Iowa City community police review board urges council to create citizen advisory option after state law limits review

Members of the Community Police Review Board told the Iowa City Council on June 16 that a recent state law has removed the board’s ability to review individual police conduct and asked the council to form a citizen advisory process and improve public guidance for filing complaints.

The board members, led by incoming chair Melissa Jensen and current chair Saul Mekas, said they did not reach a single board recommendation at a June 10 meeting but offered ideas including a city-appointed volunteer committee to recommend a non‑statutory advisory board, more timely public outreach and clearer instructions on where to file complaints now that the board’s review role may change.

"The civil service commissions do not provide checks and balances or transparency to police departments," said Marie Braddock, a recent board member, and recommended the council "appoint a committee of citizen volunteers . . . for the purpose of…