Laserfiche WebLink
Chief Kerns, responding to a question from Mr. Polling, noted that the restrictions on the release of information <br />to the public regarding Internal Affairs restriction were imposed at the State level. <br />Chief Kerns, responding to a comment from Mr. Polling, confirmed that the Internal Affairs investigation <br />regarding the incident had been prompted solely by the EPD and not by anyone involved in the incident or any <br />members of the community. Chief Kerns further noted that the EPD had received no official public complaint <br />regarding the incident. <br />Mr. Poling commended Chief Kerns and the EPD for their efforts to proactively respond to the incident and to <br />any associated public concerns regarding the incident. Mr. Poling believed that the EPD’s actions regarding the <br />matter indicated that City’s police oversight policies and practices were working well. <br />Chief Kerns, responding to a question from Mr. Zelenka, restated that the Internal Affairs investigation had been <br />initiated by Mr. Gissiner. <br />Mr. Zelenka asked Mr. Gissiner to explain the processes the CRB used to investigate allegations of misconduct. <br />Mr. Gissiner believed, according to his cultural interpretations of the persons involved, it was unlikely that the <br />suspect involved in the tasering incident would file a complaint of their own accord and initiated the <br />investigation into the matter when in fact the suspect had not done so. He hoped that the EPD Internal Affairs <br />investigation and the associated CRB process would be completed relatively quickly and hoped that the <br />community and City leaders would show patience and understanding in that regard. <br />Mr. Zelenka again asked Mr. Gissiner to describe the processes the CRB used to investigate allegations of <br />misconduct. Mr. Gissiner responded that the CRB was empowered to classify, on the recommendation of the <br />Police Auditor, investigations of misconduct as community impact cases. He noted he was not sure if the <br />community impact case designation process as it was currently being used was the most efficient manner in <br />which to address investigations of misconduct. <br />Mr. Gissiner, responding to a question from Mr. Zelenka, noted that the CRB did not set police policies but <br />rather made recommendations to the Police Commission regarding the same. <br />Ms. Taylor believed the City Council should set police policies rather than the City of Eugene Police <br />Commission. <br />Ms. Taylor asked why the investigations regarding the Ian Van Ornum tasering incident had taken so long to <br />complete. Chief Kern responded that the Van Ornum investigation had been unusually prolonged due to the <br />fact that criminal charges had been associated with the suspect in that case and that the review policy in effect at <br />that time had been to suspend any investigations of misconduct until all associated criminal charges with the <br />incident had been resolved. Mr. Gissiner added that he and his colleagues were determined to complete the <br />investigation into the most recent tasering incident as quickly as possible. <br />Mr. Gissiner, responding to a question from Ms. Taylor, commented that the CRB was currently comprised of <br />mostly new members and that Kate Wilkinson was the only founding member currently serving on that <br />committee.. <br />Ms. Taylor maintained that the number of new members considerably weakened the CRB. <br />Ms. Piercy appreciated Chief Kerns and Mr. Gissiner’s comments and thanked them for the opportunity to ask <br />them questions and provide feedback. She requested that they prepare comments for release to the public <br />reflecting the information and comments they had just offered. <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 28, 2009 Page 2 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />