OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Citizens Police Review Board Meeting - September 10, 2025

Video Archive — Wednesday, September 10, 2025
BodyColumbia, Missouri
SessionVideo Archive
DateWednesday, September 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:18:48

Transcript — Verbatim
1:09

So we'll get a chance to hear their names again.

1:12

A lot of what's on the agenda tonight really, in a way, is helping bring them on board and and get some sense of how the board operates.

1:21

So welcome, welcome to the board.

1:24

And then with that uh that said, I think we'll go ahead and start introductions.

1:29

And uh as it's become sort of traditional, I just always look left.

1:32

I'll start with assistant chief Horrell first.

1:34

Sure.

1:35

My name is uh Richard Harelm, Assistant Chief of the Columbia Police Department.

1:40

I'm Lynn Bergen.

1:41

Uh member, okay.

1:45

Steph Yockham, Human Rights Commission.

1:47

Harry Castello, board member.

1:49

Ed Robinson, board member.

1:51

Denise Flazik, board member.

1:53

Doug Hunt, board chair.

1:55

Steve Jeffrey, Vice Chair.

1:58

Stephanie Coleman, board member.

2:00

Mikeing Powell, new board member.

2:02

Earl Krause, City Law Department.

2:04

Payne Oliver, City Manager's Office.

2:07

Stephanie Brown, City Manager's Office, and Staff Liaison.

2:12

All right, first item as always is the approval of the agenda.

2:17

Does anybody have any changes they would like to make or like to see on the agenda?

2:23

If not, I'll entertain a motion to uh approve.

2:26

Motion to approve.

2:27

Okay.

2:27

I'll second.

2:28

Coleman.

2:29

Jeffrey.

2:30

Motion.

2:34

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

2:39

Opposed.

2:40

No.

2:41

None opposed.

2:43

And uh so the agenda is on as written.

2:48

Um and then we have in front of us, and I think people have had a chance to look at it ahead of time as well, the draft minutes from the August 13th uh meeting, our last meeting.

3:00

Um I should say to the new members, although they probably know this, that you can always review those past meetings because they are available and the video of them is available.

3:11

Um do I have a motion to approve the minutes of the Jeffrey motion.

3:19

Okay.

3:21

I'll make a second.

3:23

Second from Stephanie Yocham.

3:25

Okay.

3:26

All those in favor say aye.

3:28

Aye.

3:29

Aye.

3:29

Opposed, same side.

3:35

Um the first item I actually considered briefly the idea of um changing the agenda.

3:48

I'm gonna instead try to explain a little bit about the wrong house follow-up.

3:53

The the uh August 13th meeting uh included a a uh presentation by Assistant Chief Horrell about what are often called wrong house or sometimes wrong address uh police actions.

4:04

Uh and so that's what we're referring to.

4:06

I had actually expected to be presenting a summary of what the board learned about what these common, what are commonly called wrong address errors by police officers uh are all about.

4:18

Uh and um what uh assistant chief Horrell had to say about the the Columbia Police uh department and uh their policies and procedures.

4:29

I did think that presenting such a summary would help us do our job of increasing the police department's accountability to the community and community trust in the police department.

4:40

However, Chief Slute last Friday sent me a note objecting to my attempt to summarize what Assistant Chief Orell told us last month.

4:49

And in order to respect the Chief's wishes, I won't present the summary.

5:02

Unfortunately, I am forbidden by state law and city ordinances from offering that explanation.

5:10

So I have nothing particular to present with regard to the wrong house follow-up.

5:17

Certainly other members of the board are welcome to talk if they have any observations about what we discussed at the August 13th meeting about wronghouse incidents.

5:28

If not, we can move on to the next item.

5:33

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Public Records Management██████████████████████22%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Public Engagement██████6%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Mental Health Awareness███3%
Community Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Citizens Police Review Board Meeting - September 10, 2025

The Citizens Police Review Board (CPRB) held its regular meeting on September 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The meeting focused on welcoming new members, reviewing board history and legal framework, and hearing public comment. No appeals were heard, and no closed session was required.

Consent Calendar

  • The agenda was approved as written on a motion by Jeffrey, seconded by Coleman, with all in favor.
  • The draft minutes from the August 13, 2025 meeting were approved on a motion by Jeffrey, seconded by Yocham, with all in favor.

