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A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Police Review and Advisory Board quarterly reports. REFERRED TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN COUNCIL 2.6.2023
POLICE REVIEW & ADVISORY BOARD
A Department of the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
51 Inman St. • Cambridge, Mass. 02139 • [phone removed] • www.cambridgema.gov/PRAB
MEMO
To:
Yi-An Huang, City Manager
From: Brian Corr, Executive Director, Police Review & Advisory Board
Date: February 2, 2023
Re:
Police Review & Advisory Board Quarterly Report for January 2023
Pursuant to Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.74.040(E), the Police Review & Advisory
Board “shall make quarterly reports to the City Manager, the Mayor, the City Council and to
the public, of the Department’s activities during the previous year, including the handling of
complaints, and of future plans.” In fulfillment of that requirement, I am submitting this
memo as well as the complete set of minutes from the calendar year 2022 and the public
docket of complaints.
When a complainant files a complaint with the Board, the Board notifies the complainant
that the Board received the complaint and explains the process of investigation and the
Board’s determination. Once a complaint is filed, the Executive Director sends the complaint
to the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) of the Cambridge Police Department for
investigation on behalf of the Board. An investigation includes interviewing the complainant,
involved police officer(s), and any other relevant individuals and reviewing police reports,
witness statements, and other pertinent information. The Executive Director submits the
investigative report from PSU to the Board, which reviews the report and may accept the
report or order additional investigation into the complaint. After the investigation process is
complete, the Board deliberates and makes a determination whether or not there was a
violation of policy or procedures, or whether it is inconclusive. That finding is provided to the
complainant and the PSU.
Depending on the finding, any party to the complaint may request that the Board order a
hearing. The Board decides whether to order a hearing based on the evidence it receives. If
the Board holds a hearing, it will render a final decision. In addition, even if the Board finds
no violation of policy or procedures, it may make recommendations to the City Manager and
the Police Commissioner about changes the City can make to avoid similar situations in the
future.
In the calendar year 2022, the Board held eight public meetings, including five executive
sessions under Section 21(a)(1) of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law to consider
complaints pending before the Board. During the executive sessions, the Board reviewed both
the complaints and the investigations of those complaints conducted on its behalf by the PSU,
and then made findings on the complaints. The Board also reviewed in executive session the
one complaint received by CPD and the subsequent investigation of the complaint by PSU.
In 2022, three complaints were filed with the Board. They are summarized as follows:
Complaint #
Date Filed
Type of Complaint
Status
Date Closed
Outcome
PR-2022-002
07/07/2022
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
10/26/2022
Cleared
PR-2022-001-II
07/18/2022
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting; Rude
or Discourteous Behavior;
Discrimination/Bias-based
Policing
Closed
12/06/2022
Not
Founded
PR-2022-001
06/14/2022
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting;
Discrimination/Bias-based
policing
Closed
10/26/2022
Cleared
A significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Board has been the difficulty of
providing training for the Board and the inability of Board members to conduct outreach to
the community through community meetings and public events. The Board received training
from CPD on the PSU policy and procedure for conducting complaint investigations, and
Board members attended training webinars provided by the National Association for Civilian
Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE).
For 2023, Board Chair Alexandra Fallon has proposed the following goals, which were
reviewed with the full Board at its December 2022 meeting:
•
Board members and staff to participate in two CPD trainings - including “Integrating
Communications, Assessment, and Tactics” (ICAT), a training on responding to
situations where individuals that the police encounter are behaving erratically and
perhaps dangerously but do not have a firearm.
•
CPD Commissioner Elow to attend two Board meetings to discuss key topics with the
Board.
•
Improve access to filing complaints by launching an online complaint form.
•
Revise the Board’s Rules and Regulations to extend the deadline for complaints to be
filed more than 60 days after the incident.
•
The Board will conduct a review of a minimum of two CPD policies.
•
Board members will participate in a minimum of three community outreach efforts.
•
The Board will have a quorum for all scheduled meetings.
I look forward to providing these reports on a quarterly basis, and by the end of March 2023,
I plan to prepare an annual public report on the work of the Board in 2022.
POLICE REVIEW & ADVISORY BOARD
A Department of the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
51 Inman St. • Cambridge, Mass. 02139 • [phone removed] • www.cambridgema.gov/PRAB
Minutes from the Meeting of January 26, 2022
Board Members present: Chair Alexandra Fallon, Gina LaRoche, Franziskus Lepionka, Lucy
Murray-Brown, Beverly Sealey
City Staff present: Executive Director Brian Corr, Administrative Coordinator Ayan Barre; CPD
Director of Professional Standards and Training and Certification Unit James Mulcahy,
Sergeant Michael LeVecque
Chair Fallon called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public.
Review and Approval of Minutes
On a motion from Board Member LaRoche, seconded by Board Member Fallon, the Board
approved the minutes of December 1, 2021, with Board Members Fallon, LaRoche, Murray-
Brown, and Sealey voting in favor and Board Member Lepionka abstaining.
Executive Director’s Report
•
Exec. Dir. Corr reported on a meeting he attended in December of the “City Manager’s
Task Force to Examine the Future of Public Safety in Cambridge.” The City will establish a
new Cambridge Department of Community Safety (CDCS), which will be separate from
the Cambridge Police Department (CPD) and staffed by trained civilians who will provide
community services and programs focused on some of the most vulnerable individuals
and groups in Cambridge. CDCS will implement a trauma-informed “Cambridge
Alternative Public Safety Response Program” to respond to non-violent calls involving
behavioral health, substance use, and homelessness with a harm-reduction approach.
