Coralville policing advisory board discusses traffic-stop study approach, approves routine items

The Coralville Citizens Community Policing Advisory Board on Jan. 27, 2025, debated how to structure a University-requested traffic-stop study and approved routine procedural items including the meeting agenda and minutes.

The discussion under Old Business centered on the data window the University prefers for a statistically significant analysis. The University told the board it would like 5 to 10 years of data; Board Member Morales suggested an alternative approach "removing the oldest 365 days worth of data while adding the recent 365 days worth of data each year" to keep the dataset current. Board Member Gosnell said he was concerned that a five-year window could be affected by changes in leadership and staff during that period.

Chief Kyle Nicholson, identified in roll call as City staff, said he would contact the University research team "to see if they would be willing to meet with the review board at the next meeting." The board made no formal decision on the study timeframe at this session.

During the public-comment period, Mary McCann distributed a document showing 2024 calls-for-service for city and county law enforcement and said she posts the data to a Facebook page. "I do this as it is important for people to understand what the police do for us," McCann said.

The board approved the meeting agenda (motion by Rogers, seconded by Punteney) and the minutes of the June 24, 2024 meeting (motion by Punteney, seconded by Rogers); both votes were recorded as "all ayes." The board also set its next meeting for April 28, 2025. In Other Business, Gosnell asked about changing the name of the board; Hotsenpiller said they would speak with the mayor about that request.

The meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. and adjourned at 7:05 p.m.