Citizens Police Review Board

Meetings

  • 5:30 p.m.
  • 2nd Tuesday of each month
  • Meetings may also be held at the request of the city manager or chair of the board

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

All agenda, minutes, and other related materials will be accessible when available.

Members

The board shall consist of 9 members. The members of the board shall serve for 3-year terms at the pleasure of the City Council without compensation. Failure to attend 3 consecutive regularly scheduled meetings will subject the member to removal from the board.

Qualifications

Each City Council member shall nominate 1 member from each ward. The mayor shall nominate one member. All members of the City Council shall nominate 2 members-at-large. Members shall be residents of the city and an American citizen or resident alien of the United States.  Members cannot be a convicted felon unless their civil rights have been restored. Members must not be currently holding or running for political office in the city at any point during their term, if so, that member will be removed from the board.

At the time of appointment a member cannot knowingly have a relative employed with the Fort Myers Police Department, and the definition of relative with respect to a member of the board means an individual who is related to that member as:

  • Brother or sister
  • Brother-in-law or sister-in-law
  • Father or mother
  • Father-in-law or mother-in-law
  • First cousin
  • Half brother or half sister.
  • Husband or wife
  • Nephew or niece
  • Son or daughter
  • Son-in-law, daughter-in-law
  • Stepbrother or stepsister
  • Stepfather or stepmother
  • Stepson or stepdaughter
  • Uncle or aunt

Training
 Upon appointment to the board, each member shall be required to:

  • Participate in a ride along at the discretion of the police chief on location and time
  • Attend a use of force class not to exceed 2 hours per session
  • Attend the Fort Myers Citizen Police Academy
  • Any other training designed and prescribed by the Police Department or city manager

Policies & Procedures

The members of the board shall be sworn by the city clerk to perform the duties of the office.  Members shall file disclosure of financial interest pursuant to Florida Statute 112.3145. The duties of the board are as follows:

  1. The Citizens Police Review Board shall be advisory to the chief of police who shall at all times be and remain in command of the Police Department pursuant to the provisions of the Civil Service Act of 1935, as amended and Florida Statute, Chapter 112.533.
  2. The board shall review unsworn citizen complaints not currently investigated by the Police Department, and closed departmental investigations conducted thereof, in the following instances:
    1. Use of deadly force
    2. Alleged use of excessive force
    3. Any instance wherein police action results in death or serious bodily injury
    4. Any complaint referred to it by a member of City Council, city manager, or chief of police
    5. Any complaint selected by majority vote of the board for review.
  3. If the Citizens Police Review Board reviews a complaint against a law enforcement officer,  they shall within 5 business days forward the complaint to the employing agency of the officer who is the subject of the complaint for review or investigation.
  4. The board shall review policies, procedures, rules, regulations, general, or special orders pertaining to the use of force and police conduct toward the citizens.
  5. Following the review process as set forth in subsections 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 above, the board shall submit a written report to the mayor, City Council, city manager and chief of police. Said written report may contain any or all of the following:
    1. A recommendation for approval
    2. A recommendation for disapproval
    3. A recommendation for modification or amendment
    4. A recommendation for additional information, additional investigation, or reinvestigation in accordance with Law Enforcement Bill of Rights, Chapter 112, Florida Statutes.

The report shall state with specificity the grounds for such recommendation.  The report shall be signed by the chair and be reflective of the majority of the board. Written dissenting opinions/recommendations shall be signed and forwarded with the majority report.