Tallahassee considers requiring Citizens Police Review Board remain ‘unbiased’ and ‘fair’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The Tallahassee City Commission will consider requiring that members on the Citizens Police Review Board are unbiased when reviewing policy-community interactions.
The proposed amendments to the board’s Policies and Procedures are intended to clarify the authorities of the review board and the limitations of their powers. They will be considered during the city commission’s upcoming Wednesday meeting.
“The CPRB members have had questions regarding their duties and responsibilities where not specifically stated in their adopted policies and procedures,” read the agenda item.
The new, amended Policies and Procedures include a clearly defined requirement for members to be unbiased and fair when reviewing police-community interactions, as well as clarifying other aspects of the board’s responsibilities.
The board was originally formed in 2020 to “foster transparency, enhance communication and ensure a relationship of trust” between the Tallahassee Police Department and the community.
However, their have been multiple instances of controversial behavior and decisions by the board and the city commission.
In December 2022, the city voted to remove board member Taylor Biro after she brought a coffee mug to a meeting with an anti-law enforcement message written on it, along with an “Abolish Police” sticker attached.
The Police Benevolent Association’s Big Bend chapter President Richard Murphy said in a statement that the “vitriolic anti-police” message by Biro was “deeply disturbing.”
Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox introduced the removal of the member after the incident occurred.
Mayor John Dailey and Commissioner Curtis Richardson joined her in a 3-2 decision to take Brio off the board.
Commissioner Jacqueline Porter, Biro’s sponsor to the board, and Commissioner Jeremy Matlow voted against her removal, arguing that it was important to have diverse perspectives from the community.
Following Biro’s removal, fellow board member Patrick O’Bryant resigned after disapproving of the commission’s vote.
