GROUPS MOVE TO CHANGE POLICE PRACTICES

Proposed ballot measures may prevent nonviolent offenders and
recreational pot smokers from being jailed.

For three local political organizations, the push for what they call
common sense in the city government begins today.

In a press conference scheduled for 4 p.m. on the Pedestrian Mall,
Citizens for Accountable Local Government, Alternatives for a New
Jail, and Students for Local Politics will formally announce
petitions to place three proposed amendments on the ballot for the
Nov. 6 municipal elections.

The goal of the amendments to the Home Rule Charter is to drastically
change the way the city is policed.

"Iowa City has almost become a police state," said UI junior Matt
Blizek, the founder and president of Students for Local Politics.
"This is the first step in changing things."

One of the proposed amendments calls for a change in how the city
appoints the police chief. Currently, the city manager appoints the
chief. Under the proposed amendment, the chief would be appointed by
the City Council, and both the police chief and city manager would
need a 50 percent approval rating from voters during municipal
elections to retain their seats.

A second amendment would establish a permanent Police Citizens Review
Board. Under a "sunset clause" currently in effect, the council must
vote every three years on whether to continue the board's existence.

The third amendment comes in two parts. The first would permit police
officers to issue citations in lieu of arrest for certain nonviolent
offenses, including possession of marijuana. The second would
prohibit police from practicing the investigation, apprehension, or
arrest of individuals for misdemeanor or nonviolent offenses, sending
undercover agents into bars or restaurants, or acting on anonymous
tips. The amendment also states that arresting individuals in
possession of personal-use amounts of marijuana should not be a
priority of police.

All three organizations have already begun to distribute the
petitions, which can only be signed by Iowa City residents at least
18 years old. For the amendments to make it on the Nov. 6 ballot, 784
signatures are needed. The petitions must be submitted to the city
clerk by Aug. 30.

Jail-committee representative Carol deProsse said the proposed
changes to the police policy on marijuana is to protect Iowa City's
law-abiding citizens and UI students, whom, she hopes, will come out
to support the amendments in large numbers.

"People who were committing the same crimes 25 years ago weren't
getting arrested," she said. "Ninety-five percent of the people who
get arrested didn't do any harm to anybody, so they should be left
alone."

City Manager Steve Atkins said he does not understand the meaning of
the amendments and is not sure that changing the police policy on
marijuana is legally possible.

Atkins said that because the amendment would place his position in a
retention election, it could possibly thin out candidates for the
job, adding that a vote is not needed because the council can already
vote him out of office.

"If people's jobs are on the line every four years, then they're
going to want some [additional monetary] compensation," he said. The
amendment would make the police chief and city manager accountable
for any problem that arises from what they do, Blizek said.

Keeping the police from arresting those with misdemeanor or
nonviolent charges would free up space in the overcrowded county
jail, he said.

"Most of the people in jail committed nonviolent crimes," Blizek
said. "To keep them out would be a lot better than building a massive
new complex."