June 25, 2020
Tuesday, June 23rd, the Citizen Investigative Board (CIB) agenda item passed first reading during the City of North Miami Virtual Regular Council Meeting. The North Miami Mayor and Council voted, 3-2, in favor of moving the item further.
The purpose of the CIB is to create a mechanism for external community fact-finding and dispute resolution within the North Miami Police Department (NMPD). The impartial review board would be charged with conducting independent reviews and holding public hearings concerning complaints or grievances against sworn officers of the NMPD.
“As a City, we must act and set parameters to ensure our community feels safe and secure when interacting with our North Miami police officers. This board will provide the community with an essential process to assess those sworn to protect and serve,” said Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime.
“After hours of intense deliberation, and countless testimonies from residents and community leaders, I am elated to see the item that I carefully crafted, pass first reading,” said Vice Mayor Alix Desulme, Ed.D. “I look forward to the next meeting where we will be one step closer, moving in the right direction, with this historic item.”
“Tuesday evening, my vote in support of the Citizen Investigative Board was a proactive vote for the betterment of our residents and community at-large to ensure that our police department will keep demonstrating transparency and accountability. It is my hope that the CIB will highlight the areas in need of change in order to create new processes for our North Miami Police Department,” said Councilwoman Mary Estimé-Irvin.
The CIB will act as an independent civilian oversight entity for sworn officers of the City’s police department with the authority to monitor and review civilian complaints of misconduct by police officers empowered to act with municipal police powers in the City of North Miami; conduct fair and timely independent investigations, dispute resolution proceedings, public hearings and fact-findings concerning complaints of behavior by law enforcement officers, filed by any member of the public or of the CIB itself; Conduct fair and timely evaluations, public hearings and fact-findings concerning reviews of law enforcement policies, procedures, practices and patterns of behavior; and make written recommendations requests, and reports to the Mayor and City Council in connection with the CIB investigations, reviews and evaluations.
The item will be placed on the next council agenda for second reading and final passage. If passed, the CIB will operate on an annual budget consistent with 1.5% of the police department’s budget, as established by the Mayor and City Council.