Discussion Items

  • Wrong House Follow-Up: Chair Doug Hunt stated he had prepared a summary of the August 13 presentation by Assistant Chief Horrell on wrong-address police incidents, but he was "forbidden by state law and city ordinances from offering that explanation" after Chief Schlute objected. He invited other board members to comment; none did.
  • Annual Report Housekeeping: Hunt confirmed that the 2024 annual report had been sent to City Council and posted, resolving a prior question.
  • Board History Presentation: Hunt provided a detailed history of the CPRB from its 2010 inception through the 2022 hiatus and 2024 statutory changes, noting that the board lost authority to provide policy feedback or host public forums. Board members expressed frustration about limited impact but acknowledged improved internal cooperation compared to earlier years.
  • Legal Framework Presentation: City Attorney Earl Krause reviewed the board’s enabling city code (Section 21-41), state law 590.502 (90-day complaint resolution timeline, two 60-day extensions, confidentiality), and Missouri Sunshine Law requirements (open meetings, roll call votes for closed sessions, email protocols). He emphasized that appeals are discussed in closed session and that records are confidential.
  • Board Member Experience Sharing: Several board members described their motivations for serving, the emotional weight of reviewing body camera footage, and the challenge of limited authority. They stressed the importance of citizen oversight and the desire to influence policy rather than individual discipline. New members Lynn and Mike were welcomed.
  • Human Rights Commission Report: Board member Yocham noted a recent incident at Stephens Lake Park (a suicidal individual barricading) resulting in felony charges, highlighting ongoing gaps in mental health co-responder resources.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Grace (member of public): Expressed concerns about the city's 49 Flock automated license plate reader cameras, citing potential misuse (e.g., stalking by officers) and lack of transparency about data ownership. She urged the board to monitor the system. Assistant Chief Horrell responded that he conducts Flock audits and that an annual report to City Council will be produced, but he was not aware of a recent City Council discussion about missing data.

Key Outcomes

  • No substantive votes were taken on policy matters or appeals.
  • Next regular meeting scheduled for October 8, 2025.
  • Staff to send information about the NACOL conference (October 26–30) and a new regional civilian oversight roundtable (first virtual meeting October 2, 2025, 6:00–7:30 PM).
  • Board members whose terms expire in November were reminded to reapply with the City Clerk.

Meeting Transcript

So we'll get a chance to hear their names again. A lot of what's on the agenda tonight really, in a way, is helping bring them on board and and get some sense of how the board operates. So welcome, welcome to the board. And then with that uh that said, I think we'll go ahead and start introductions. And uh as it's become sort of traditional, I just always look left. I'll start with assistant chief Horrell first. Sure. My name is uh Richard Harelm, Assistant Chief of the Columbia Police Department. I'm Lynn Bergen. Uh member, okay. Steph Yockham, Human Rights Commission. Harry Castello, board member. Ed Robinson, board member. Denise Flazik, board member. Doug Hunt, board chair. Steve Jeffrey, Vice Chair. Stephanie Coleman, board member. Mikeing Powell, new board member. Earl Krause, City Law Department. Payne Oliver, City Manager's Office. Stephanie Brown, City Manager's Office, and Staff Liaison. All right, first item as always is the approval of the agenda. Does anybody have any changes they would like to make or like to see on the agenda? If not, I'll entertain a motion to uh approve. Motion to approve. Okay. I'll second. Coleman. Jeffrey. Motion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed. No. None opposed. And uh so the agenda is on as written. Um and then we have in front of us, and I think people have had a chance to look at it ahead of time as well, the draft minutes from the August 13th uh meeting, our last meeting. Um I should say to the new members, although they probably know this, that you can always review those past meetings because they are available and the video of them is available. Um do I have a motion to approve the minutes of the Jeffrey motion. Okay. I'll make a second. Second from Stephanie Yocham. Okay. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, same side. Um the first item I actually considered briefly the idea of um changing the agenda. I'm gonna instead try to explain a little bit about the wrong house follow-up. The the uh August 13th meeting uh included a a uh presentation by Assistant Chief Horrell about what are often called wrong house or sometimes wrong address uh police actions. Uh and so that's what we're referring to.

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