Police review director awaits power to act

Adrienne Packer

Monday, June 26, 2000 | 11:43 a.m.

Andrea Beckman has had only two months to settle into her executive director's office at the Civilian Review Board, and already she is receiving complaints of police misconduct.

Problem is, Beckman can't do anything about them.

"I have to say 'I can't accept these calls, because I don't have a board,' " said Beckman, a private attorney. "I want to get this thing up and running."

If Beckman has her way, the 25-member police review panel will be in place by late August or early September. Although the deadline for potential panelists' applications isn't until Wednesday, Beckman has already received 211 responses and said as many as 200 applications are still out.

The 1997 Legislature passed a bill authorizing civilian review boards in Nevada. The process in Southern Nevada, however, was slowed by the inability to create an ordinance that pleases both Metro Police and civil rights organizations.

An ordinance agreeable to both sides was passed by the Clark County Commission and Las Vegas City Council in spring 1999, but some uneasiness about who will be chosen to serve on the panel still exists.

Gary Peck, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Nevada chapter, said although his organization has no formal role in the selection process, it will be watching closely.

"We're imploring those people responsible for making the appointments to do everything they can to make sure members of the board are genuinely independent and fair-minded," said Peck, who was also a member of the team that wrote the ordinance. "People who are neither anti-cop nor pro-cop."

Beckman said applicants have their own files that will be forwarded to City Council members and commissioners. The county will choose 13 panelists, and the city will pick 12. The files will then be forwarded to the district attorney's office for background checks.

Once appointed, the review panel will investigate complaints of police misconduct if the findings of Metro's Internal Affairs Bureau do not satisfy the complainant.

The committee will be broken into panels of five for hearings after a screening board determines whether the complaint is viable. Panelists will have access to officers' personnel files and possess subpoena power.

Findings will be forwarded to Metro, which will determine what disciplinary action to take.

One of the more controversial points during the creation of the ordinance was who is eligible to serve on the panel. Convicted felons are not permitted on the panel and no current or former Metro officers -- or their family members -- can sit on the board.

Beckman said she has received several applications from former officers of other police departments. Those officers can take no more than five seats on the review panel.

Most of the applications received so far represent a broad spectrum of the population.

"I want a cross-culture, diversity. I want people who represent a not just one sector of this community but a cross section," Beckman said. "A lot of people are not happy police officers can apply, but on the same token they will bring a lot to the board as far as experience." Because the panel will be made up primarily of lay people with little knowledge about law enforcement, Beckman has developed an extensive training program.

Once selected, panel members will attend a series of lectures that include investigative techniques, police misconduct under the use of force, cultural diversity and peace officers' bill of rights.

"I don't think people should be judging whether a police officer engaged in misconduct unless they understand the department policy regarding misconduct," Beckman said. "I want them to be well-trained so they are comfortable with their decision."