CITIZENS DECRY I.C. POLICE TACTICS

Local Residents Express Concern Over Police "Knock And Talks" To The
City Council.

An Iowa City resident told the Iowa City City Council that police came
to his doorstep and waited for him to do something illegal.

Richard Zimmermann was one of many local residents who voiced his
concern about such "knock and talks" -- one of the requirements for
local police to receive a grant from the Johnson County Multi-Agency
Drug Task Force.

Iowa City police have received the grant for 10 years, and they have
included it in their budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The council's
hearing Tuesday aimed to gather feedback on its proposed budget for the
next fiscal year.

The approximately $80,000 grant instructs the task force to arrest 45
individuals for felony drug violations, conduct 25 controlled buys to
identify individuals involved in the distribution of illicit drugs,
conduct 45 "knock and talks," which police assert is a procedure
executed when the department receives complaints from neighbors or after
garbage searches, and to execute 20 search warrants to develop illicit
drug cases during the grant year.

"The police stood on my porch and just waited for something illegal to
happen," Zimmermann said. "We don't want to see a more intrusive police
department. This is a grant we would like to see thrown out of the
budget."

Police Chief R.J. Winkelhake said that although the department has
received the grant without meeting the requirements in the past, it is
quite possible funds may not be received if the quotas aren't met. The
funding helps pay for salaries or benefits for police employees, he
said.

"(A pro) is it gives us money to do work," he said. "If we didn't have
the grant, the money would have to come out of the general fund."

Lone Tree resident and long-time community activist Carol deProsse said
the police do a lot of good things for the community, but that this
grant was a negative aspect of the city.

"This is not helping the image of Iowa City," she said. "No one wants to
think their garbage can be searched."

Councilor Steven Kanner said he was very concerned about the objectives
of the grant and hoped the council would consider residents' remarks.

"I heard about the grant, and that's not the way I want Iowa City to
operate," he said. "I don't think Iowa City wants to conduct business
like that. It's a slippery slope, and we have to make sure we protect
privacy."

Mayor Ernie Lehman said he didn't have a huge concern because of its
relation to the budget, but he was curious about the grant.

"This is more of a policy issue," he said. "It has little or no effect
on the budget."

Later in the meeting, approximately 10 residents addressed the council
about its proposed ordinance aimed to decrease underage and binge
drinking in the city. It was the second public hearing on the issue.

Leah Cohen, the owner of Bo-James Restaurant, 118 E. Washington Ave.,
said that although she is glad the council is considering steps to curb
underage and binge drinking, she is still apprehensive about the
ordinance.

"When I see an ordinance that makes me rely on 50 to 75 employees'
actions, that makes me a little nervous," she said.

She added that the undercover stings are not clearly dictated, and they
add to her nervousness.

"We need a clearly written enforcement code so our jobs aren't in
others' hands," Cohen said.