The Citizens Police Review Board debated whether to hear complaints against police officers in meetings closed to the public during its Wednesday meeting.
The Missouri Sunshine Law allows a public governing body, such as the review board, to hold closed sessions when it serves the best interest of the parties involved. In the case of the review board, this means complainants, witnesses and police officers.
When the review board was formed, its ordinances specified that all hearings and deliberations were to be completely open.
City Counselor Fred Boeckmann said at least one complainant and several Columbia Police Department officers wanted the option of testifying before only board members.
Board Chairwoman Ellen Locurto-Martinez said having some sessions closed might be beneficial for witnesses.
“This is a decision we’ll have to struggle with,” she said. “I don’t know which is the right answer, if there is a right answer.”
Board member Susan Smith said she thought the aftermath of the board’s last decision, in which it ruled a CPD officer used excessive force against a Columbia resident Derek Billups, would scare away future complainants.
“He was not a public figure before making this complaint,” Smith said. “We want openness so much that there are no boundaries.”
Some board members wanted to allow only complainants to choose closed sessions, while others wanted to extend it to all parties involved. The board initially voted 7-1 to request the Columbia City Council to change the ordinance and allow the board to have closed sessions, but later voted to table the discussion for a later meeting.
Board member Betty Wilson was the only dissenting vote.
“If we take away or erode this openness, we’re eroding the trust people have in us,” Wilson said. “People will wonder why we’re operating behind closed doors, if we’re truly operating the same way we would in public.”
Smith argued the Billups case showed how public hearings can possibly hurt the complainant.
“We have a private citizen who was attacked by the media,” Smith said. “We want to encourage them to come forward and make complaints, but the media is such that there is no protection.”
During the public comment section of the meeting, Columbia residents spoke both in opposition and in favor of the board’s vote.
“I just want to reiterate the support for openness,” said Mitch Richards, member of Keep Columbia Free. “I think it’s a clear and fundamental part of your role in the community to be as open as possible.”
CPD spokeswoman Jill Wieneke said she thought allowing closed sessions would get rid of the need for legal representation for officers.
“Speaking on behalf of the officers, the vast majority think that the issue with attorneys would be fixed by the ability to do this in closed session,” Wieneke said.
After hearing from several residents, some of the board members decided they wanted to reconsider their votes.
“After I voted, I really thought about it,” board member Carroll Highbarger said. “I’m worried about becoming just another government agency you can’t trust. I wish I had not voted the way I did.”
The board voted 6-1 to put the City Council recommendation on hold and address the issue again at the April meeting.