The program will include a crisis response specialist and a peer support specialist who
will be the primary responders to those types of calls received by 911. The foundation of
the program will be that all people deserve respect, autonomy, dignity, and opportunity.
The City Manager plans to propose a budget of approximately $3,000,000 to support the
CDCS.
•
Exec. Dir. Corr discussed his participation in the interview process for CPD hiring its first
Informatics Analyst for their Procedural Justice Unit. This position is part of
implementing a “Procedural Justice Dashboard” and a strategic research plan that
advances the work of procedural justice and legitimacy-based policing.
•
The longest-serving member of the Board — Lucy Murray-Brown — will finish her
second five-year term on April 30, 2022, and she is not eligible for reappointment, and
her last meeting as a board member will be on April 27, 2022.
•
The 2022 NACOLE Annual Conference will take place in Fort Worth, TX from
September 11 to 15, 2022. The location was chosen in part because it is home to one of
the newer civilian oversight offices, the Fort Worth Office of the Police Oversight
Monitor.
Professional Standards Unit Report
Director Mulcahy shared updates from the Cambridge Police Department.
•
Director Mulcahy announced that 18 cadets entered the CPD cadet program, which
aims to give young people in Cambridge the opportunity to work with the Police
Department as a possible career path. Director Mulcahy announced that a new Police
Commissioner was appointed by the City Manager. Commissioner Christine Elow has
worked with the Cambridge Police Department for 27 years and believes in connecting
with the most vulnerable people and diverting them away from the criminal justice
system whenever possible.
•
Director Mulcahy suggested the Board would benefit from CPD’s Integrated
Communications and Tactics (ICAT) training, developed by the Police Executive
Research Forum based on research and on the principles of 21st Century policing. Chair
Fallon discussed the possibility of setting up a date for the Board to receive training in
ICAT, and all Board members agreed it was a good idea.
Consideration of Complaint Pending before the Board and Adjournment
Board Member Murray-Brown moved that the Board enter executive session pursuant to
Section 21(a)(1) of the Mass. Open Meeting Law to discuss complaint PR-2021-003 pending
before the Board. The motion was seconded by Board Member La Roche and approved by a
unanimous roll call vote. The Board entered executive session at 6:45 p.m. and adjourned the
meeting from executive session at 7:46 p.m.
Documents Used During the Meeting
•
Police Review & Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of December 1, 2021
POLICE REVIEW & ADVISORY BOARD
A Department of the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
51 Inman St. • Cambridge, Mass. 02139 • [phone removed] • www.cambridgema.gov/PRAB
Minutes from the Meeting of February 23, 2022
Board Members present: Chair Alexandra Fallon, Gina LaRoche, Franziskus Lepionka, Lucy
Murray-Brown, Beverly Sealey
City Staff present: Executive Director Brian Corr, Administrative Coordinator Ayan Barre
Chair Fallon called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public.
Review and Approval of Minutes
On a motion from Chair Fallon, seconded by Board Member Murray-Brown, the Board approved
the minutes of January 26, 2022, with Board Members Fallon, LaRoche, Murray-Brown, and
Sealey voting in favor and Board Member Lepionka abstaining.
Executive Director’s Report
•
Executive Director Corr discussed setting up a training for the Board prior to the March
Board meeting and stated that he would follow up with the Professional Standards Unit at
CPD to discuss conducting training desired by the Board.
•
E.D. Corr informed the Board that he had just finished serving on the Law Enforcement
Data Dashboard Advisory Committee for the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a
progressive policing think tank and the organization that developed the ICAT training that
the CPD is using to promote and support de-escalation.
•
E.D. Corr reported that he has had continuing opportunities to support other communities
as they develop civilian oversight, including meeting with the Office of the Mayor of
Birmingham, Ala. Birmingham has started a new civilian review board and has been very
interested in what Cambridge does regarding civilian oversight, looking to this agency as a
model. Over the last seventy years, it has become a majority-Black city with serious issues
of poverty and accompanying concerns around public safety, and the administration is
working to rebuild trust between the Birmingham Police Department and the city’s
residents. Notably, its population is 73% Black, its police department is 90% Black, and
Birmingham is well-known for its history of segregation and civil rights activism.
Chair’s Report
Chair Fallon reported that she and E.D. Corr will be meeting with Police Commissioner Elow in
March.
Board Member Report
Board Member LaRoche reported that on behalf of the Police Review & Advisory Board, she
participated in a focus group for City boards and commissions, facilitated by Randi Frank
Consulting as part of the City Council’s search process for hiring the next City Manager. She raised
several issues including: naming a permanent Police Commissioner; the future of public safety and
the planned Cambridge Dept. of Community Safety; and the need for the City Manager to have an
inclusive leadership perspective. She also noted that there is an online survey that is available for
everyone to fill out.
Consideration of Complaints Pending before the Board
Board Member LaRoche moved that the Board enter executive session pursuant to Section 21(a)(1) of
the Mass. Open Meeting Law to discuss complaints LF -2022-001, LF-2022-002 and LF-2022-003
pending before the Board. The motion was seconded by Board Member Lepionka and approved
unanimously by roll call vote. The Board entered executive session at 6:19 p.m.
