Police panel appoints backup members to use-of-force and training review committees

The Springfield City Board of Police Commissioners voted Wednesday to add a backup member to its Use of Force Committee and to place Commissioner Fernandez on the Force Training Review Committee, commissioners said at a meeting that also touched on training requirements tied to a Department of Justice settlement agreement.

Commissioner Madeline, who serves on the Use of Force Committee, said the panel reviews videos and reports for incidents that meet the committee’s review threshold and meets monthly. "We get videos and reports to read it way in advance, and then we meet ... it's at 11:00," Madeline said, describing the committee's work and schedule.

The board moved to add Commissioner Paul Fannie as an additional member to the Use of Force Committee so there would be coverage when committee members cannot attend. The motion was seconded and approved by the commissioners present.

Commissioners also approved a motion to appoint Commissioner Fernandez to the Force Training Review Committee, which Madeline described as a separate panel that reviews how officers are trained rather than how training is applied in specific incidents. "You're looking at how they train," Madeline said. "This is looking at how they train. We'll see." The motion was seconded and carried by the commissioners present.

Sergeant Christopher Roberts was cited by commissioners as a contact about training; Madeline said Roberts told the board that committee members must complete training and that academy personnel or a host from the academy have led prior sessions. "He did mention to me, but I don't remember. He mentioned, oh, they just have to go through a training," Madeline said.

Commissioners discussed coordination with attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice, who have been involved with the city's settlement agreement and routinely attend or call into relevant meetings. "Several of the attorneys from the Department of Justice that were working with us on the settlement agreement ... love to say is, well, the board of police commissioners, you know, they need training on this," a commissioner said, noting the board's interest in meeting DOJ expectations.

Board members debated meeting schedules and backups to ensure quorums for committee meetings through the summer. Madeline suggested possibly skipping a July meeting and resuming in August to accommodate vacations; the commissioners agreed they would try to ensure at least three members were present for meetings.

No new formal policy changes were enacted at the meeting beyond the committee appointments. Commissioners also noted that one member, Norm, will leave the board on June 30 and that the board will seek a replacement in coming weeks.