Hunter
05/12/21
During a work session, the Iowa City City Council Tuesday discussed restructuring of the city’s Police Department.
The Council, as a majority, favors the restructuring of the police and do not support abolishing the department, a topic brought up by councilor Laura Bergus in an opinion piece. The column says abolishment should be part of the conversation councilors are having.
The Gazette reports that during Tuesday’s meeting, Bergus pointed out that there was a commitment made last year to restructure the Police Department, but a lot of what she’s seen since then are plans that were already underway. She challenged the Council to consider what they were committing to when they agreed to consider the demands of protesters, and determine if they’re achieving those commitments.
Councilor Susan Mims believes that the city can never be without a police force, a sentiment that was echoed by Mayor Bruce Teague, Mayor Pro Tem Mazahir Salih and councilor Pauline Taylor. All four voted in favor of restructuring.
City Manager Geoff Fruin has given the Council a list of recommendations on restructuring the police department and moving it toward a community policing model. Two of the main points include working with CommUnity and others to expand the Mobile Crisis Service, and integrating their services into the 911 dispatch service.