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Meeting Minutes – April 8, 2010

ATLANTA CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

OFFICIAL MINUTES

April 8, 2010, 6:30 P.M.
55 Trinity Avenue, S.W., Committee Room Two, Atlanta, Georgia 30303

BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE

JOY MORRISSEY (Chair/Morrissey); CHARIS JOHNSON (Johnson) arrived 6:52 p.m.; SETH KIRSCHENBAUM (Kirschenbaum); OWEN MONTAGUE (Montague) arrived at 6:50 p.m.; JOHN MICHAEL (Michael); SHARESE SHIELDS (Shields); MACEO WILLIAMS (Williams)

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT

J.L. BOOKER (Booker)

RODERICK EDMOND (Edmond)

ALAN MORRIS (Morris)

STAFF ATTENDEES

MARC ADDINGTON, Investigator (Addington); CRISTINA BEAMUD, Executive Director (Director/Beamud); SHEENA ROBERTSON, Investigator (Robertson/Transcriber); WILLIAM CASTINGS, Board Legal Advisor, COA Law Department (Castings)

GUEST ATTENDEES:

None

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Morrissey officiated the meeting.  The meeting was called to order at 6:37 p.m.

A G E N D A

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING:

The Chair asked if there were any corrections to the minutes.  There were no corrections noted.  Michael moved to approve the Minutes for March 11, 2010.  Shields second and the motion was approved.

ACTION ITEMS:

DISCUSSION OF DISCIPLINE RECOMMENDATION FOR #09-04 COMPLAINT

A copy of the Director’s memo of Officers Deontaye Harris and Luis Gonzalez’s disciplinary history was distributed to each member present.

Morrissey gave a brief summary of the case and opened the discussion to the Board to determine the appropriate penalty to be imposed upon the officers.

(1) Officer Deontaye Harris

The Board first reviewed and discussed Officer Harris’ disciplinary history. Due to Officer Harris’ extensive disciplinary history, Shields moved to recommend a twenty (20) day suspension. Motion was seconded by Michael.

Morrissey asked whether or not there was any discussion concerning the motion.

Kirschenbaum stated that if the board passes the motion he asks Beamud to include in her letter to the Chief the reasons why the Board has made the harshest recommendation that they have ever made as a Board. He stated that the reasons were partly due to Officer Harris’ prior disciplinary history and the seriousness of the offense.

The Motion was approved.

(2) Officer Luis Gonzalez

The Board then reviewed and discussed Officer Gonzalez disciplinary history.  Following the discussion, Kirschenbaum moved to recommend a five (5) day suspension to be imposed upon Officer Gonzalez. Motion was seconded by Michael.  Motion was approved.

DISCUSSION OF INVESTIGATION #10-01 COMPLAINT:

Complaint #10-01 was filed January 12, 2010.  A completed investigation was distributed to the Board on March 11, 2010.

A copy of the Director’s memo summarizing the investigation of the complaint was distributed to each member present.

A. SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT

The Complainant reported that on April 14, 2009 the Atlanta Police raided his wife’s place of business and confiscated 95% of the property. The Complainant claims that the following day, he was arrested and charged with Possession of Counterfeiting Service Marks, Criminal Sale of Recorded Material and Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon.  The Complainant alleges that he was re-arrested on October 28, 2009 for the same charges pursuant to a warrant.  The Complainant stated that he does not understand why he was re-arrested because he had been going to all his court dates.

The ACRB investigation revealed that the Complainant’s October 28, 2009 arrest was pursuant to a warrant.

Based on the aforementioned information, the staff of the ACRB recommends that the allegation of False Arrest be unfounded against Officers Lakea Gaither and Genesis Huff.

B. COMPLAINT RECOMMENDATION

Following the discussion, it was moved by Kirschenbaum to accept the recommendation of the staff and to assign unfounded to the allegation of False Arrest.  Shields seconded.  The Motion was approved.

REQUEST FOR SUBPOENAS:

Beamud informed the Board that Officers Bryon Martin, Charles Yacoune, Charles Brown and Larry Bennet refused to give statements to ACRB after they were notified to appear.  She expressed that she was hoping to be able to avoid this step because she feels that the ordinance is pretty clear on this issue.  Beamud stated, “The Board should not have to seek subpoenas for employees.  It presents a burden to the ACRB office and it demands a lot of time waiting for the Committee on Council to address the issue.  It doesn’t seem like an efficient way to do business.”  Beamud stated that she made a decision to ask the Board to seek these subpoenas because “otherwise, we really are not producing a good product for your consideration.”

Following the discussion, it was moved by Montague to approve the subpoenas.  Motion was seconded by Michael.  Motion approved.

MARCH INTAKE REPORT:

A copy of the Director’s intake report was distributed to each member present.

Beamud reported that the office received a lot of new complaints for the month of March, noting that many of the complaints stem from the Eagle Bar incident and made appropriate preliminary recommendations on each.

It was moved by Kirschenbaum to accept the Executive Director’s report.  Williams seconded and the motion was approved.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

A copy of the Director’s report was distributed to each member present.  Beamud reported the following:

A.  CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE CHIEF

Beamud asks the Board to look at the grid on the report.  She brought to the Board’s attention that a pattern has developed where the Chief only accepts the Board’s recommendations when there is no finding of culpability.

B.  PUBLIC AWARENESS COMMITTEE

Beamud ask the Board for some clarity regarding the Public Awareness Committee such as does the original members want to remain on the committee, do they want to add members, etc…

Shields asked Beamud, “Who is currently on the committee?”

Morrissey replied that the original members of the Public Awareness Committee were Kathy Crawford, John Michael, Joy Morrissey, and Owen Montague.  Morrissey stated that she wants to see if Morris is interested in joining the committee.

Michael, Shields, and Williams voiced that they were interested in being a part of the committee.  Montague will also participate but does not want to be in a leadership role.  Morrissey does not want to be actively involved but wants to be copied on the committee’s activities.

Beamud directed the Board’s attention to the City of Portland’s Community Outreach Plan report that was included their handouts.  She stated that she wants to stay focused and strategic on this issue and believes that the Portland report could serve as a road map to the work of the subcommittee.

Morrissey commented that she likes the Portland Community Outreach Plan and encourages the members of the Public Awareness Committee to take a look at it.

C.  ETHICS TRAINING

Morrissey advised that Morris and Williams should attend one, if not both, of the two upcoming ethics training sessions.

D.  BUDGET

Beamud reported that ACRB’s budget is going up 10%.  She stated that it was good news but added that it’s still not enough but at least it is not a cut.

Beamud informed the Board that due to budgetary constraints, she will be unable to hire anyone to keep up the website and she does not have the skills to do it.

Montague proposed hiring a part time person to help with the website.

Johnson recommended to Beamud that she look into hiring a student or an intern.

Beamud advised that she would look into it.

E.   MEETING WITH THE MAYOR

Beamud advised the Board that the meeting with the Mayor is scheduled for April 19, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. with Morrissey, Kirschenbaum and Beamud attending.

F.   INVESTIGATIVE UPDATES

Beamud reported that she is still working on the Johnston case and is working with the police department to get information regarding extra jobs.  Beamud stated that she will put in the report that the police have been unable to provide the requested information.

G.  GRANT POSSIBILITIES

Beamud reported that she is talking to some of her professor friends in Boston to see if they want to join her in applying for a DOJ grant.  Beamud asks the Board to take a moment to read the solicitation and to let her know if they have any ideas as to how they could meet the grant requirements.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

There were no public comments.

ADJOURNMENT:

The Chair entertained a motion to adjourn.  Johnson moved to adjourn and Williams seconded.  Motion approved.  Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.