SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)- On Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. Syracuse’s Common Council held a meeting regarding a new amendment. The amendment would weaken the power of the Citizen Review Board. Not only would it weaken the CRB’s power in the future, but it would be a retroactive amendment, meaning previous cases that the CRB findings were used in could also be affected.
The amendment was proposed just four days earlier by Common Council Majority Leader Steven Thompson
“The process of presenting this was incredible flawed it came to us four business days ago with no notice with no intention of public input at all,” said CRB Board Chair Peter McCarthy. ” And the CRB demanded that we have open public meetings.”
The new rule would not allow for the use of CRB findings to be used in court. The board that stands as a checks and balances system for the Syracuse police is concerned that this amendment discredits and dismisses the importance of the CRB.
“The language of the ordinance consists of a series of characterizations of the CRB as a group with absolutely no power,” said Peter McCarthy. “It repeatedly calls it an advisory group and says decisions basically can’t be used for anything and that’s our real concern.”
The public and the CRB came together Wednesday afternoon, completely filling the Council Chamber. Not only gathering to show their support of the CRB and their opposition to this amendment, but to share stories. Personal Stories of loved ones or themselves who the CRB helped.
People like Liza Acquah, who turned to the CRB, when she felt an officer who broke her sons arm was not properly investigated.
“If you get rid of this board where as citizens who are we going to go to,” said Acquah. “I don’t trust the police I feel In fear of them all the time.”
The Citizen’s Review Board looks into cases of police misconduct and brutality. The presenters of the amendment say the CRB does not work with police or have the right tools or training to investigate and make accurate findings. The CRB and the public both argued they call on officers to attend the meetings and often don’t receive a response.
Despite council members showing support for the CRB and opposition of the amendment things grew heated when there was confusion on if the public would be allowed to comment or not.
When the audience filed in they signed a sheet they thought was a sign up sheet to speak. However, the council believed it was just a sign in sheet. Once a member sharing her story refused to be silenced the council members left the meeting.
There was no resolution on if the amendment will be passed, but the CRB and the public firmly agreed there will be a public hearing on the matter where the public will be able to voice their concerns of the amendment and support of the CRB.
“I think this meeting would have turned out different if there had been more clarity about who could speak and when I think that was a real flaw in how this meeting would be conducted,” said McCarthy. “And I hope that future meetings are conducted differently because people will speak respectfully if they know what the expectations are.”
