Statement from Rochester City Council President Loretta Scott before the PAB was passed (May 21, 2019)
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Here's the full statement from Rochester City Council President Loretta Scott, read at the meeting before the vote was taken, Tuesday, May 21, 2019.
Today is a momentous day, one that I will remember as the highlight of my tenure as President of the Rochester City Council. Tonight the Council has unanimously passed legislation that moves our City toward the establishment of a transparent, independent, and community supported Police Accountability Board.
We began the work on this legislation 2 years ago, but we began the work on this issue more than 50 years ago. In 1963, the City of Rochester, through action of this very body established a Police Advisory Board. This was the first time a civilian led body would be given the opportunity to review allegations of police misconduct. Racial tensions in our City were at a boiling point, and citizen groups demanded action. The establishment of the Police Advisory Board aimed to improve police and community relations and provide the people of our City justice, where they felt they had none.
The City of Rochester has tried for 50 long years to get it right. We tried a Police Advisory Board that was embroiled in legal battles and written out of the budget. We tried a Complaint Investigation Committee that lacked independence and teeth. We tried a Civilian Review Board that lacked community confidence. But that changes today, because today we offer a Police Accountability Board that upholds the “5 Pillars” called for by the community: independence; subpoena power, investigatory power, disciplinary power, and the power to review, evaluate and recommend systemic changes.
It has taken 2 years to get this legislation where it is today, 50 years to get a Council that was ready to pass it. But we said we would take our time and work diligently in order to get it right. We owed it to this community to get it right, because for 50 years, the concerns of the community have been the same and the goals of police oversight have been the same. It has taken over 50 years, but today, I believe we got it right.
The people of Rochester will make the final decision when this legislation goes before the electorate of the City of Rochester for a referendum vote this coming Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2019, and I am hopeful that they will join us in supporting this historic legislation.
I want to thank my colleagues on Council, both past and present who have worked so hard on this, the Mayor and her team for their thoughtful dialogue and partnership, the Rochester Police Locust Club for their feedback and participation, the advocates from UCLM, the PABA, the NYCLU for their commitment to working with Council over the years, and citizens of all stripes who shared their thoughts and experiences. I am honored to have voted to pass this legislation today.
