City Council Meeting Date: September 15, 2020
To: City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Mark Elliott, Police Chief
CC: Rhonda Pownell, Mayor
Title
Consider Resolution Establishing Citizen Police Department Administrative Policy Review Task Force and Related Mayoral Appointments.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council consider approving the attached Resolution Establishing Citizen Police Department Administrative Policy Review Task Force and Related Mayoral Appointments.
Summary Report:
In April 2020 the Northfield Police Department began a process to revise and update the policy manual the department uses to guide the operations of the department and the actions of its members. The department contracted with Lexipol to provide the framework for the policy manual through policies that follow federal and state laws as well as court decisions, and best practices guidelines affecting law enforcement service delivery. Shortly after this process began we all witnessed the death of George Floyd, the civil unrest that followed, and the calls for police reforms.
The department is currently reviewing and editing the standard policies provided by Lexipol to fit our department and community. As part of this review process the police department has requested assistance from the public in providing feedback on select policies that have been highlighted during recent calls for police reform.
Mayor Pownell, in consultation with the Police Chief and City Administrator, is proposing the attached Resolution that will establish a task force of members of the public to provide feedback to the department on the policies through a series of meetings this fall and winter. Members of this task force were chosen as a community member and representative of a diverse cross section of organizations representing our city. The work they do and the people that make up their organizations including staff, clients, and stakeholders represent our commu...
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