Selectmen Consider Creation Of Citizens Police Advisory Committee

GREENWICH, CT — In an effort to increase accountability and transparency between the Greenwich Police Department and the community, the Board of Selectmen is considering the creation of a Citizen's Police Advisory Committee.

According to a presentation to the Board by Town Administrator Ben Branyan last week, the committee would incorporate "citizen oversight into the internal affairs and citizen complaint processes for allegations of misconduct."

A draft of committee policy says the committee would consist of 10 Greenwich residents over the age of 17. Members must be graduates of the GPD's Citizen Police Academy, which is generally held twice a year.

The committee would hold quarterly public meetings, at a minimum, and review GPD performance reports, the annual report, and operations plans to provide recommendations to Camillo.

In his capacity as the GPD Police Commissioner, Camillo would have sole authority to make final decisions regarding discipline, unless otherwise prescribed in Town Charter, law, or labor contracts.

Committee meetings would feature a public hearing component so that the members could receive input from the Greenwich community on the operations and values of the GPD.

No vote was taken on the agenda item, as last week's meeting served as a first read. The next Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28.

The concept of the policy for the committee started in the summer of 2020 when the Connecticut General Assembly passed the sweeping police accountability bill, Public Act 20-1. There were also protests and demonstrations that summer in response to the killing of George Floyd and other incidents involving police.

"This policy arose from the desire to increase public awareness of the Greenwich Police Department through increased transparency and public accountability of the outcomes and actions of the department," Branyan told the Board of Selectmen last week. "In addition, it provides a formal opportunity for the members of the community to represent interests to the town and the department."

Camillo said Greenwich has been fortunate to have a good relationship with its police department, but an advisory committee would still be beneficial.

"We want to stay ahead of things, because you just never know when there's going to be an incident. All it takes is one incident. We thought this would be a really good, proactive endeavor for our community," Camillo said, adding that he "fully endorses" the idea that committee members must be graduates of the GPD Citizen Police Academy.

"Anyone who's going to sit on the committee, they'd be judging the actions and making recommendations. They need to know what a policeman and woman goes through. They need to know the job," Camillo added.

The state's police accountability bill stated that the legislative body of a town "may establish a civilian police review board."

"The use of the word ‘may’ certainly makes the intent clear that a civilian police review board is optional. The policy before you is advisory," Branyan told the Board of Selectmen. "The powers contemplated in Public Act 20-1 may have subpoena power. As drafted, our policy does not include this authority."

If the Board wanted to add subpoena power to the committee, an ordinance would have to be drafted and presented to the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting for ratification.

"This administration sees this policy as iterative," Branyan said. "Once the committee is established and functioning, if the need for subpoena power is evident, we can certainly produce an ordinance for ratification through the RTM. We see this as the first step."

Selectperson Lauren Rabin suggested that the Board of Selectmen also go through the Citizen Police Academy.

Selectperson Jill Oberlander said she thought the concept of the committee is "headed in the right direction," but she was concerned that the academy has only produced about 1,000 graduates since its inception in 2003, and there might not be enough interest for people to attend.

Oberlander also questioned what the committee could really accomplish.

"We're trying to make sure that the process of accountability and discipline is transparent," answered GPD Chief James Heavey. "It's not going to change the way we do things, but it will open [what we do] to higher visibility amongst the community so hopefully they'll recognize that we are doing it well."

Heavey noted that the department briefed the Silver Shield Association, the police labor union, on the possibility of an advisory committee.

There was no public hearing at last week's Board of Selectmen meeting, but leaders from the YWCA of Greenwich spoke against the draft for the advisory committee.

Mary Lee Kiernan, president and CEO of the YWCA of Greenwich, said the proposal put forward was "lacking." She said the first step in the process should be scrutinized closely, otherwise future steps could snowball into a disservice for the community.
Erin Crosby, director of women's empowerment and racial justice at the YWCA of Greenwich, also spoke out about the proposal.

"The proposed structure and scope of the citizen's police advisory committee severely limits its ability to increase accountability, foster transparency, and build community trust," Crosby said. "Proposed requirements greatly increase the likelihood that the committee will be comprised of affluent and/or white residents who have never experienced police misconduct or bias within the justice system."

The GPD's Citizen Police Academy is a nine-week program that can accommodate up to 40 people. The course is usually held twice a year, with classes once a week from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Crosby said the "meeting cadence and timing" makes it tough for those who work second shifts, single parents, and women with little to no access to after hours childcare to attend.

"It's difficult to imagine how a citizen's police advisory committee would truly advance transparency and accountability when a requirement for participation excludes multiple constituencies," she said.

She urged the Board of Selectmen to revisit the language in the proposal.

Camillo reiterated the fact that he believes committee members need to know what a police officer goes through in their job.

He noted that nighttime has traditionally been the best time to hold such classes, but maybe accommodations can be made in the spring to adjust timing and help those who miss a class or two.

Rabin said accommodations could also be made with regards to after hours childcare.