HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 07-20 Maplewood to review its police 'use of force' policies MAPLEWOOD REVIEW ao, 014'
a lewood to review itspolice
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'use of force' policies
Aundrea Kinney or modifications to the depart- mendations will be submitted to
Review staff ment's current policies and the police chief, who will then
practices. report back to workgroup mem-
In the aftermath of the July "As you can imagine this is a bers and the Maplewood City
6 killing of Philando Castile big topic because it is not just Council on policy recommenda-
by a St. Anthony police officer around use of force, but we tions that were adopted. Addi-
in Falcon Heights and other have to look at the situations tionally, the resolution requires
police shootings of black men where use of force is often times that the police chief provide a
across the country the past two applied, and that's going to be written rationale for any recom-
years, Maplewood is establish- things like mental health cri- mendations not integrated into
ing a workgroup of residents to sis situations and the full range departmental policy.
review its police department's of other encounters that the Schnell based his request for
"use of force" policies and officers deal with," said Police the workgroup off the Fire/EMS
related training protocols. Chief Paul Schnell. workgroup Maplewood created
Over the next two to three An example of a policy the last February to investigate the
months, the workgroup's workgroup will make a rec- service levels and sustainability
eight to 14 members will learn ommendation on would be if of the Maplewood Fire and EMS
about current laws and U.S. police should be able to use a Department.
Supreme Court decisions that chokehold, something Schnell On May 9, Schnell presented
govern police authority to use said can be immensely helpful to the city council four recom-
force. They will also review the in certain situations, but added mendations based on the find-
Maplewood department's poli- it can have "an extremely high ings of that group. At that time,
cies regarding use of force and risk if wrongly applied." every city council member
make recommendations for Upon completion of the
identified additions, deletions review, the workgroup's mann- see Workgroup on page 6
Page 6 Wednesday,July 20,2016
Workgroup...
continued from page 1
noted the overall success of the workgroup.
The goal of the police use of force work-
group is to foster effective,fair and trans-
parent police services,according to a press
release.
"We have the opportunity to take an impor-
tant step forward—initiating real action—
by engaging a diverse group of Maplewood
citizens to systematically review our police
department's use of force training and poll-
cies,"said Maplewood Mayor Nora Slawik in
a statement.
"We believe the convening of this work-
group will foster trust and legitimacy,which
is especially important to our communities of
color."
At the July 11 city council meeting,Slawik
said that action is the best thing that city rep-
resentatives can offer after a crisis.
Maplewood squads helping out
Maplewood also offered some of the city's
police officers to help patrol St.Anthony and
Falcon Heights,while the small suburbs dealt
with the aftermath of the police shooting that
occurred during a routine traffic stop on Lar-
penteur Avenue in Falcon Heights.
Castile, a 32-year-old elementary school
cafeteria supervisor,was shot several times at
close range by Officer Jeronimo Yanez of the
St.Anthony Police Department,which con-
tracts with Falcon Heights for police services.
According to St. Anthony city manager
Mark Casey,the St.Anthony Police Depart-
ment didn't close down last week,but all the
patrol officers,by choice,took paid time off
in the wake of Castile's death and the Black
Lives Matter protests that ensued.
At the July 11 city council meeting,Sch-
nell mentioned that while patrolling in St.
Anthony and Falcon Heights there were many
nasty comments directed at Maplewood offi-
cers both in person and on internes platforms,
but there were also some very supportive
comments and letters from community mem-
bers. (cott([t)
Schnell said that prior to the recent police
cs shooting events, the Maplewood Police
Department has been actively involved in
issues of racial equity and in implement-
ing President Obama's task force recom-
mendations on 21st century policing that
was released last year. He later added that
�+ although he believes the Maplewood Police
Department's use of force training is excep-
tional,there is always r uni for improvement.
"I don't think [supporting] police officers
and the Black Lives Matter [movement) are
in contention with each other,"said council
member Bryan Smith.
Smith will be the council liaison to the new
workgroup and council member Kathleen
Juenemann will he the alternate.
"I really want this to get underway as soon
as possible,"Slawik said.
Workgroup membership is open to all
Maplewood residents, regardless of age. It
is also open to those who work fulltime in
Maplewood or own/operate a business in
Maplewood.To apply,complete a brief online
letter of interest at www.maplewoodmn.gov/
UseofForce.
The online application process must be
completed by Friday,Aug.5.Appointments to
the workgroup will be made by the city coun-
cil on or before Aug.22.
Questions about the workgroup,its mission
or process can be directed to Maplewood City
Manager Melinda Coleman at Melinda.cole-
man@maplewoodmn.gov or Schnell at paul.
schnell@maplewoodmn.gov or 651-249-2602.
Aundrea Kinney can be reached at 651-748-
7822 or akinney@lillienews.com.