Councilor introduces citizen police review proposal; committee discussion leads to tabling for further work

Councillor Diaz presented draft legislation to create a citizen police review mechanism and said she introduced it in response to public demand for community oversight. She described the proposal as an advisory review body including community members, a police social worker and some police representation and said it was intended to increase transparency and community trust. The nut graf: Multiple council members and the public urged more legal review and clarity about labor and personnel records before advancing the proposal. City officials and several councilors said they had not seen solicitor's and legal employment analyses that would be needed to ensure the board's design complies with collective bargaining agreements and state law. Mayor and staff indicated that aspects of oversight with "teeth" face legal barriers in a third-class city; council directed staff to gather legal analysis and suggested continuing public conversations with the incoming administration and new police chief. Public commenters from advocacy groups and residents urged a stronger board with meaningful access for community oversight; others said any proposal should be developed in conversation with police, the solicitor's office and labor representatives. After extended public comment and committee deliberations, a motion to table the bill carried; several council members said tabling should allow staff to prepare written legal analyses and enable the incoming administration and chief to participate in next steps. Ending: Committee members said they will continue community outreach and legal/labor review before returning an amended draft; the proposal was not rejected but set aside pending further work and administration input.