Tallahassee Set to Disband Citizens Police Review Board

Progressive Activist Calls TPD Officers Murderers During Meeting

On December 11th, the Tallahassee city commission voted 4-1 to schedule a hearing to consider the repeal of the ordinance that created the Citizens Police Review Board (CPRB). The public hearing is scheduled for January 15, 2025. Mayor John Dailey and city commissioners Dianne Williams-Cox, Curtis Richardson, and Jeremy Matlow voted to schedule the public hearing while Commissioner Jack Porter voted no.

Despite Matlow’s vote, his comments during the meeting indicated he was against disbanding the CPRB. Matlow stated this issue “needs to have a public hearing.”

Porter said she voted against scheduling a hearing because she needs more time to investigate the issue.

Delilah Pierre, the president of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, spoke at the meeting and attacked local officials for considering the repeal of the ordinance. As she has done in the past, Pierre referred to TPD officers as murderers in her comments.

City officials say the action to disband the Board is based on recent state legislation and highlight actions by the Tampa City Council who voted to disband their civilian police review board last week. Officials also noted that since the law took effect July 1, Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, and Kissimmee have dissolved police review boards.

State Legislation Addresses Law Enforcement Oversight

During the 2024 Florida legislative session, bills were introduced that were intended to eliminate or limit municipal civilian oversight boards. During the legislative session, the City Attorney and Inspector General closely monitored the progress of and debates regarding the bills.

Jacksonville House Representative Wyman Duggan, who filed House Bill 601 during this past session, said the law limits what citizen police oversight boards can do.

“They can still meet, they can talk about policy, procedure, training, culture, systemic issues,” said Rep. Duggan. “What they cannot do is use them as a vehicle to persecute our law enforcement officers.”

Per Florida House staff ’s final bill analysis of HB 601 (passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by the Governor), the intent of the bill was to make the process for reviewing or considering complaints against law enforcement officers uniform throughout the State of Florida. To that end, the bill prohibited political subdivisions from adopting or enforcing any ordinances related to:

-The receipt, processing, or investigation of complaints of misconduct by law enforcement officers except as provided for in s. 112.533, F.S.; or

-Civilian oversight of law enforcement agencies’ investigations of complaints of misconduct by law enforcement officers.

Under the bill, any citizen review board that is performing such oversight functions related to the investigation of complaints of misconduct is prohibited from continuing to do so after July 1, 2024.

Tallahassee Creates CPRB

During the June 17, 2020, City Commission meeting, direction was provided to take the steps necessary to create a CPRB. On September 9, 2020, an ordinance was introduced, and on September 23, 2020, by unanimous vote, the CPRB was established.

According to the agenda for the latest city commission meeting, “the CPRB has experienced successes and challenges.” The agenda notes that the CPRB reviewed several cases involving police activities and made recommendations for changes to Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) policies and procedures that were accepted and adopted by the Chief of Police.

Additionally, the CPRB reviewed other incidents and found TPD policies met community expectations, provided appropriate guidance to officers, and that officers acted within the applicable policies and procedures during the incident.

However, there were also situations that arose which challenged the CPRB and its members. Those situations include several members resigning their positions because of various issues (e.g., political activities, misperception of the role of the CPRB), lack of a quorum for a period of time, and citizen input critical of the CPRB and the role it was asked to fill.

Alternatives

During the Tallahassee city commission meeting, Porter noted there may be alternatives to the current CPRB structure. In addition, Matlow said we need to have a conversation about what platform the citizens can use to make comments about local government.

However, comments by those in favor of disbanding the CPRB indicate the repeal is eminent. When asked about delaying the January hearing, Mayor Daily said, “I’m ready to go ahead and vote. I’m ready to go ahead and repeal it. And I’m ready to do it at the January meeting.”

In addition, law enforcement officials told TR that any structure that allows for the appointment of political activists who believe that TPD officers are murderers is not going to work.