New London ― Established almost 40 years ago, the Police Community Relations Committee has often been divided over its role.

Marie Gravell was one of the first members of the relations committee when it was formed in 1985. She recalled the committee was really involved in the community, holding picnics and meetings wherever residents lived.

“We were supposed to work together with the police department,” she said. “We’re not the decision makers.”

In recent years, the Police Community Relations Committee faced criticism from police union members who alleged some former members of the committee had a clear anti-police bias.

Over the past 18 months, the committee had trouble getting enough members to show up for meetings and conduct business.

The relations committee is now set to be dissolved as the City Council on Monday enacted an ordinance to create the Police Civilian Review Board which will replace the committee.

The ordinance states the intent of the city and the New London Police Union is for the board to be used as a forum to increase communication between the community and police department “while also strengthening the trust in the accountability and transparency of the citizen complaint process.”

Mayor Michael Passero said the creation of the new board was a great accomplishment and represents the hard work of the Public Safety Policy Review Committee he formed in 2020 to review the policies and practices of the police department.

In a report, the policy review committee recommended the City Council establish a civilian review board as an initial step toward greater police accountability.

“It took a while, but we’re there,” said Passero. He added the review board will give its members more of an ability to scrutinize investigations as opposed to just ensuring proper procedure was followed in an investigation.

Josh Bergeson, the police union president, said the relations committee was outdated and needed an update.

“It’s a good step for the city,” Bergeson said. “Building a relationship instead of breaking them down between the community and the police department.”

The ordinance does not stray far from what the police union agreed to in a contract with the city in February.

The Police Civilian Review Board will maintain its advisory role and review citizen complaints regarding the police department. But it will also be able to escalate any unresolved issues by sending concerns to the mayor’s office for review and even a possible formal hearing. The mayor will render a written decision in the matter.

The new board will be composed of seven members — three chosen by the mayor, three by the council and one from the police union. Members will serve a two-year term and will not be allowed to serve more than two consecutive terms.

Members of the board will be subject to “a cursory background check” before being appointed, with the police union allowed to give testimony on why a person should or should not be appointed. The ordinance states this is to ensure its members are not looking to influence the board by following a “Pro-Police or Anti-Police agenda.”

There will be required training for the board members on topics such as modern policing practices, labor relations and the state’s Police Accountability Act. Any board member found to be working against the improvement of police community relations is subject to a review and potential hearing before the mayor and City Council’s public safety committee to determine, with input from the police union, if the individual should be removed from the board.

Gravell said although she would’ve loved for the relations committee to remain, but it was just not working. She said she sees no problem with it becoming a review board if that makes it easier for citizens.

Limited power

The policy review committee had also recommended the City Council determine what steps should be taken to establish a police commission after the review board, requiring a charter revision. A police commission can have a say in promotions, hiring and disciplinary actions.

Stonington and Waterford are the only towns in New London County with police commissions.

Passero said a charter revision is a long process and the administration would not have any control over a charter revision commission once it was formed. Under the current charter, Passero is head of the police department.

Bergeson said a police commission was never discussed in negotiations with the union contract. He said the public does not have the years of experience and police training to have a say in promotions and other issues.

Bergeson said a review board is more suited for the city as it is not an oversight committee and focuses on police and community relations. He said now that the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, police are looking to do more in the community.

Councilor Akil Peck, chair of the council’s public safety committee, was liaison of the community relations committee and will be the liasion for the civilian review board.

Peck does not support a police commission.

“Police have a tough job,” he said. “I don’t want a system making it harder for police officers to do job. I’m happy with this (the review board) and the way it was drafted.”

Peck is looking forward to the civilian review board and said it was a top priority for him after he was elected in 2021. He said a review board will engage the community, be transparent and bridge gaps with the police department.

“It’s the same structure but this will have more power to really dive deep into citizens’ complaints,” he said.

Peck said the council is looking to get the review board running next year but is in need of more applicants.

j.vazquez@theday.com