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HomeMy WebLinkAbout050912 rm min CITIZEN'S ADVISORY BOARD Minutes Wednesday, May 9, 2012 6:30 P.M. New Tribes Mission 1000 E. 1st Street, Sanford, Florida PRESENT: Helen Mausser, Joe Torresin, Katheryn Alexander, Trace Trylko, Betty Jack, Richard Myers — Interim Police Chief and Gracy Posley Absent: Carsandra Buie and John Wright Audience: Sanford Citizens, Media, City Commissioner Mark McCarty and Sanford Police Staff Called to Order by Ms. Mausser. Ms. Mausser welcomed and thanked all present for attending the meeting. ■ Invocation by Commissioner Mark McCarty. • Ms. Mausser requested the Minutes of February 8, 2012 be approved if there were no changes. Motion was made by Mrs. Alexander, seconded by Mr. Torresin. Minutes were approved as written. Ms. Mausser explained the Citizen's Advisory Board' purpose and that this was the quarterly on- the -road district meeting for District 1 (Commissioner McCarty). Ms. Mausser announced Interim Police Chief Richard Myers. CABoard members introduced themselves. Interim Chief Myers Address the Citizens ■ Interim Chief Myers introduced himself. Commented he has held the position of Police Chief five times and Interim Chief twice. The position of a Police Chief is a limited timeframe and is used for stabilizing and keeping the department on course. As the Interim Chief his observations of the Sanford Police Department's policies, equipment, etc. will be shared with City Manager Bonaparte. He will not interfere with the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case in anyway, but will be involved in helping the community heal from this tragedy. This tragedy has somewhat frozen the communities ability to move forward. He will be apart of relationship building and working to strengthen the disconnect with the community and the Police Department. Citizen Participation — Questions Directed to Interim Chief Myers • Mr. Israel Black Jr. — What would you (Chief Myers) have done as Chief re Stand Your Ground law? (Chief) It will be irresponsible of him to answer this question. He will speak with prosecutors regarding this law. Sensitive matters should always be critiqued following a tragedy. ■ Cedric Cuthbert, Pastor — What is the morale of the Police Department and what will you do re team building? (Chief) Provided a Vietnam War illustration of soldiers returning home and not being welcomed and appreciated. One can disagree with the battle, but be loyal to the patrons. Sanford as a community is probably feeling like Vietnam veterans. ■ Mr. Bernard Brown — The key word is respect. Please check the attitudes of the officers. (Chief) Yes, respect has to be earned. E MI. Joe Torresin — Will you review the Police Department from A -Z and regarding accreditation what is your plan of action? (Chief) Accreditation is secondary on his agenda as Interim Chief. He will balance his time on the internal /external business of the Department and public relationship building. ■ Ryan Vesher — Law enforcement seems to be at a grinding halt. How will things be followed up down the road? (Chief) Find's City Manager Bonaparte to be a sincere and effective leader. He has qualities Interim Chief Myers would emulate. Chief Myers ask the community to keep an open mind and heart. The community has Citizen's Advisory Board May 9, 2012 Page 2 of 2 to also want to make things better. The protests in Sanford regarding Trayvon Martin were remarkable with no arrests. Sanford Police Department officers and employees are doing well under the circumstances. • Robin Riggins, Pastor — Is Sanford Police a Department that lacks integrity? (Chief) The Police Department is dealing with a major problem. Meetings such as this are necessary to expose the raw emotional hurt to move forward. Pastor Riggins commented re a previous negative experience she and one of her employees encountered with the Sanford Police Department. The incident involved a reckless driver in the vicinity of a childcare center, whereas she stated the officer scorned her employee. ■ Mr. Trace Trylko — A -Z will you assess Chief Lee? (Chie He will not scrutinize or second guess Chief Lee's job performance. The Chief (Lee) is accountable to the City Manager. Chief Myers will focus on the Department and its outcome. He is positioned at the Sanford Police Depai I vent to review and understand the Trayvon Martin shooting. E MI Toby Wells, Jr. — Asked Chief Myers to define probable cause. Had several questions re Trayvon Martin shooting. (Chief) Commented he would not discuss the Trayvon Martin matter. • Ms. Joyce — Five months after you leave, how will it be handled if Chief Lee is retained or another Chief is hired? (Chief) The City Manager will make that decision. ■ Mr. Andres Farfan — Is doing a documentary on Sanford, the Police Department and Trayvon Martin. How have you and how will you deal with the Sanford Police Department? (Chief) Cultural change takes time. Growing the healthy and changing the unhealthy is important. He will identify any meaningful cultural issues and articulate them to the City Manager and Police Department Command Staff. He will deal with the Police Department with expediency. New Business • Commissioner McCarty — How did it come about for the Citizen's Advisory Board to meet quarterly? (Ms. Mausser) This change to meet quarterly was voted on at the February 8, 2012 meeting. Commissioner McCarty suggested for the meetings to return to monthly meetings. Ms. Mausser motioned to resume monthly meetings; seconded by Mrs. Alexander. There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 P.M. Minutes prepared by Gracy Posley, CABoard Secretary.