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Civilian Police Review board reports activities, flags data access and staffing concerns; councilors raise media and process questions
Summary
Rich Burkes, chair of the Morgantown Civilian Police Review and Advisory Board, told the Committee of the Whole on Feb. 25 that the board held meetings, launched a community survey and revised its complaint form but continues to face difficulty obtaining current police statistical data and needs two additional members to reach full staffing.
Rich Burkes, chair of the Morgantown Civilian Police Review and Advisory Board, presented the board’s 2024 annual report to the city’s Committee of the Whole on Feb. 25 and outlined accomplishments and challenges.
Burkes said the board held 11 regular meetings, three special meetings, one public forum and developed three active committees (training, community outreach and statistical data/reporting). The board conducted a February 2024 public forum with 45 attendees and ran a case-study review with the Morgantown Police Department, including a body-camera review and discussion of use-of-force and response procedures.
Burkes told council the board developed a three-phase community survey — focus groups and interviews (phase 1), a mailed survey (phase 2) and later phases — to gather public perceptions of policing. He said the board requested $8,650.10 to support the mailed-survey phase and is partnering with WVU’s School of Social Work on the project.
A key concern Burkes raised was difficulty obtaining statistical reports from the police department. He said data previously available on the city’s site were last generated in 2018–2019 and that generating current, queryable reports now appears more labor-intensive; the board has scheduled follow-up meetings with police staff to address the issue.
Burkes also said the board is understrength: it has seven members but the ordinance allows nine. He urged council assistance to fill vacancies so the board can staff subcommittees and move forward on policy reviews (including body-camera and complaint-form revisions). Burkes said the board revised its civilian-complaint form to allow electronic submission and plans a separate commendation form.
During the presentation a number of council members and the board chair discussed communications and media coverage. Burkes and several councilors referenced recent media reports and interviews; councilors expressed concern that board members’ public statements might undermine police morale or complicate relations, while Burkes said the board’s comments were intended to explain delays and staffing constraints. Several councilors urged more direct communication between council, the board and police to resolve process issues.
Burkes said the board has scheduled quarterly meetings with the chief of police beginning in March and emphasized the board’s intent to be constructive, noting training the board has received on policing models and community engagement.
