Guarino runs with Mark Binker’s post on Rep. Pricey Harrison’s bill “that would allow for the release of certain Greensboro police disciplinary records” to the Human Relations Commission’s complaint review committee.
At issue is the fact that the previous City Council voted 8-1 to support legislation at the Aug. 3 2009 meeting. The matter was debated only for about 15 minutes, so I strongly recommend you watch in order to get much needed-context.
Police Chief Tim Bellamy told the council that the police department was in favor of the HRC’s recommendations, minus the recommendation that the committee have access to police personnel records, which —along with subpoena power for the committee —- would have to be approved by the legislature. It should be noted that the HRC —perhaps as a compromise, withdrew subpoena power from its recommendations.
There seemed to be little concern from the council about the need for a complaint review committee, period, and the discussion focused on the quality of committee members who presumably would have access to such sensitive files.
Considering where the conversation was headed, I fully expected the council to support legislation as originally written, but council member Robbie Perkins moved that the recommendation regarding personnel files be removed, but not before a public hearing was held. Council member Mike Barber made a friendly amendment to go ahead and approve the recommendations —- minus the personnel files.
City Attorney Terry Wood specifically mentioned access to personnel files and subpoena power as as issues that would need legislative approval. If the council removed the personnel files, and the commission withdrew subpoena power, then exactly which recommendations did need legislative approval? And how did it turn out —-as Guarino reports — that Harrison’s bill included access to police personnel files?
