HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-11-29 Workshop City Commission Meeting Minutes}lINUTES
DANIA CITY COMMISSION
WORKSHOP MEETING
NOVEMBER 29, 1990
ROLL CALL:
Present:
Cltycity
Mayor:
Commlssioners:
Charles McElyea
.Iean Cook
Bobbie Grace
John Bertino
Frank Adler
Wanda Mullikin
Bob Mikes
Robert F1atley
At torney :
CIerk:
Absent:
vice Mayor:
City Manaqer:
1. concerns of loca1 residents in Northwest Dania'
Larry Black informed the Commission that several citizens
City wish to express their oplnions and concern regarding
"eriors incident that happened between a BSo Policeman and
resident in Dania.
in the
a
a
At this time, Mildred Jones, clarifled that she
individual who scheduled this meeting tonight as
stated. Mayor McElyea confirmed for Mrs- ,lones
the Commission are the only individuals that can
commission meetings.
Has not thethe press has
that members of
schedul e
Mildred Jones explained her interpretation of the incident that
occurred between Police Officer Lahiff and citizen, Preston
,Jackson. Mrs. ,Jones expressed the need for police officers to do
their jobs in a 1awful manor and not to use force in every
situation. Mrs. ,lones stated that thls is the third incident of
abuse involving officer Lahiff.
Robert Mccoy stepped forward to explain his own personal
experience of feirg bullied by officer Lahiff that eventually Ied
to his being arrested by Officer Lahiff.
Marjorie McCutcheon stated that officer Lahiff ran her off the
road one night as she was on her way home and called her obscene
names and threatened her with going to jail. Ms. Mccutcheon
explained that this event created an altercation betueen Officer
L.,ahif f and herself that ended in her being charged with battery
of an offj.cer. Ms. Mccutcheon explained her leqal- and medical
ordeal of being sent to Chattahoochee and her finally being
diaqtnosed as a manic-depressant ' Ms. Mcclltcheon claimed that
officer Lahiff was invol,ved wj,th havj-ng her fired from a job' and
threatens to arrest her if she is seen walkinq on Us 1. Ms.
Mccutcheon exptained that she must use Us 1in order to use the
public bus syitem to go for treatment at Henderson Clinic in
Hollywood and to aide in finding employment. Ms. McCutcheon
stated that she cannot tolerate Officer Lahlff's mentaf cruefty
and harassment any longer.
Preston ,Jackson stepped for ard to express his concern for black
citizens being harassed by officers from the Bror"rard Sheriff's
office oistrict Ix wlthout probable cause. Mr. .rackson explained
that most individuals in these instances are forced to serve time
in jail as they do not have money to hire attorneys to fight on
their behalf.
WORKSHOP YEETlNG 1 NOVEMBER 29, 1990
Mayor McEl]-ea requested Ms. Couch give him
to this incident so that he could request
exactly what happened in this case.
inf ormation Pertaininga response from BSo on
Bessie Couch explalned an incident that occurred when her son was
arrested for driving with bald tires and for a pending traffic
ticket violation. Ms. Couch stated that the officers left her 16
year old daughter to drive the car home with her son's three
lnitar"., without a drivers license. Ms. couch stated that her
daughter explained to the officers that she had a restricted
Iiclnse that wa" home but they told her to drive the car anyway.
Ms. Couch couldn't understand the actions of the officers in this
case.
Angela Spencer mentioned an incident involving an individual
aiI"i"s ir.. .ut who had a suspended license and the BSo having
her car towed. Ms. Spencer mentioned that she was told by the
officers that the towing charge would be 560'00 but she was
charged $79.50 by Stuart's Towing Company' Ms' spencer stated
that the car l.Ias tol,ed even though she had proof of ownership'
Mayor McElyea stated that if an individual is driving a car
a iuspended license, the car would be toued. Mayor McElyea
not respond to Ms. Spencer's problem without having further
informatlon pertaining to the circumstances for why her car
t owed .
Ray Long, MUPA (MEN UNITED FOR POSITIVE ACTION), explained the
services provided by the MUPA organization within Dania and there
efforts t-o asslst the Bso District IX without acknowledgement '
Mr. Long requested the city commission take the following action:
1, Request that Lhe City Attorney determine if there
breach of contract between the BSO and City of Dania for
providinq of the police services. And if the contract has
Lreached, to have the agreement terminated and establish a
department to be operated by the Clty of Daniai
2. whether the contract is termi-nated or whether the BSo
remains until the expiration of the contract, establish a
citizens review board to have superior powers and fact finding
authority with respects to the issues refated to police conduct
and regulations. The Citizen's Review Board would provide
recommendations to the Dania Commission for actioni
wi th
could
was
15 a
beenpolice
3. In order that Deputy Lahif f 's services of the City of
Dania be terminated immediately, an investigation be conducted by
the Citizen's Revi.ew Board and determine whether the
recommendation should be made by the Dania Commission to Bso for
termination of Deputy Lahiff from the Department;
4. That the City of Dania Commission request an immediate
change in the command staff of the Bso Dania Divisioa and further
conduct an investigation of the operation of the divisj-on during
the past contract period to deternine if it has systematically
violated the rights of the Citizens of Dania;
5. That the Citizen's Review Board be authorized and
provided funding to conduct a study of the arrest-s made from the
Clty of Dania to determine whether a pattern exists and the
charges of resisting arrest and/or obstruct-ing justice have been
used wrongfully and unlawfully to subject poor, Hispanic and/or
black male or female to the criminaf iustice system-
Mr. Long stated that the Citizens of Dania request a response to
these items by the next regular Commission Meeting and that they
are available to assist in implementing the suggestions as
stated.
