State College Borough Council takes first step on resolution aimed at addressing racial inequality
State College Borough Council fulfilled Monday one of the commitments outlined in a resolution aimed at police reform and addressing racial inequality, but conceded it may not be able to meet deadlines on other measures.
Among other commitments in the resolution penned by councilman Dan Murphy and councilwoman Deanna Behring, and approved 6-0 last week, was the work session to discuss current police training and future training needs.
No votes were cast and no promises were made Monday, though council members heard from at least four high-ranking State College police officers about the department’s policies, training and hiring efforts.
The latter prompted a concession from borough police Chief John Gardner, who said the department’s diversity — only three of 62 officers identify as nonwhite — “is certainly a statistic that we need to improve on.”
The remainder of the police department’s presentation to council members largely detailed the rigmarole of becoming a State College police officer.
New officers must clear requirements that go beyond state requirements, undergo polygraph tests, interviews with administrators, physical and psychological exams, drug tests throughout their entire career, more than four months of field training, one year of probation that’s marked by bi-monthly evaluations and an extensive background check.
“(The background check) is not just going out there (asking) ‘Were you arrested? Do you have a bankruptcy?’ ” Lt. Greg Brauser said. “They also go and interview family friends, family members and ex-girlfriend’s parents and family members — places that most places don’t go to look about possible ... red flags.”
Other changes the borough has committed to in the resolution include:
- Creating a community oversight group, which will be funded by the police department, if needed
- Hiring a borough equity officer to support and promote diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in State College
- Discussing the distribution of funds across the police department in the next budget planning cycle, so concerns like mental health, housing and community programming are also addressed
- Supporting police reform efforts proposed by the Pennsylvania Black Legislative Caucus by calling on local politicians to also offer their support
- Holding additional meetings after the receipt of the Task Force on Mental Health Crisis Services report
- Discussing a report on the implementation of cameras worn by borough police officers
- Continuing the ban of chokeholds, strangleholds and knee restraints
Some measures may take months or years to work through. Others, like the creation and implementation of a community oversight or advisory board, were supposed to happen quicker.
Council members committed last week to providing needed resources to ensure the formation and implementation of the group by Aug. 1. That likely won’t happen.
Borough Manager Tom Fountaine scheduled a council meeting to discuss the formation of the group in either early-to-mid July, leaving — at most — about three weeks to form the group.
The borough does not “have the capacity to move any faster,” Fountaine said.
“I don’t think it’s realistic to make decisions on a community oversight board by Aug. 1,” Fountaine said to Councilman Evan Myers. “Had we been consulted about that schedule beforehand, we would’ve said that to you.”
Myers was the most vocal supporter of promptly addressing community requests. He wondered aloud whether the council’s unanimous vote last week mattered if council members did not act.
“We continue to act as if this is just something we haven’t figured out yet — which we haven’t — but we don’t know how long it’s gonna take,” Myers said. “... Who sets policy for the borough? If council’s decisions and votes don’t mean anything, then I’m not sure what we’re doing here.”
There are several hurdles for the borough to clear, regardless of the timeline.
The group’s role — advisory, review, oversight or some form in between — has not been clearly defined. Neither has the size of the group, what members’ qualifications should be nor what they will be tasked with doing.
Mayor Ron Filippelli, council members Janet Engeman and Peter Marshall, and former District Judge and State College police officer Carmine Prestia Jr. were among those who suggested more time would be needed to properly implement the board.
“This is complex stuff. It is not simple. If you do it too fast, you stand a chance of making some very bad mistakes,” Prestia said. “We should go as quickly as possible, but we shouldn’t ram it through.”
Council members are scheduled to receive a report of the implementation of cameras worn by police officers and the department’s use of force training and policies in July.
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 10:21 AM.