Syracuse CRB Meeting - March 3, 2026
Syracuse CRB Meeting - March 3, 2026
The Syracuse Community Review Board (CRB) held a meeting on March 3, 2026, starting at 5:36 PM. The meeting initially lacked quorum but later achieved a quorum after 6 PM. Key topics included staffing updates, case statistics, data transparency, public comments on the investigator position and committee formation, and approval of the February meeting minutes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Barry Gowanter, a west side resident on Ryder Avenue, spoke. He requested more transparency about options being considered to save money on the investigator position, urging the board to preserve the position. He asked for data statistics from the training to be made publicly available, possibly via a dashboard, and inquired about the topics covered in the upcoming police training. He also sought clarification on the advisory committee for legislative recommendations, noting a discrepancy between previous meeting presentations and the current explanation. Board members responded that discussions are ongoing and will be brought to the public, that data will be anonymized and posted when ready, and that the committee is a collaboration with the city council.
Discussion Items
- Chairman's Report: Reported on staffing updates—the final position to fill is the investigator, not the administrator. Two candidates are being reviewed for board membership. Board members are required to hold quarterly events in their areas; Adonia will coordinate schedules.
- CRB Administrative Report: February operations included steady case management. For 2024, all cases were finalized and findings are being distributed. For 2025, there were 83 cases total, with 13 already completed. For 2026, 9 cases have been opened. In February, 10 new files were opened, 7 files were closed, and 18 letters were sent (10 acknowledgement, 7 closing, 1 complaint form). Staff handled calls and in-person meetings about filing complaints. Board member Don Johnson participated in review of 5 cases. Staff coordinated with the legal department on a subpoena and met with Chief Russin for SPD data sharing. Chris conducted a successful board member training on statistics.
- Committee Formation: The board is drafting a committee template and awaiting member responses. Regarding the advisory committee on legislative changes, the board clarified that its role is to suggest names to the council, not to form the committee itself. The council has legislative power, and the board's recommendations will be part of a collaboration.
Key Outcomes
- The board voted to accept the February meeting minutes (motion and second, all in favor, no abstentions).
- The board voted to enter executive session to review cases (motion and second, all in favor).
- The board will continue discussions on the investigator position and will publicize options once finalized.
- Data statistics will be anonymized and posted on the website when ready.
- The board will report on the topics covered in the police training after the session.
Meeting Transcript
Michael. You sent a reminder, right? Yeah, but that was good. Oh, there she is. We might as well get started. It is now five thirty-six. It is Tuesday, March third, two thousand twenty-six. Yeah. Attendance law call. Yes. No. Absent. Absent. Absent. Don Joneson. Yes. Mike out of town. Hari. Yep. Peggy. Sonia. Absolut. Octavia out of town. Desire here. Okay. So did everyone have a chance to uh review the um the uh January the February meeting. I mean the January uh no, it'll be the February meeting minutes. Yes. Okay. So and we can't vote to uh accept the minutes, so um we'll have to uh table that to the next uh meeting. Uh okay, so the next thing on the agenda is the chairman's report. Um up to date on staffing. Um we still haven't um brought on uh the final uh member of the uh CRB board, which would have been the administrator. Um as I mentioned last time, uh we're looking at some different options uh on saving the uh the board some money and uh I'll be meeting with the administrator talking over some different options and then I'll be bringing that to the board for let's make a correction you said our final person to bring on was administrator, you mean uh the uh investigator, I'm sorry correction that investigated not the administrator. We're not getting ready. So um as far as the board, we have uh two candidates that uh we're reviewing out of uh Corey Williams area. Um so we'll be making the decision or co uh Corey will be making the decision soon on which member um he's gonna bring on board and then that will bring us to a full board. Okay. Um of the things that uh in the uh in our bylines is that each board member is supposed to be holding an event once per quarter in their given area. Um if uh you guys can come up with some uh event places, uh please let Adonia know. Um and she has some events that are scheduled that will are probably in some of your areas, so she'll be getting in contact with you to let you know which areas she's gonna be uh dealing with in the month of March. Um and what we like to do is like we we like to have board members show up uh to volunteer and participate in those area in those events. So the next thing on the agenda is the uh CRB administrative report. Okay, the next thing on the agenda is the uh CRB administrative report. Good evening. Um February was uh marked by a steady pace of operations focused on um management and caseload files. Um the office continues to ensure that all cases move forward efficiently. Currently, the board has established a hearing date, though the logistical requirements must be met before proceeding. So we do have it set. We just have a few more things that we have to put in place before we can actually move forward.
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