City council meetings have been unusually packed with people concerned about race relations and Champaign’s use of force policy since an African-American teenager was killed by a police officer’s gun. The city of Champaign has been in uproar since the policy was introduced. The use of force policy was released on Oct. 1 and shortly after, on Oct. 9, Kiwane Carrington died by the weapon of Police Officer Daniel Norbits. This incident has caused a mountain of controversy in the Champaign area concerning race and the police.
Champaign citizens complained at city council meetings on Oct. 20 and Nov. 10 that the use of force policy is too dangerous. The policy says if a person attempts to resist or flee from arrest, verbal persuasion, non-deadly force and deadly force can be used against them.
“Through a FOIA request of the State Attorney’s office, CU Citizens for Peace and Justice got a list of all the criminal juvenile cases filed in Champaign County from January 2008 through October of 2009.” said Durl Kruse, a member of CU Citizens for Peace and Justice.
Champaign Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice developed a formal statement for the meeting, which included concerns and proposals regarding use of force in Champaign. The statement focused on the lack of detailed “levels of use of force” language, confusing language, new controversial technologies added without public input or council consent, lack of multi-layer investigation and review and lack of public input as a whole.
City council member and deputy mayor, Michael LaDue, called for the study session that took place on Nov. 10, to give citizens an opportunity to sort out confusion concerning use of force and 15-year-old Carrington’s death.
“I thought the community needed it. I thought the council needed clarification,” said LaDue. He hoped citizens would realize the new five page policy was not replacing the older and longer policy from 2005.
Council member, Karen Foster, agreed that, “citizens thought that they included new policies without our knowledge. Actually, the policies were in there before, but in a different form.”
The Champaign police department created this Oct. 1 version with tighter language to be considered for the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program as well as the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies in order to gain state and national accreditation. LaDue said the Oct. 1 policy “is the abridged process.” The newer and shorter policy will admit the Champaign Police Department to these programs to improve its standards based on these groups’ guidelines.
By calling the meeting on Nov. 10, LaDue believed, “It would be a useful opportunity for the police to speak for themselves.” Since the issue has become so controversial, he added, “More communication about this would be a hell of a lot better than less.”
The community members who spoke at the meeting reiterated the idea that the people who make and enforce the laws for the rest of the community must represent the people themselves. More than one speaker voiced concern for racial unbalance between police and citizens and many were worried about their children, since Carrington, who was so young, was shot.
The 2006-2008 census documents 15.3 percent of Champaign citizens as black. Compared to the 2007/2008 CPD Annual Report, which says 84 percent of custodial arrests were African-American, racial unbalance seems to exist in Champaign, at least statistically.
When focusing on juvenile cases, which many parents and relatives voiced was a concern at the city council meetings, it becomes clear that racial unbalance concerning legal action can begin at a young age. About 20 percent of Champaign County is comprised of juveniles under the age of 18. Blacks under 18 account for 11.5 percent of this population and whites for 78 percent of juveniles.
The majority of juveniles in Champaign County are white; however, of the 525 total juvenile cases, only 106 were white; 384 were black.
This information seems off balance to Kruse. “Could law enforcement intentionally be charging black juveniles more aggressively than white juveniles?” Kruse said. According to this demographic data, which represents juvenile cases from Jan. 2008 through Oct. 2009, and was provided by the State Attorney Julia Rietz’s office, it is “28.4 times more likely for a black youth than a white youth to face a criminal charge.”
A stream of Champaign citizens complained about the use of force policy at the meeting, saying parts of it are inappropriate and dangerous. Many of those who spoke included fears that more shootings and other unnecessary acts of violence may occur if this policy is to remain.
Even if citizens don’t like certain policies, it is necessary for all people to know
the laws of the community. “A use of force policy is important for the police
officers and also for the public to know as a police officer approaches us,” Champaign resident, Karen Medina said at the Nov. 10 study session.
Not everyone was upset with the use of force policy.
“Some citizens are trying to do or say anything to discredit our police department. I feel that we have an excellent department and the officers do their best,” said Foster.
Champaign citizens are mainly anxious that the new use of force policy will cause more people to end up hurt or worse, as in the Carrington case. Not only are citizens concerned about getting injured, but black citizens especially point out a problem. Based on the demographic data from the state attorney there is a racial problem within the Champaign police force and if people do not address what is going on in their own community there is no hope for the future.
Champaign’s assistant to the chief of police, Rene Dunn, said the police department has proposed revisions to the use of force policy in response to the community’s outrage. She said they will be, “Adding language that better explains when it is legally reasonable for an officer to use deadly force.”
The police hope these revisions will clarify meanings in the policy. Dunn also said possible revisions will be, “Emphasizing language about the restrictions in the use of deadly force when a suspect is resisting or escaping.” The police are not interested in scaring the public or making them uncomfortable and they are taking steps to adjust the policy accordingly, she assured.
For some, the promise for clarification is not enough. “Clearly the CPD’s clarification of its use of force policy came from community pressure, not any beneficence of the police.” said Brian Dolinar a member of CU Citizens for Peace and Justice.
Ultimately LaDue believed his efforts were successful. “The two deputy chiefs who have been responsible for guiding us though this, they both shook my hand and thanked me.” He rendered the meeting victorious because it clarified a confusing and significant issue that has an impact on the entire community.
The study session was a first step for smoothing relations between city council, the police and the public. Foster hopes, “for every citizen to walk in Champaign and not be fearful, whatever the race.”
