|
October 15, 1970
<br />
<br />70-439- Report of Blue Ribbon P'ollce-Communl~' Relations Board Committee.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Holley that the Council accept the report with the recommendation that its provisions be
<br />implemented immediately.
<br />
<br /> Substitute motion of Mr. Smith (I) that the entire matter be referred to a conference for clarification.
<br />
<br /> Substitute motion of Mr. Smith (R) that complaints from any citizens or group of citizens be referred
<br />to the Citizens Advisory Committe~,which has broad powers muder the present ordinance; that the Citizens
<br />Advisory Committee shall be the clearing house to channel complaints to the proper agencies, be it the Police
<br />Department or some other department of the City; furtlier, that the Police Department should immediately apply
<br />for Federal funds to expand the type of operations that Sgt. Brown is so successfully conducting in Southside,
<br />to other areas of the City where needed, and that the application should also include funds to establish a
<br />police cadet corps, was adopted and by the following vote:
<br />
<br /> Ayes: JohnSon, King, Smith (R), Barnes
<br /> Nays: Holley, Smith [I), Turner
<br />
<br />Mr. Turner called for closing of debate.
<br />
<br /> Motion of ~r. Molley that the following ordinance be approved on first reading, was lost. and by the
<br />following vote:
<br />
<br />"AN ORDINANCE ~0 AMEND CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, 1961,
<br />BY ADDING THERETO A N~q ARTICLE NU~BERED XIII, CONSISTING OF SIX SECTIONS NUMBERED 2-9S
<br />TO 2-100, INCLUSIVE, ESTABLISHING A POLICE-CO~.fJNITY RELATIONS SYSTEM WHEREBY BETTER
<br />COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE POLIC~ AND THE CO;~v~3NITY CAN BE EFFECTUATED."
<br />
<br />Ayes: Holley, Turner
<br />Nays: Johnson, King, Smith (R), Bmrnes
<br />Abstaining: Smith
<br />
<br /> Substitute motion of Mr. Smith (I) that the ordinance be referred to the City Manager and City Attorney
<br />for recommendation to the Council, was lost, there being no second.
<br />
<br /> 70-439 - The following letter from the Fedemation of Civic Clubs, Albert G. Loew, Jr., M.D., President,
<br />was read:
<br />
<br /> "The Federation of Ci ic Clubs of Portsmouth, comprising nineteen affiliate groups, would like to re-
<br />commend the formation of Neighborhood Cooperatiun Groups, as recommended to The Council on August 11, 1970.
<br />We feel that the establishment of such groups will considerably improve community relations and divic pride.
<br />
<br /> It is also recommended that consideration be given as to possible help in fmnding of such a program under
<br />provisions of The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.
<br />
<br />We heartily urge other citizens and civlz croups to pledge their support to this worthwhile project."
<br />70-439 - The following letter from Ray W. Gregory, 203 York Drive, was readl
<br />
<br /> "I would like to request the opportunity to speak to the City Council at the next meeting. It is my
<br />intention to speak in opposition to any proposed police-community relations board. I understand from reading
<br />the newspaper that this will be again proposed as a solution to prevent further shootings as we have just ex-
<br />perienced. I do not agree with this and would like to speak in opposition if this is proposed."
<br />
<br />Mr. Grefpry spoke.
<br />
<br />70-439 - The following letter signed by fifteen Negro police officers was read:
<br />
<br /> "We, the undersigned Negro police officers, feel that you gentlemen and the public in general would like
<br />to know our feelings about the recent crisis our city has experienced. We are in a unique position in that
<br />we are both black and we are police officers.- We are very proud of being in both categories. Since we belong
<br />to both categories, we feel that we are able to view both sides at the same time.
<br />
<br /> Those of us who were not at the scene of the unfortunate incident cmq only go by what we've heard, and
<br />those of us who were there, and those of us who have had the opportunity to observe signed statements by
<br />witnesses and have other first-hand information have formed an opinion. Me feel that in view of the information
<br />and evidence that we have, we must stand behind Colonel C. L. ~arren and his decision not to suspend Detective
<br />J. G. Ennis. ~e feel that police officers should also have the right to be innocent until proven guilty and that
<br />~ny investigation carried on by our department will be a professional, fair and impartial one. Signed -
<br />Sg~. Don Brown and others"
<br />
<br />- NEW BUSINESS -
<br />
<br />70-452 - The follm~ing letter from J. Brewer Moore, Director of City Planning, was read:
<br />
<br /> "At its regular monthly meeting on October 6, 1970, the City P~anning Commission again considered item
<br />UP-69-18, petition of Curtis Coan Metal Company, for a use permit to operate a junkyard on property circumscribed
<br />entirely by railraod tracks and described as follows:
<br />
<br /> Beginning at the southwest corner of Penisula Avenue and Columbia Street and extending south 350 feet,
<br />bounded on the west and south by the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad yam~
<br />
<br /> The Planning Commission resolved to reaffirm its earlier recommendation, contained in a letter to you dated
<br />November 18, 1969, that a use permit be issued to cover the conduct of this industrial operation.',
<br />
<br />
<br />
|