By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner is now embracing the creation of a civilian police board that will review how the department investigates citizens’ complaints against officers.
The debate among Bloomington aldermen and the community was among the most contentious issues this year. Some officers felt they were unfairly labeled as racist.
Training and working with the seven members of the Public Safety and Community Relations Board is part of the chief’s three-year strategic plan that he presented to the city council Monday night.
“We’re getting ready to have an orientation meeting next week. It will be a work in progress, but we actually do really look forward to it,” said Heffner.
“I’ve always said it’s not that I was so opposed to it. It was just how it was brought forward to me,” the chief added.
The board’s powers were narrowed in scope to win a council consensus. The panel can not re-investigate complaints against police. It can only review whether the department followed proper protocols. There’s also an emphasis on community outreach and education.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at howard.packowitz@cumulus.com
