The future of Syracuse’s police oversight agency is in limbo after a court ruling involving a similar board in Rochester. The Citizen Review Board is suspending all investigations alleging officer misconduct on the advice of city lawyers.
After reviewing the state appellate court decision restricting the Rochester agency’s powers, Syracuse is following suit to comply. That basically leaves the CRB unable to perform its primary function.
“it just makes us recalibrate again," said Mayor Sharon Owens. "So I don't want the board, I don't want the community to be discouraged by this. We absolutely see the role of the CRB. We just need to know what that role is.”
She said if the decision holds, it may take revisions to the city charter to redefine that role.
“I don't see why they can't continue to take complaints," Owens said. "There needs to be another option for people who want to have a wage a complaint against the police department that doesn't require them to go to the police department. I don't see why we should stop that at all.”
Common Council President Rita Paniagua said the council, current and former CRB members, and others spent the past two years re-building the agency following gaps in leadership.
“It's very unfortunate that just when we had the CRB running as it should with good administration, a great board…it's working really well right now. And then we're facing this huge challenge.”
Paniagua, Mayor Owens, and Syracuse Police said they remain committed to building on the CRB’s role between law enforcement and residents, as well as reviewing and recommending improvements to department policies.
The Rochester City Council is appealing the ruling that stripped its police oversight agency of its investigative powers.
