of the civilian police review board, how it operates, and making
sure we have the proper checks and balances in place so they can function how the board was intended to.”
While he declined to offer specifics, Chaires who is running against U.S. Rep Paul Tonko for Congress, also conceded that progress when it comes to the CPRB has been slow but steady.
“It has not happened as fast as I’m sure everyone would like, but we are moving along,” said Chaires, adding that Clifford has been “amenable to the changes and things that we want to push forward.”
“He understands the investments and making sure that the community understands that they are the ones that are most affected by whatever we do, they have the biggest say, and that’s where I’m at as well with what I’m working on right now is making sure that the community is on the front side of this,” added Chaires.
Councilman Carl Williams, who was active for a long time but had to step down from the CPRB after he was elected to the governing body, was unavailable for comment.
Rivera is buoyed by what she sees.
“I think things are moving in a positive direction, I think a good group of people, and we all want to meaningful work, we just don’t want to be stagnant,” Rivera said. “We’re definitely moving in a positive direction.”