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State law forces end to Ames Resident Police Advisory Committee; council moves to repeal RPAC ordinance
Summary
Following enactment of state legislation restricting citizen review of police conduct in cities with civil service commissions, the council advanced an ordinance repealing the Ames Resident Police Advisory Committee and discussed alternatives for community engagement.
The Ames City Council advanced an ordinance Tuesday to repeal the city’s Resident Police Advisory Committee, or RPAC, after state lawmakers enacted a law that limits local boards that review police conduct in cities having civil service commissions.
City staff and police leaders told the council the committee — formed after the 2020 events in Minneapolis and active since about 2021 — offered training, policy review and community engagement. Police leadership said RPAC members reviewed major policies such as pursuit and use-of-force policies, participated in outreach events and completed training similar to the citizens’ police academy.
Council members and city staff expressed appreciation for the volunteer committee’s work and said members are willing to continue involvement in non-review roles. Police leadership said it intends to maintain community engagement activities and may seek alternative advisory roles that do not fall under the state’s prohibition on citizen review of officer conduct. The police chief said members have already been contacted and are open to continuing in a different capacity.
Council members also used the discussion to make broader remarks defending local home-rule authority and to note the value of locally tailored approaches. The council voted to move the ordinance on first passage during the meeting.