Adjournment
At the end of the executive session, the Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to adjourn the
executive session and the meeting at 7:22 p.m., on a motion from Chair Fallon, seconded by
Board Member Murray-Brown.
Documents Used During the Meeting
•
Police Review & Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of January 26, 2022
POLICE REVIEW & ADVISORY BOARD
A Department of the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
51 Inman St. • Cambridge, Mass. 02139 • [phone removed] • www.cambridgema.gov/PRAB
Minutes from the Meeting of March 30, 2022
Board Members present: Chair Alexandra Fallon, Gina LaRoche, Franziskus Lepionka, Beverly
Sealey
City Staff present: Executive Director Brian Corr, Administrative Coordinator Ayan Barre, CPD
Director of Professional Standards and Training and Certification Unit James Mulcahy
Chair Fallon called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public.
Review and Approval of Minutes
The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the minutes of February 23, 2022 on a
motion from Chair Fallon, seconded by Board Member Sealey.
Executive Director’s Report
•
Executive Director Corr reported that on March 17 he met with Delaware State Sen.
Elizabeth Lockman, who is working to amend that state’s Law Enforcement Officer Bill of
Rights (LEOBOR) to allow for the creation of civilian review boards.
•
On Friday, March 25, E.D. Corr participated in a retreat for the Office of Police
Accountability and Transparency (OPAT) – Boston’s new civilian oversight agency – and at
the request of their director E.D. Corr conducted a special training session for members of
their new Civilian Review Board.
Professional Standards Unit Report
Director Mulcahy shared updates from the Cambridge Police Department (CPD):
•
Director Mulcahy reported the Cambridge Police Department promoted four individuals on
their leadership team: Director Mulcahy reported that with the retirement of
Superintendent DiPietro, Deputy Superintendent Cabral was promoted to Superintendent
and will command the Support Services Division, while Superintendent Lowe will
command the Operations Division and three lieutenants – Macone, Magalhaes, and
Vellucci -- were promoted to the rank of deputy superintendent.
•
Director Mulcahy announced that the Cambridge/Northeastern Police Academy is halfway
through its current session, with 41 student officers in the academy, of which 15 are recruits
for the Cambridge Police.
•
Director Mulcahy provided an update on the process of accreditation. CPD is rewriting all
their rules and regulations as a first step for accreditation, and to ensure that all their
policies are in a consistent format, in one voice, and in alignment with CPD’s mission and
values. They have been working on it for 11 months and hope to soon have them drafted.
This is part of the process that the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement
Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) has established, and CPD expects to put in a formal application for
the advanced CALEA accreditation that usually takes two to three years and involves
meeting every standard and showing proof of compliance. CALEA calls for public input on
the process, and that will be part of finalizing all relevant policies.
Chair’s Report
Chair Fallon reported that she and E.D. Corr had meeting last Thursday with Commissioner Elow.
Fallon shared that Commissioner Elow is dedicated and excited to serve the Cambridge
community. Commissioner Elow is a strong proponent for community-driven policing, juvenile
justice issues, procedural justice, police training and innovative hiring practice. Chair Fallon
reported that she and E.D. Corr plan to have monthly meetings with Commissioner Elow to the
extent possible.
Adjournment
The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to adjourn the meeting at 6:28 p.m., on a motion
from Chair Fallon, seconded by Board Member Beverly Sealey.
Documents Used During the Meeting
•
Police Review & Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of February 23, 2022
POLICE REVIEW & ADVISORY BOARD
A Department of the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
51 Inman St. • Cambridge, Mass. 02139 • [phone removed] • www.cambridgema.gov/PRAB
Minutes from the Meeting of April 27, 2022
Board Members present: Chair Alexandra Fallon, Gina LaRoche, Franziskus Lepionka
City Staff present: Executive Director Brian Corr, Administrative Coordinator Ayan Barre, CPD
Professional Standards Sergeant Michael LeVecque
Chair Fallon called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public.
Review and Approval of Minutes
The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the minutes of March 30, 2022, on a
motion from Board Member LaRoche seconded by Board Member Lepionka.
Executive Director’s Report
•
Executive Director Corr reported that he is working on the Board’s request to examine its
Rules and Regulations regarding the current 60-day filing deadline for complaints and the
related language about the Board’s ability waiving that requirement for good cause, as well
as the possible implementation of an online complaint submission form. E.D. Corr reported
the next step will be to meet with the Police Department to help the Law Department to
help understand what issues may come up. He also noted that he has been serving on a
hiring committee for the Law Department to fill three attorney positions.
•
On April 21, E.D. Corr presented at Mass. General Hospital’s Social Service Grand Rounds
about civilian oversight, police reform, and what is happening in Cambridge regarding
training police on trauma-informed law enforcement and on an alternative public safety
response through the Department of Community Safety.
•
On April 26, E.D. Corr presented on civilian oversight, police reform, and trauma to Public
Safety SLO – a multidisciplinary collaborative of community activists’ social services
workers and law enforcement to discuss equity, inclusion, and safety improvements that
could be made in San Luis Obispo County, California.
Professional Standards Unit Report
•
Sgt. LeVecque provided an update on the CPD’s work with the new Massachusetts Peace
Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, noting that PSU has already certified
new recruits and retired officers who serve in special capacities, and in line with the
directives of POST as it is doing the initial statewide certification process, PSU is working
through the process for officers with last names starting with A through H.
