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DIVISION 4. - CITIZENS POLICE REVIEW BOARD
Sec. 2-253. - Citizens police review board for the Tallahassee Police Department.
(a) Creation. There is hereby established the Citizens Police Review Board for the Tallahassee Police
Department ("CPRB").
(b) Purpose and declaration of policy. The purpose of the CPRB is to foster transparency, enhance
communication, and ensure a relationship of trust and respect between the Tallahassee Police
Department ("department") and the community by creating an unbiased panel of citizens to
review completed department internal affairs reports, cases, and issues relating to law
enforcement that are of importance or of interest to the community and the city, and to increase
and demonstrate police accountability and credibility with the public.
(c) Duties and responsibilities.
(1) To review completed department internal affairs reports involving use of force or other cases
and issues of importance or interest to the community or the city, provided there is no
related pending internal affairs investigation or the same has been completed. In conducting
its review, the CPRB may determine whether the investigation and disposition of the case was
consistent with department policies and procedures and make recommendations regarding
any revisions or additions to department policies and procedures.
(2) Through review of matters of importance or interest at its discretion, or at the request of the
chief of police, the CPRB may make recommendations to the chief of police for any revisions
or additions to Department policies and procedures after the department's completed
handling of the matter.
(3) To make recommendations to the chief of police and the city manager as to current and
proposed city police department policies, procedures, and practices.
(4) To annually report findings and recommendations to the city commission, city manager, and
chief of police.
(Ord. No. 20-O-31, § 1, 9-23-2020)
Sec. 2-254. - Membership and organization.
(a) Persons appointed to the CPRB ("members") are volunteers and shall receive no compensation.
The CPRB shall consist of nine members, with five members appointed individually by each
member of the city commission and four members appointed by city commission from
nominations from community-based civic and social service organizations including, but not
limited to: the League of Women Voters, the Urban League, local chambers of commerce, the
NAACP, the local chapter of the Florida Bar, local organizations of clergymen, and local mental
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health, juvenile justice or university/college associations. The terms of each member shall be staggered
three-year terms. A member's term upon expiration may be extended until requalification and re-
appointment or until a qualified replacement is appointed, but said extension shall not exceed 180 days.
No member shall serve more than three consecutive full terms. All appointments to the CPRB should be
made with sensitivity to the racial, gender, age, ethnic, religious, linguistic, and cultural diversity of the city.
(b) The initial terms of members of the CPRB shall be as follows:
(1) Three members shall be appointed for a term of one year;
(2) Three members shall be appointed for a term of two years; and
(3) Three members shall be appointed for a term of three years.
(c) The initial chairperson ("chair") shall be selected by the city commission to serve for one year.
Thereafter, the CPRB shall annually elect a chair from among its members. The chair shall be
allowed to vote on all matters appearing before the CPRB. The CPRB shall also annually elect a
vice-chair from among its members. The vice-chair shall preside over the meeting in the absence
of the chair.
(Ord. No. 20-O-31, § 1, 9-23-2020)
Sec. 2-255. - Board member qualifications.
CPRB members shall not be a City of Tallahassee employee nor related to a Department employee, have
been previously employed by the department, currently work for any law enforcement agency, hold political
office or be campaigning for office, have any pending criminal proceeding, including probation, or have a
prior felony conviction or felony withhold of adjudication within the last three years. The definition of
"related to" means the department employee is the father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle,
aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-
brother, or half-sister of the board member. Members shall meet the following criteria:
(1) Be at least 18 years of age.
(2) Be a current resident, property owner, or utility customer of the city; or, own or be a principal
in a business or a not-for-profit organization in the city.
(3) Completed a written application.
(4) Successfully complete the Tallahassee Police Department Citizens Academy and two hours of
diversity/equity training within one year of appointment.
(5) Devote a minimum of two hours to participate in a ride along in each of the Department's
three districts, for a minimum total of six hours within 60 days of appointment.
(6)
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Members shall conduct themselves in accordance with and be subject to the city code of ethics.
(7) Members shall attend a minimum of three-quarters of the scheduled meetings annually.
(8) Members who no longer satisfy the above criteria, including the prohibitions stated above,
shall be automatically removed.
(9) The city commission may suspend qualifications (4) and (5) due to good cause in the public
interest, including a pandemic.
(Ord. No. 20-O-31, § 1, 9-23-2020)
Sec. 2-256. - Meetings of the board.
(a) The CPRB shall meet at a minimum on a quarterly basis.
(b) All meetings of the CPRB shall be open to the public in accordance with the requirements of the
Government-in-the-Sunshine Law.
(c) Five or more members of the CPRB present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum in order for
the board to conduct its business.
(d) The actions of the CPRB shall not conflict with the provisions of F.S. §§ 112.532 and 112.533,
known as the Police Officer's Bill of Rights or any other rights afforded pursuant to Florida law or
collective bargaining agreements as determined by the city attorney or designee.
(e) CPRB meetings and operations shall be conducted in accordance with city commission adopted
policies and procedures. The latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order may be used as guidance.
(Ord. No. 20-O-31, § 1, 9-23-2020)
Sec. 2-257. - Administrative authority, powers and duties.
(a) The CPRB board administrator shall be the city auditor or designee. The city auditor or designee
shall (1) ensure that records, unless confidential by law, requested by the CPRB are provided to
the CPRB; (2) assist the chair in preparing the agenda for each meeting in accordance with
procedures approved by the city commission; and (3) provide appropriate public notice of
meetings and prepare minutes.
(b) The CPRB ombudsman as designated by the city manager or designee shall have the following
duties:
(1) Maintain a thorough understanding of department policies and procedures, the governing
collective bargaining agreements, and the Police Officers' Bill of Rights.
(2) Assist with the training of CPRB members in accordance with the requirements of this Code.
Training topics may include, but shall not be limited to: the department's written directives,
general orders, and policies and procedures; Florida Statutes, the department's law
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enforcement ethics; the use of force policy; pursuits policy, the writing and understanding of offense
reports; the professional standards complaint process; grievance procedures; and public records and
exceptions.
(3) Serve as the administrative liaison between the CPRB and the chief of police and report the
CPRB findings and recommendations to the chief of police.
(c) The CPRB attorney shall be the city attorney or designee. The city attorney or designee shall assist
with legal issues as to jurisdiction, procedure, or rules of order.
(Ord. No. 20-O-31, § 1, 9-23-2020)
Sec. 2-258. - City commission reports.
The CPRB shall file a written annual report to the city commission, city manager, and chief of police to
include the nature of matters considered by the CPRB, the recommendations made to the chief of police
and the official response of the department to the recommendations, statistics and summaries of citizen
complaints, a comparison of the board findings and conclusions with the actions taken by the chief of police
and recommendations related to changes in policies and procedures.
(Ord. No. 20-O-31, § 1, 9-23-2020)
Secs. 2-259—2-300. - Reserved.
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