Police Commission issues statement backing Chief, votes not to disclose closed-session discussions

The Police Commission issued a formal statement backing the Chief of Police and voted to withhold disclosure of closed-session discussions stemming from disciplinary matters.

Vice President Joe Marshall moved that the commission limit disclosure of any discussion about the Chief's firearm qualification, with the Chief's consent, and the commission read a prepared statement asserting the Chief "is in compliance with all state standards" and stating she qualified at the range on Thursday, June 5. The statement recommended the Chief and other commissioned officers who may not have qualified in the last six months complete range qualification within 90 days and said the commission "stands wholeheartedly behind this chief of police and has complete confidence in her." (Transcript provides this text as the commission's prepared statement.)

After adjourning briefly to closed session to consider adoption of written findings in multiple disciplinary cases (Case Numbers C06-186JCT, C06187JCT and others referred to in Item 11), the commission announced the findings were adopted unanimously by commissioners present. Returning to open session, the commission moved on Item 12 to disclose none of the closed-session discussion and the motion was ordered without objection.

The commission solicited public comment on the initial statement and received none. No additional formal personnel actions beyond the adoption of findings (as described in the closed session) were disclosed publicly; the commission voted not to release closed-session discussion.