•
Sgt. LeVecque reminded the Board that PSU is working on the CALEA accreditation
process and reported that CPD is working with consultant Howard Leibowitz on updating
all CPD policies as part of that process.
•
Sgt. LeVecque reported that CPD promoted four new lieutenants and four new sergeants, as
part of filling positions that were vacated with the promotion of four lieutenants to deputy
superintendent in March.
Adjournment
The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to adjourn the meeting at 6:30 p.m., on a motion
from Chair Fallon, seconded by Board Member Gina LaRoche.
Documents Used During the Meeting
•
Police Review & Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of March 30, 2022
POLICE REVIEW & ADVISORY BOARD
A Department of the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
51 Inman St. • Cambridge, Mass. 02139 • [phone removed] • www.cambridgema.gov/PRAB
Minutes from the Meeting of May 25, 2022
Board Members present: Acting Chair Gina LaRoche, Franziskus Lepionka, Lucy Murray-Brown
City Staff present: Executive Director Brian Corr, CPD Professional Standards Sergeant Michael
LeVecque, CPD Director of Professional Standards, Training and Certification James Mulcahy
Acting Chair LaRoche called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public.
Review and Approval of Minutes
The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the minutes of April 27, 2022, on a
motion from Board Member Murray-Brown seconded by Board Member Lepionka.
Executive Director’s Report
•
ED Corr reported that he has been asked to serve as peer reviewer for the New Orleans
Office of the Independent Police Monitor (IPM). The peer review program is an initiative of
the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) and is a city
charter requirement for the IPM. This proof-of-concept peer review is the first undertaken
by NACOLE.
CPD Professional Standards, Training and Certification Report
•
Director Mulcahy provided an update on the CPD’s work with the Massachusetts Peace
Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission to ensure that CPD provides the
necessary materials and completes individual interviews of all officers with last names
beginning from A though H to meet POST’s June 15 deadline.
•
The Unit is working to complete all in-service training for the year, as well as the Practical
CPR training for all Cambridge first responders.
•
The current recruit class at the joint Cambridge/Northeastern University Police Academy
includes 15 from Cambridge and they are set to graduate on June 25.
Reports from Board Members
•
Board Member Lepionka announced that he has accepted a position with the City of
Cambridge Law Department, beginning in mid-June. He explained that this would be his
last meeting as a member of the Board because the restrictions in the ordinance
establishing the Police Review & Advisory Board mean that he must resign upon becoming
a City of Cambridge employee.
•
In response to a question from the Board regarding filling vacancies on the Board under the
revised provisions of the city charter, ED Corr explained that based on the ongoing work of
the City Council’s Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee to develop new
guidelines for appointments to boards and commissions, the City Manager’s Office is not
currently posting vacancies for positions on boards and commissions which are subject to
the City Council’s approval. He noted that he had attended a meeting of the Committee,
along with the City Manager and the Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission
and the Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship, to present about current
practices for widely advertising vacancies and promoting broadly diverse pools of
applicants. He also explained that when appointments made by the City Manager are not
acted on within 60 days, they automatically go into effect.
Consideration of Complaint Pending before the Board
Board Member Murray-Brown moved that the Board enter executive session pursuant to Section
21(a)(1) of the Mass. Open Meeting Law to discuss complaint CC-2022-001 pending before the Board.
The motion was seconded by Board Member Lepionka and approved unanimously by roll call vote. The
Board entered executive session at 6:23 p.m.
Adjournment
At the end of the executive session, the Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to adjourn the
executive session and the meeting at 6:59 p.m., on a motion from Board Member Lepionka,
seconded by Board Member Murray-Brown.
Documents Used During the Meeting
•
Police Review & Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of April 27, 2022
POLICE REVIEW & ADVISORY BOARD
A Department of the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
51 Inman St. • Cambridge, Mass. 02139 • [phone removed] • www.cambridgema.gov/PRAB
Minutes from the Meeting of June 29, 2022
Board Members present: Chair Alex Fallon, Gina LaRoche, Lucy Murray-Brown, Beverly Sealey
City Staff present: Executive Director Brian Corr; CPD Director of Professional Standards,
Training and Certification James Mulcahy
Chair Fallon called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public.
Review and Approval of Minutes
The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the minutes of May 25, 2022, on a
motion from Board Member LaRoche, seconded by Board Member Murray-Brown.
Executive Director’s Report
•
ED Corr reported that he had an initial meeting with the Law Department to discuss the
Board’s interest in revising the Rules & Regulations of the Board to extend the amount of
time that complaints could be filed and considered timely. He explained that one important
consideration is that there are differences between the role of the CPD’s Professional
Standards Unit (PSU) versus the role of the Board in the personnel and disciplinary process
and the because of the quasi-adjudicatory nature of the Board. He will continue working
with the Law Department on this topic.
•
Because not all members were present at the May meeting, ED Corr reminded that Board
Member Lepionka has resigned from the Board upon being hired by the City of Cambridge
Law Department, as City employees are not allowed to serve on the Board, according to the
City ordinance that established the Board.
•
ED Corr reported that Ayan Barre has left her position as administrative coordinator for the
Police Review & Advisory Board to take a new position, and that he will work to secure
administrative support, while noting that will be difficult to accomplish over the summer.
•
ED Corr updated the Board on the status of filling vacancies for Board and Commissions,
explaining that the City Manager’s Office is working to address the desire of the City
Council that the selection process aligns with their new authority to approve appointments
to Board and Commissions under the newly revised City Charter.
