MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Community Policing and Citizens Review Committee in Morgantown will provide a draft copy of their proposal to council members and the public later this month. The committee will produce an executive summary of the proposal and make a presentation to council members at the committee of the whole meeting on January 26.
While citing no issue or continuing problem within the police department or between the department and the community, Deputy Mayor Rachel Fetty has said this is preemptive move to make sure police are properly executing their duties.
The committee has conducted meetings once a week since July of 2020.
In the event of a complaint involving police officers and their use of excessive force, power or unprofessionalism, this committee would compile it’s own independent investigation. This would include holding hearings of those involved in said incident and an internal review of the incident at hand, the findings discovered and discussions of recommended discipline. These recommendations would then be submitted to the Mayor and Chief of Police to take further action on.
The most substantial addition to the proposed review board was the approval to use social media or hearsay to begin an investigation into officer conduct. However, the origin of complaint must be identified and attempts must be made to verify the information. The process is also used by the Police Civil Service Commission in Charleston, according to City Attorney Ryan Simonton.
“The investigate complaints however those complaints arise,” Fetty said,” Whether they’re allegations that pop up on Facebook or through the rumor mill, for example.”
Don Spencer has advised the committee through the process. He believes this approach will increase safety for residents and police.
“By keeping in touch with the police department and providing input we will be able to make public safety even more effective in Morgantown, in a preventative way.”
President of the Morgantown/Kingwood Branch of the NAACP, Jerry Carr acknowledged frustration in the community following the death of George Floyd and believes these actions will not only be an example across the state, but will show residents they will address problems.
“This is what we’ve done in response to that, we can actually point to something other than a statement,” Carr said,” We can point to these actions as how the community came together to try and address that.”
Committee members will meet next on Monday, January 25 at 3 p.m. to develop an executive summary of the plan and determine what committee members will make presentations.