A solution worth reviewing

By Jamie Kelly

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After the June 4 forum at St. Paul's on racial profiling, it's clear something needs to be done to improve the relationship between Cedar Rapids Police Department and some members of the community.

Community members spoke of being pulled over for no reason other than being black, of being followed out of Hy-Vee and falsely accused of shoplifting and a host of other indignities large and small.

Police Chief Greg Graham listened, but his answer in nearly every case was the same: Come to the police department and file a complaint; we'll look into it and take whatever action is necessary.

But some people may be reluctant to file a complaint, either because they don't think it will be taken seriously, or because they fear it will make the situation worse.

The solution is one that Graham seemed to reject: a resident review board to consider complaints against police officers. Graham suggested that he thought such a board is unnecessary because the police department handles resident complaints well, but that is not an argument against forming a review board. Regardless of how well or poorly complaints are handled now, a board would offer better accountability and more transparency.

Some in the community - particularly Cedar Rapids' African-American community - perceive that the police are not fully respecting their rights. An independent board empaneled to investigate resident complaints would help change that perception.

Residents, regardless of race, have a right to expect a city free of police harassment or unprovoked traffic stops. They have a right to know that the police are protecting the safety of all community members.

The idea of a resident review board is not a revolutionary one. The NAACP has called for such boards across the country.

Graham understands that there is a problem, but the solutions he offered - contacting him with complaints and improved training for officers - aren't enough. Part of the problem can be addressed with more dialogue, with education and with programs designed to promote positive interactions between police officers and community members, but not all of it. To ensure a police force that is responsive to the public good, resident oversight is needed.

A resident review board would make the department's job easier by improving the strained relationship between some members of the community and police officers, ensuring that all of us are working together to keep our city safe.

Jamie Kelly, who resides in southeast Cedar Rapids, has worked as a reporter and editor covering police departments and the court system. Comments: jameswkelly@gmail.com