Council urges broader, faster changes to Rampart independent review panel; motion amended and approved 10-1

The City Council voted, 10-1, to urge the Police Commission to augment and supplement the composition of the Rampart Independent Review Panel so it better reflects the city’s racial, gender and occupational diversity.

Council Member Janice Walters introduced the motion urging immediate restructuring of the panel; opponents and some members of the public expressed concern about the panel’s original composition and its credibility. Council Member Kathleen Misakowski proposed substituting language to “supplement and augment” the panel and to route a report back through the council committee; Walters accepted the amendment to “augment and supplement” but opposed delaying the inspector general’s report through committee. After further debate, the council approved the amended motion.

Several council members argued the original panel was “monolithic” in occupation and race and said the panel needed community members and non-lawyers to provide varied life experience. Council Member Nate Holden said the public had lost confidence in the process and the panel needed to be seen as credible; Council Member Wax said the panel should include community and religious leaders and people with direct life experience of policing.

Council member Brunson and others cautioned against bypassing commission authority; Brunson urged the commission be allowed to do its work and warned against creating a new civilian oversight structure from the council dais. The amended motion was approved, recorded as 10 ayes and 1 no.

The council directed that the inspector general report on efforts to augment the panel and indicated the matter would appear in committee for follow-up within the week.