CPD Professional Standards, Training and Certification Report
•
Director Mulcahy shared that 39 new police officers graduated over the weekend from the
joint Cambridge/Northeastern University Police Academy at a well-attended ceremony
with many family and friends. Of those, 15 are from Cambridge and just began additional
training with the CPD Training and Certification Unit. The next academy class will begin in
January 2023.
•
Director Mulcahy reported that there have been personnel changes in PSU, with Lt.
McDavitt transferring from PSU to the Traffic Unit; Lt. Tom Glynn, who used to run the
Training Academy, joining PSU as its new lieutenant; and the addition of Sgt. James
Diggins , who has transferred into PSU.
•
Director Mulcahy noted that the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training
(POST) Commission will notify CPD in July on the status of all current officers and whether
each officer is: recertified; conditionally certified; requires more investigation; or will not be
recertified. CPD PSU anticipates that they will be no officers who are not recertified.
•
The Unit is working to complete all in-service training for the year, as well as the Practical
CPR training for all Cambridge first responders.
Reports from Board Members
•
Chair Fallon reported that she and ED Corr had a brief meeting with CPD Commissioner
Christine Elow, noting that she remains very supportive of the Board, and it was very
helpful to hear her perspective on the possibility of increasing the time limit for accepting
complaints to something like six months, and that she wants us all to be seeing accepting of
complaints and didn't see a huge difference in the. Board members indicated interest in
providing input into what would get discussed between the Chair, the Executive Director
and the Commissioner, and would also like to have the Commission attend additional
Board meetings as possible. Chair Fallon noted that the Commissioner would also like to
meet with the Board.
Adjournment
The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to adjourn the meeting at 6:30 p.m., on a motion
from Chair Fallon, seconded by Board Member Sealey.
Documents Used During the Meeting
•
Police Review & Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of May 25, 2022
POLICE REVIEW & ADVISORY BOARD
A Department of the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
51 Inman St. • Cambridge, Mass. 02139 • [phone removed] • www.cambridgema.gov/PRAB
Minutes from the Meeting of October 26, 2022
Board Members present: Chair Alex Fallon, Gina LaRoche, Lucy Murray-Brown, Beverly Sealey
City Staff present: Executive Director Brian Corr, CPD Director of Professional Standards,
Training and Certification James Mulcahy, CPD Lieutenant Thomas Glynn, CPD Sergeant
Michael LeVecque
Chair Fallon called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
Public Comment
There were no comments from members of the public.
Review and Approval of Minutes
The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the minutes of June 29, 2022, on a
motion from Board Member LaRoche, seconded by Board Member Murray-Brown with board
members LaRoche and Murray-Brown, and Chair Fallon voting in favor.
Election of a Chair
Exec. Dir. Corr explained the process regarding the annual election of a chair of the Board and
opened the floor for nominations. Board Member Fallon indicated her willingness to be
considered. Board Member LaRoche nominated Board Member Fallon for election as chair,
seconded by Board Member Murray-Brown. Nominations were closed unanimously on a motion
from Board Member LaRoche, seconded by Board Member Murray-Brown with board members
Fallon, LaRoche, and Murray-Brown voting in favor. Board Member Fallon was elected as Chair
for the upcoming year with board members Fallon, LaRoche, and Murray-Brown voting in favor
and Board member Sealey abstaining.
Executive Director’s Report
•
Exec. Dir. Corr reported that he attended several conferences as a planner and presenter since
the last meeting of the Board:
o He attended the annual conference of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
Executives (NOBLE) in Orlando, FL from July 24 to 27, and helped organize and present a
workshop on civilian oversight along with Madison, WI Police Chief Shon Barnes, Fort
Worth, TX Deputy Police Monitor Denise Rodriguez, NOBLE past president Joseph
McMillan, and police accountability expert Marcia Thompson.
o He attended the Rhode Island Guardians annual conference on August 10 and 11 and
presented a session on civilian oversight with Ferenc Karoly, executive director of the
Providence, RI civilian oversight agency.
o He attended the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement
(NACOLE) annual conference from September 11 to 15 and presented on trauma and
resilience in civilian oversight with Ron MacDonald, past president of the Canadian
Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (CACOLE).
o Over the summer he worked closely with U.S. Dept of State staff in Mexico to plan the 5th
National Conference of Mexican Internal Affairs Officials, identifying a number of panels
and panelists and organizing sessions on sexual and gender-based violence, peer
intervention for police officers, and trauma and resilience in policing. He then attended the
conference in Mexico City, which brought together 250 police leaders from every part of
Mexico to support assessment, training, and standards for their internal affairs units from
September 29 to October 1 and he presented at two of those sessions he organized.
•
Ex. Dir. Corr reported on an update that City Manager Huang made regarding on Boards and
Commissions presented to the City Council on October 24.
CPD Professional Standards, Training and Certification Report
•
Dir. Mulcahy reported that on October 4, CPD hosted a delegation of Mexican police officials
organized by the U.S. State Department who were visiting Boston, Cambridge, and New York
City to learn about best practices in internal affairs and investigations, and who had just
attended the same conference that Ex. Dir Corr was at in Mexico City. The delegation met with
Dir. Mulcahy and CPD Superintendent Rob Lowe, had excellent discussions, and they found
the delegation to be very robust.
