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Human Relations Commission pushes for public inquiry of police

According to Carbondale Police, fewer complaints about the department are being reported. According to the Human Relations Commission, the accuracy of these reports needs to be double-checked by the public.

The Carbondale Police Department's professional standards report and the 2003 use-of-force review found the number of complaints on the June 30 report dropped 66 percent since the December 2003 report.

The police department received a total of four complaints for the period between Jan. 1 and June 30. There were no complaints that elevated to the formal level, which can lead to the termination of an officer or a suspension of more than three days.

According to Carbondale Police Interim Chief Steve Odum, police had 50 incidents in which police had to use force, which is consistent with numbers of previous years.

HRC Chairman Sam Goldman said he was concerned about the lack of outside investigation into the complaints.

"Why can't the public participate in the investigation?" Goldman asked.

Odum said another officer of equal or higher rank investigates all complaints reported.

Odum said a complaint could also be brought to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, whose members do not investigate but instead rely on the information provided from the department's investigation or City Manager Jeff Doherty.

Commissioners of the HRC said they were still concerned the people investigating the complaint may be biased.

"It's still an unformed match, whether it's an officer or city manager," Goldman said.

Commissioners of the HRC said although concerned citizens have these outlets to voice angers, some complaints never make it to the department.

"We find people will come here to complain, but go no further," Goldman said. "It says to me that somehow the complaints won't get there. We recommend where to send them, but they don't go."

Also discussed at the meeting was the lack of progress the department made toward diversifying its officers.

"We continue to struggle to attract minority candidates and get them to stay here," Odum said.

The main reason for the high turnover at the department, according to Odum, is because officers stay for school, but once finished, they leave for state agencies that offer better employee benefits.