CT: City debates police oversight, community relations

asheville | copwatch | repost Thursday September 27, 2007 13:03 by anonymous

ASHEVILLE – Elected officials debated the idea of a citizens’ group to oversee police following an appeal Tuesday by residents including two women who said their husbands were killed in police shootings.

City debates police oversight, community relations
by staff reports
published September 26, 2007 12:15 am

ASHEVILLE – Elected officials debated the idea of a citizens’ group to oversee police following an appeal Tuesday by residents including two women who said their husbands were killed in police shootings.

City Councilwoman Robin Cape said she wanted to look at what other cities have done in terms of police oversight committees.

“It would be to try to establish a relationship with the community that says we want to know that people feel comfortable going with concerns to those boards,� Cape said.

Councilman Carl Mumpower said a group already exists, the Committee on Public Safety, which deals with police and community matters.

Mumpower also defended police and the current process of oversight by city staff and the City Council, though he said some things could be changed at the state level.

That includes the State Bureau of Investigation’s refusal to release some reports on police shootings, he said.

Mayor Terry Bellamy asked Mumpower to have the committee look into some of the complaints. Bellamy also asked city staff to investigate “best practices� in other cities on community and police relations.