•
Dir. Mulcahy reported that there have been personnel changes in PSU, with Lt. McDavitt
transferring from PSU to lead the Traffic Unit; Lt. Tom Glynn, who was leading the Training
Academy, joining PSU as its new lieutenant; and the addition of Sgt. James Diggins who has
transferred into PSU.
•
Regarding the Training Academy, Dir. Mulcahy reported that Sgt. Beth Halloran will be the
director of the academy beginning with the incoming class. He noted that the CPD Cadet
Program is planning to send two current police cadets into the academy, and they have two
other individuals who are applying to the cadet program, and they will join the current cadets
who are still in that program.
•
In response to a question about a news story about Peace Officer Standards and Training
(POST) certification, Dir. Mulcahy explained that some unions have challenged some of the
certification questions that the POST Commission decided to use in that process.
•
In response to a question about the CALEA accreditation process for CPD and the revision of
department policies, Dir. Mulcahy reported Sgt. LeVecque has been focused on that effort and
has rewritten nearly 80 policies, and that the Board can be provided the index from the new
policy manual to allow it to identify policies that it is particularly interested in reviewing.
•
In response to a question about visiting the CPD Training Academy, Dir. Mulcahy responded
positively and noted that it would be valuable for Board members to have the opportunity to
experience the immersive simulator that CPD uses for scenario-based training, which Board
members responded to with interest.
Consideration of Complaints before the Board
Board Member Murray-Brown moved that the Board enter executive session pursuant to Section
21(a)(1) of the Mass. Open Meeting Law to discuss complaints PR-2022-001 and PR-2022-002,
pending before the Board. The motion was seconded by Board Member Sealey and approved by a
unanimous roll call vote. The Board entered executive session at 6:38 p.m.
Adjournment
At the end of the executive session, the Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to adjourn the
meeting at 8:48 p.m., on a motion from Board Member LaRoche, seconded by Board Member
Murray-Brown with board members Fallon, LaRoche, and Murray-Brown voting in favor.
Documents Used During the Meeting
•
Police Review & Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of June 29, 2022
POLICE REVIEW & ADVISORY BOARD
A Department of the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
51 Inman St. • Cambridge, Mass. 02139 • [phone removed] • www.cambridgema.gov/PRAB
Minutes from the Meeting of December 7, 2022
Board Members present: Chair Alexandra Fallon, Lucy Murray-Brown, Beverly Sealey
City Staff present: Executive Director Brian Corr, CPD Director of Professional Standards,
Training and Certification James Mulcahy
Chair Fallon called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Public Comment
Claire Davies, a Cambridge resident, stated that she knows Board Member Sealey and is
attending the meeting as a social worker and concerned citizen. She noted that she is very
interested in what is happening in New York City where the mayor announced that the city will
be using police to hospitalize people experiencing mental illness who are not able to care for
themselves. She wonders whether there is any official response from the Cambridge Police and
the Cambridge Public Health Department in particular and the City in general to New York City’s
decision, and explained that as a social worker who has worked at Boston Medical Center and at
“Mass and Cass” she is very concerned about how this may play out in other communities in the
wake of New York City’s decision.
Jennifer Hogue, a Cambridge resident, stated that she was happy to join the meeting and is
attending to listen.
Review and Approval of Minutes
The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the minutes of October 26, 2022, on a
motion from Board Member Murray-Brown, seconded by Chair Fallon.
Executive Director’s Report
•
Exec. Dir. Corr reported that he has extended the Board’s invitation to CPD Commissioner
Elow to attend an upcoming meeting and he anticipates she will do so no later than March.
•
Exec. Dir. Corr provided an update on the process for filling vacancies of the Board:
o The closing date for applications was set for Monday, December 12 and that there had been
at least 15 applicants, and that more applicants were anticipated before the closing date.
o Ex. Dir. Corr and Chair Fallon have blocked off time during the subsequent ten days for
interviews using Zoom He reminded the Board that it would be highly desirable to have an
additional board member who can join the interview panel, and it would be ideal if that
person could join for all interviews.
•
Exec. Dir. Corr reported that he attended the three full days of the virtual portion of the
National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) annual conference
which consisted of 12 sessions on October 26, November 2, and November 9.
•
Ex. Dir. Corr reported that over the last few months it seems that when many people in
Massachusetts search the Internet for how to file a complaint about the police, they find the
phone number for the Board and call, and that he does his best to help them file with the
appropriate agency. He noted that in the last month, he had fielded calls from people wishing to
make complaints against the police departments in Boston, Lynn, Saugus, Melrose, Ashland,
Pittsfield, Oxford, Sturbridge, and Weymouth, Mass.
CPD Professional Standards, Training and Certification Unit Report
•
Dir. Mulcahy noted that the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) also receives calls and emails
from individuals from across the state wishing to file complaints against other police
departments and they also do their best to assist those individuals.
•
Dir. Mulcahy reported that PSU is working through the hiring process for two police cadets and
two provisional officers, and anticipate that they will soon join the department.
•
Regarding the joint Cambridge/Northeastern University Training Academy, Dir. Mulcahy
explained that as other departments are choosing to send their cadets to the academy, the
incoming class will consist of 40 to 50 cadets from approximately ten police departments, and
they anticipate that Cambridge will have about 10 student officer recruits among them. The
academy will run from January to June, and he hopes that with COVID rates declining over
time, Board members will be able to observe either the classroom or physical training, and that
he can provide the Board a tentative training schedule to help Board member identify what
they would be interested in observing.
