Why A Properly Funded PAB Matters
After a year in national headlines over
the conduct of its police force, Rochester is facing an unprecedented crisis. Our
citizens are increasingly losing faith in their public safety system. Our
government is facing a wave of police misconduct lawsuits. Most importantly, our
community is suffering at the hands of a policing system that is crying out for
fundamental change.
Unlike
so many other cities facing similar crises, Rochester has a powerful tool for
delivering the lasting, community-led public safety reform its citizens are
demanding. That tool is the Police Accountability Board. Hailed as a potential national
model for reimagining public safety, the PAB is unique among civilian oversight
boards thanks to its remarkable powers, degree of community control, and
breadth of purpose.
Each year, the City Charter requires the Police Accountability Board to
propose a budget that would provide the agency with sufficient funding to
perform all its duties and resolve all complaints within 90 days. The PAB is releasing its budget proposal for fiscal year 2021 – 2022. This 85-page proposal
represents over six months of research into best practices, budgets, case
processing systems, and other features of civilian oversight agencies across
the country. Adopting this proposal would fulfill the Charter’s vision while building
the PAB into a national model for community-led police oversight.
You can download the full 85-page proposal by clicking HERE. Below is a quick guide to the proposal.
