Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren has sent legislation establishing a Police Accountability Board to City Council.
The mayor’s bill would set up a panel that would have power to investigate complaints against police officers and work towards new policies on police use of force. She says it will improve public safety by improving the public’s trust in the department and creating a transparent investigative process that’s fair to both officers and the community. Recommendations for officer discipline would go first to the police chief, who would explain in writing if he disagrees with it.
The PAB as Warren sees it would have nine members: three named by the mayor, three by City Council and three by the community’s Police Accountability Board Alliance. Members would serve staggered three-year terms. It would have an executive director who would be chosen by the board members, subject to approval by City Council.
In addition to handling complaints and setting police disciplinary policy, the PAB would publish monthly and annual reports on police complaints and recommendations, and take an annual public survey.
Projected operating costs for the first year would be about $300,000.