•
Dir. Mulcahy updated the Board on the CALEA accreditation process, noting that the CPD
Command Staff has been meeting weekly to review the revised policy manual section by
section, which will be followed by a review by the Cambridge Police unions. He also noted that
he has provided a draft of the table of contents for the revised policy manual.
•
In response to a question about the best way for the Board members to review draft policies of
interest, Dir, Mulcahy explained that because noted that they are not public documents as they
have not been promulgated by the Police Commissioner.
•
In response to a question about the CALEA accreditation process for CPD and the revision of
department policies, Dir. Mulcahy reported Sgt. LeVecque has been focused on that effort and
has rewritten nearly 80 policies, and that the Board can be provided the index from the new
policy manual to allow it to identify policies that it is particularly interested in reviewing.
Board Chair’s Report
Chair Fallon shared a presentation providing an overview and summary of the Board’s work for
2022, which included statistics on the Board’s meetings, trainings; an overview of complaints and
their disposition, and a set of proposed goals for 2023:
•
Board members and staff to participate in two CPD trainings - including “Integrating
Communications, Assessment, and Tactics” (ICAT), a training on responding to situations
where individuals that the police encounter are behaving erratically and perhaps
dangerously, but do not have a firearm.
•
CPD Commissioner Elow to attend two Board meetings to discuss key topics with the
Board.
•
Improve access to filing complaints by launching an online complaint form.
•
Revise the Board’s Rules and Regulations to extend the deadline for complaints to be filed
to be more than 60 days after the incident.
•
The Board will review a minimum of two CPD policies.
•
Board members will participate in minimum three community outreach efforts.
•
The Board will have a quorum for all scheduled meetings.
Consideration of the NACOLE Code of Ethics
•
Ex. Dir. Corr provided an overview of the NACOLE Code of Ethics for Civilian Oversight
Practitioners and the unique role of oversight practitioners (which includes staff and board
members) have as public servants conducting oversight of law enforcement agencies. He
quoted NACOLE’s introduction to the Code: “The community, government, and law
enforcement have entrusted them to conduct their work in a professional, fair and impartial
manner. They earn this trust through a firm commitment to the public good, the mission of
their agency, and the ethical and professional standards.” He noted that the Code’s key
concepts include:
o Personal Integrity
o Fair, Independent & Thorough Review
o Transparency and Confidentiality
o Respectful and Unbiased Treatment
o Outreach & Relationships with All Stakeholders
o Agency Self-examination and Commitment to Policy Review
o Professional Excellence
Consideration of Complaints before the Board
Board Member Murray-Brown moved that the Board enter executive session pursuant to Section
21(a)(1) of the Mass. Open Meeting Law to discuss complaints PR-2022-001 and PR-2022-002,
pending before the Board. The motion was seconded by Chair Fallon and approved by a
unanimous roll call vote. The Board entered executive session at 6:38 p.m.
Adjournment
At the end of the executive session, the Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to adjourn the
meeting at 8:00 p.m., on a motion from Board Member Sealey, seconded by Board Member
Murray-Brown with board members Fallon, Sealey, and Murray-Brown voting in favor.
Documents Used During the Meeting
•
Police Review & Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of October 26, 2022
•
“Cambridge Police Review & Advisory Board - 2022 Year in Review” Presentation by Chair
Fallon
•
NACOLE Code of Ethics
Cambridge Police Review & Advisory Board Public Docket: As of January 31, 2023
Complaint #
Date Filed
Type of Complaint
Status
Date Closed
Outcome
PR-2023-001
01/27/2023
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Open
PR-2022-002
07/07/2022
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
10/26/2022
Cleared
PR-2022-001-II
7/18/2022
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting; Rude or
Discourteous Behavior;
Discrimination/Bias-based Policing
Closed
12/06/2022
Not Founded
PR-2022-001
06/14/2022
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting;
Discrimination/Bias-based policing
Closed
10/26/2022
Cleared
PR-2021-003
09/07/2021
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
01/26/2022
Cleared
PR-2021-002
03/29/2021
Harassment; Excessive use of force
Closed
09/22/2021
Cleared
PR-2021-001
02/03/2021
Harassment; Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
09/22/2021
Cleared
PR-2020-009
11/25/2020
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
09/22/2021
Cleared
PR-2020-008
08/19/2020
Harassment; Improper
Stop/Citation/Arrest; Improper
Search/Seizure
Closed
3/31/2021
Cleared
PR-2020-007
08/17/2020
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
11/09/2020
Cleared
PR-2020-006
07/09/2020
Excessive use of force; Rude or
discourteous behavior; Improper stop;
