Title
Resolution to Establish the Citizens Police Advisory Group (CPAG) as a Hampton City Council Appointed Committee
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The Hampton Police Division and Hampton City Council are generally supportive of the recommendations of the Final Report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Recommendation 4.5.3 of that report advocates for a citizen group to advise the police on crime prevention strategies and agency policies from a citizen's perspective. In accordance with that recommendation, Hampton City Council passed a resolution to establish a City Council appointed committee, the Citizens Police Advisory Group (CPAG) on October 12, 2016. It is staff's recommendation based on the consensus of City Council that the following resolution, amending the original resolution establishing the Citizens Police Advisory Group be adopted. The amendments add an additional representative from the Community at Large and from an Institution of Higher Learning (Thomas Nelson Community College). Additionally, the amendments make the representatives of the Institutional Members (Hampton City Schools, Langley Air Force Base and the Institutions of Higher Learning) ex officio members of the CPAG. Finally, in order to stagger the appointments the amendments define and stagger the terms of the initial appointments. Thereafter each appointment will be for a normal term of four (4) years.
Discussion:
The purpose is to establish a citizen group to advise the Police on crime prevention strategies and agency policies from a citizen perspective.
Impact:
The establishment of this group furthers City Council's strategic priority relating to good government.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve Resolution
Body
WHEREAS, the Hampton City Council has endorsed the Hampton Police Division’s support for the recommendations of the Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing;
WHEREAS, recommendation 4.5.3 of that report advocates for the establishment of a citizen group to advise the police on crime prevention strategies and agency policies;
WHEREAS, the Hampton City Council deems it advisable to appoint an advisory committee, the Citizens Police Advisory Group (CPAG), to consult with the Hampton Police Division and serve in this advisory role.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia that the Council does hereby establish the Hampton Citizen Advisory Group that shall consist of fourteen (14) citizens (who shall serve without compensation). The citizens appointed to this advisory committee shall have the knowledge and abilities required to advise the Hampton Police Division on crime prevention strategies and agency policies from a citizen’s perspective.
1. Appointments:The members of the Citizens Police Advisory Group shall be comprised of citizen representatives from the following stakeholder groups:
A. One representative from Hampton City Schools
B. Two representatives from the Faith Community
C. One representative from Langley Air Force Base
D. One representative from the Legal Community
E. One representative from the Hampton Citizens’ Unity Commission
F. One representative from the Hampton Neighborhood Commission
G. Two representatives from the Community at Large
H. One representative from a Civil Rights Organization
I. Two representatives from the Youth
J. Two representatives from Institutions of Higher Education
The representatives from Hampton City Schools, Langley Air Force Base and the Institutions of Higher Learning (Hampton University and Thomas Nelson Community College) shall hereinafter be referred to as “the Institutional Members.” Institutional members shall be ex officio members of the Citizens’ Police Advisory Group and may be selected by their respective agencies. All Non-Institutional Members shall be appointed by City Council. The two representatives from the Youth shall be appointed to a term of one (1) year. All other Non-Institutional members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years. Any vacancy of a Non-Institutional Member on the committee shall be filled by Council for the unexpired term. Members whose terms have expired, shall continue to serve until their successor has been appointed. In order to stagger the terms of the representatives appointed, the initial appointments only shall be for the following term lengths (thereafter appointments shall be for the normal four (4) year terms):
• Initial three (3) year terms: One representative from the Faith Community, one representative from Community at Large, the representative from the Hampton Citizens’ Unity Commission and the representative from the Hampton Neighborhood Commission
• Initial four (4) year terms: One representative from the Faith Community, one representative from the Community at Large, the representative from the Legal Community, and the representative from a Civil Rights Organization.
2. Meetings: The Citizens Police Advisory Group shall meet on a regular basis with the Chief of Police or his designee(s) and at such times as the Chief of Police or his designee(s) shall request a meeting to consult on items of interest to the committee.
3. Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Quorum: the committee shall elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson from its membership who shall serve at the pleasure of the membership. A quorum for all purposes shall consist of six (6) Non-Institutional Members.
4. Duties of Citizens Police Advisory Group: The committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the Chief of Police and shall consult with the Chief of Police on matters brought to the committee by the Chief of Police or his designee(s) concerning crime prevention strategies or Hampton Police Division policies. Items brought up by the membership of the committee, and receiving a majority vote of the committee, shall be referred to the Chief of Police or his designee(s) for investigation and consideration. The committee shall act solely in an advisory capacity. The Chief of Police is ultimately responsible for making all decisions regarding crime prevention strategies and the policies of the Hampton Police Division.
5. Minutes: The Chief of Police or his designee(s) shall cause minutes of the committee meetings to be recorded.