Tallahassee’s stalled Citizens Police Review board could get moving again soon but with changes. Board members wouldn’t be able to do community outreach on behalf of the board, nor can they issue press releases, public statements, or review the police department’s budgets, contracts, or collective bargaining agreements.
Barry Monroe is a former board member who wasn’t reappointed when his term expired last year.
“I don’t see how the board communities effectively with the public unless it issues a public…a press release or something announcing what it's done and recommending the chief of police to do. Because the board is only advisory," Munroe told Tallahassee commissioners as the board prepared to vote on the changes during its Wednesday meeting.
Commissioners say the changes are meant to clarify the role and responsibilities of the board and to bring it in line with other commission-directed entities. They also want to differentiate it from the city’s police advisory council which often hears citizen complaints and concerns.
The changes come after a member was removed last year for having a cup with a message on it that disparaged law enforcement. Other members resigned in protest. The incident remains the subject of an ongoing lawsuit against the city.
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey says the commission will name new members to the police review board next month.