Discrimination/Bias-based policing;
Harassment; Improper policy/procedure
Closed
06/22/2021
Partially cleared, 2 allegations substantiated
PR-2020-005
07/1/2020
Harassment
Closed
12/09/2020
Administrative closure
(subject of the complaint is not CPD officer)
PR-2020-004
06/18/2020
Improper stop/citation
Closed
10/05/2020
Partially cleared, 1 allegation inconclusive
PR-2020-003
03/04/2020
Harassment
Closed
11/09/2020
Cleared
PR-2020-002
01/28/2020
Improper search; Harassment
Closed
10/05/2020
Cleared
Police Review & Advisory Board Public Docket: as of January 31, 2023 – Page 2 of 4
PR-2020-001
01/20/2020
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
07/29/2020
Partially cleared, 2 allegations substantiated
PR-2019-010
12/04/2019
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting; Rude or
Discourteous Behavior
Closed
07/29/2020
Cleared
PR-2019-009
10/28/2019
Harassment
Closed
1/28/2020
Administrative closure
(insufficient information provided to identify the
subject of the complaint)
PR-2019-008
10/30/2019
Harassment; Rude or Discourteous
Behavior
Closed
7/29/2020
Cleared
PR-2019-007
09/19/2019
Harassment; Rude or Discourteous
Behavior
Closed
2/04/2020
Inconclusive
PR-2019-006
09/19/2019
Rude or Discourteous Behavior
Closed
7/29/2020
Inconclusive
PR-2019-005
08/01/2019
Harassment; Rude or Discourteous
Behavior
Closed
12/04/2019
Cleared
PR-2019-004
06/12/2019
Harassment; Rude or Discourteous
Behavior
Closed
10/03/2019
Substantiated
PR-2019-003
03/05/2019
Harassment
Closed
12/31/2022
Administrative closure (Late filing accepted
4/29/2019, withdrawn for refiling but never
refiled)
PR-2019-002
01/14/2019
Harassment
Closed
9/25/2019
Cleared
PR-2019-001
01/04/2019
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
9/25/2019
Partially cleared, 1 allegation substantiated
PR-2018-010
11/19/2018
Miscellaneous
No
Jurisdiction
1/31/2019
Administrative closure
(complaint was not regarding CPD activity)
PR-2018-009
7/23/2018
Rude or Discourteous Behavior
Closed
9/27/2018
Administrative closure
(subject of complaint was not a CPD officer)
PR-2018-008
7/13/2018
Rude or Discourteous Behavior
Closed
2/27/2019
Administrative closure: Alternative
Resolution
PR-2018-007
7/13/2018
Harassment
Closed
3/27/2019
Administrative closure: Alternative
Resolution
PR-2018-006
7/9/2018
Harassment; Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
2/27/2019
Administrative closure: Alternative
Resolution
PR-2018-005
5/18/2018
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
9/26/2018
Cleared
PR-2018-004
5/16/2018
Rude or Discourteous Behavior
Closed
2/27/2019
Administrative closure: Alternative
Resolution
Police Review & Advisory Board Public Docket: as of January 31, 2023 – Page 3 of 4
PR-2018-003
5/3/2018
Improper Procedure/Policy
Closed
12/6/2018
Administrative closure: (Submitted more than
60 days after the incident. No request for late
filing from the complainant; administratively
closed after 180 days)
PR-2018-002
3/28/2018
Rude or Discourteous Behavior; Improper
or Inadequate Investigation/Reporting,
Harassment
Closed
12/5/2018
Cleared
PR-2018-001
2/5/2018
Rude or Discourteous Behavior
Closed
6/27/2018
Administrative closure: Alternative
Resolution
PR-2017-003
6/9/2017
Improper Search/Seizure; Harassment;
Excessive Use of Force
Closed
9/27/2017
Cleared
PR-2017-002
2/10/2017
(Late filing
accepted
2/22/2015)
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
12/6/2017
Partially cleared, 1 allegation substantiated
PR-2017-001
1/4/2017
Rude or Discourteous Behavior; Improper
or Inadequate Investigation/Reporting;
Harassment
Closed
4/10/2017
Administrative closure: Alternative
Resolution, Cleared
PR-2016-005
7/14/16
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
4/10/2017
Cleared
PR-2016-004
5/19/2016
Rude or Discourteous Behavior; Improper
or Inadequate Investigation/Reporting
Closed
1/5/2016
Cleared
PR-2016-003
3/3/2016
Rude or Discourteous Behavior; Improper
or Inadequate Investigation/Reporting
Closed
6/29/2016
Cleared
PR-2016-002
2/11/2016
Improper Search/Seizure
Closed
10/26/2016
Cleared
PR-2016-001
1/5/2015
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
9/21/2016
Partially cleared, 1 allegation substantiated
PR-2015-002
9/30/2015
Improper Search/Seizure
Closed
2/24/2016
Administrative closure: Alternative
Resolution
PR-2015-001
2/13/2015
Rude or Discourteous Behavior; Improper
Citation
Withdrawn
3/19/2015
Withdrawn
PR-2014-008
12/10/2014
(Late filing
accepted
2/11/2015)
Excessive Use of Force
Closed
2/2/2016
Cleared
PR-2014-007
12/12/2014
Rude or Discourteous Behavior
Closed
2/2/2016
Cleared
Police Review & Advisory Board Public Docket: as of January 31, 2023 – Page 4 of 4
PR-2014-006
12/2/2014
Excessive Use of Force; Rude or
Discourteous Behavior
Closed
11/19/2015
Cleared
PR-2014-005
10/24/2014
Rude or Discourteous Behavior
Closed
3/25/2015
Inconclusive
PR-2014-004
5/21/2014
Improper or Inadequate
Investigation/Reporting
Closed
10/31/2014
Cleared
PR-2014-003
5/15/2014
Excessive Use of Force; Rude or
Discourteous Behavior
Closed
12/3/2014
Cleared
PR-2014-002
7/3/2014
Improper Procedure/Policy
Not Filed
2/11/2015
Late filing not accepted
PR-2014-001
4/17/2014
Rude or Discourteous Behavior
Closed
2/25/2015
Inconclusive