The agency investigating complaints of police misconduct in Syracuse is tasked with doing the work in the absence of an administrator. Ranette Releford abruptly resigned from the Citizen Review Board a month ago, leaving the already overburdened board with even more challenges. Board Chair Lori Nilsson says they’re still receiving complaints from residents and trying to address them.
“I had a request in the mail the other day for a complaint form, so that got mailed out. So those things are happening," Nilsson said. "We're working on creating a different stream of online complaints to make sure that they're coming to people that can read the emails and take them from there. So far, we’re managing.”
Still, it’s not ideal. Nilsson says since board members are volunteers and not city employees, they can’t get into the CRB office to check any complaints that came in by phone, though she says they’re working with human resources to get access. Common council public safety committee chair Chol Majok says the absence of an administrator limits the board’s activity.
“The board members are volunteers so they don't have the bandwidth to do a full case investigation to its conclusion," Majok said. "So what we are trying to do is to be mindful to get the administrator here as quickly as possible, and with the help of the board, we will get there.”
Majok says the city has not yet posted the CRB administrator position, but expects to have the job filled by year’s end. Meanwhile, councilors are considering legislation that would move the administrator position under the city’s employment, for better oversight on policies, rules, and regulations.