WORKSHOP MEETING 2 NO\TEMBER 29, L 990
Horace McCutcheon explained
probfem with officer Lahiff
iemove have officer Lahi f f
Vivian warman suggested that this
to the city Manager but to have a
the City Manager to BSO for better
incident.
Jay Fie1d, C.A.R.E., representing the-residents from the ner'I1y
annexation area, suggesied that in informal -commi t tee of
concerned citizens o6-iormea to communicate with Bso regarding
these types of matters.
Mayor McEIyea mentioned that there has been a
nolrd estaflished in Dania for years but that
activated for quite some time.
Conmissioner Grace stated that Ehe same officer being spoken
ino"i t""isht had sent her the same type of threatening
"orr"f""i"n" that have been enforced on other citizens as
Ji".""".O here tonight. Commissioner Grace stated the need to
;;;;;; ini= typ" of officer from the Police force as there are
several officers on the force who are to be commended'
Commissioner cook suggested that this issue be referred over to
in"-lliv". and city Miiager for further discussion and action'
Commissioner Bertino stated that he was not aware of this type of
;;;;i;,, until the last meeting and expressed the need for
citizens to contact'if,"i. ci.t! officiifs who represent Dania.
c"*rni""i"""r Bertino igreed that ttris should be turned over to
;h;-aiiy Murruq.. and city Attorney and- suggested a complete
..po.t ie ortiined from 6so on the incidents that have been
.*ii."".O toniqht ." ,ro ot" should toferate pol-ice brutality'
Mayor McEIyea explained that he has spoken with Captain Carney'
Commander for BSO, "ii"-.."a him the po1ic" report from Officer
Lahiff in this case. Mayor McEIyea expressed the need for
Sheriff Nick Navarro'" i-t t..,ut effairs Office to investiqate
officer Lahiff's actions in this incident to determi'ne if he
acted wrongfully. Mayor McElyea commended the Sherj'f f 's Office
for decreasing the crime rate in Dania from what it Has four
y"ua" ugo and expressed a desire to resolve this situation as
soon as possible.
Mr, Long stated that he and the citizens that are here tonight
have come directly io the commissioners in an effort to obtain
l""ti..- i" 'itrey frite tried to go before BSo Hit'hout success '
Commissioner Cook informed the audience that since Dania has
c;;y-;;ili; s ion/c i tv Manaser form of governmenE that she
recimmends this issue be lurned over to the city Manager and
A;t;;;;y.- commissioner cook stated that Mr' Flatlev is out
i"n" .iSnt now or he would be here tonight to respond'
a
Human Relations
it has not been
Citl:
of
have
act ion
Alex Buchsbaum, Dania Civic Association' informed the audience
;h;; hi" organization has established a crime watch organization
that works di.rectty with BsO and that mutual respect and trust
canbeobtainedinhelpinqtheCommunitywiththesetypesof
organizations.
Ray Long reiterated the need for Officer Lahiff to be
iniestiqated and that the citizens in the Northwest section
qone thiu the proper procedures with BSo without obtaining
Jatisfaction and that- they now wish the Commission to take
in the matter.
that his son and daughter have had a
in the Past and expressed a need to
removed from the Dania force.
Mitdreal Jones expressed the need for everyone in the Communj'ty to
woiX-toqetter black and white for better communication with the
BroHard sheri f f 's office.
issue not be just turned
citizen designated to go
representation in thi s
WORKSHOP I'IEETING 3 NOVEMBER 29, l- 990
over
with
made officer of
has been
Commissioner Grace stated that in accordance with the contract
between Dania and Bso, the city Manaqer is the only person who
can qlo to the Broward County Sheriff's office to obtain
satisfaction in this matter.
City Attorney Adler stated that he felt Mr' Elatley should Listen
i" tfri" tape when he is back in town in order to hear the
;;*;1;;"a;-expressed tonight and that he should be the onlv
repies.ntativl to go to 860 to discuss this matter' Mr' Adler-"ili"I dfi"t estarlishiig-u-r""i", board would be a verv positive
step in handling these types of issues'
charles Murphy expressed the need for the Commission to assist
the citizens in this matter as a last resort '
Discussion followed on the rights that the Commission has over
the Broward Sheriff'" Offi". ielating to the contract Hith Dania
and BSo for Police services'
City Attorney Adler reconfirmed that the commissioners are here
;;-;";;;;;;i- tr," "itirens of Dania but that the Citv Manaser is
directed by the c"rris"i"" as a whole to try to resolve. problens
like thls. City ettoiney Adler stated that an answer should be
obtained by the next regular meeting'
Clarence MitchelL questioned how officer Lahiff
in" ll"ntf, for BSO wittr ttre type of conduct that
discussed tonight.
The Commission responded by explaining that the Officers of the
I'r""tn "i" determined by BSo and not by the Commission'
C.aI . walton, legal Council for MUPA' confirmed that efforts have
;;;;;;;; to r"6t "ia;--B;o before and that satisfaction is not
leing ie"ei'vea. Mr. I.Ialton stated that most of the arrest cases
involves young people who do not have money to pay for- leg.aI
assistance to fight ih" fu1"" charges against them' Mr' l{alton
expressed a need for the Commission to address these injustices'
Michael Curry expressed his lack of confidence in the job that
Jn"iifi Navairo is doing as Brolrard county sheriff'
Alex Buchsbaum stated that if an officer's behavior
il"-" pt"rl"m within a community that it is basicallv
*itt"i to have hin transferred ersewhere '
This workshop meeting r''as then adjourned'
continues to
a s impl e
"'t
YOR _C O N
CITY CLERK_AUD ITOR
WORKSHOP MEETING 4 NOVEMBER 29, 1990