Columbus, Georgia

Minutes for the Meeting of the

Public Safety Advisory Commission

May 19, 2005



Present members of Advisory Commission: Robert Turner (in @ 4:12 p.m.), Robert

Loving, James Wilson, Keyla Cabret, Harold Bryant, Cheryl Gallatin, Archie

Rainey (Chairman), Greg Camp (left @ 4:32 p.m.)



Absent members: Charles Kurtz, C.A. Hardmon, Allen McMullen



Visitors: None



Recording Secretary: Mrs. Ann Bell, Administrative Specialist III



Location: Community Room of the Public Safety Building



Meeting began at 4:10 p.m.





CHAIRMAN ARCHIE RAINEY CALLS THE MEETING TO ORDER:



Archie Rainey calls the meeting to order. Roll is taken.



REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING?S MINUTES:



The commission members took a few moments to review the minutes of the previous

meeting. There was a motion and a second to approve minutes and they were then

approved.



DISCUSSION OF OLD BUSINESS:



The main topic of discussion during this meeting was the commission?s

impression of Council and their reactions to the commission?s presentation

before them. The majority of the commission members agree that there seemed to

be a lack of communication between the commission and the Council. Members

mentioned it seemed Council expected more than what they were given and the

commission?s report seemed redundant to the Council. It is brought up that

this was a learning experience as far as what council wants the commission to

do, but Council has not shown any interest in the commission and what they are

doing, except for the two members that have shown up, Councilors Hunter and

Anthony. It is mentioned that the Council meeting seemed to end on a slightly

hostile note.



Discussion moves to figure out what Council wants from the commission. The

commission was formed after the Walker case to make sure that type event does

no happen again. The commission needs to build confidence with the community

so they (the community) will show up to the public forums and meetings. Mr.

Wilson mentions the commission?s charter outlining their mission and duties.

Mr. Loving and Mr. Turner comment that the commission can look at public safety

policy and procedures when it references complaints and the complaint process;

making sure policy and procedure is followed and/or recommend possible changes,

not necessarily investigate actual complaints. Council wants the commission to

address, i.e. the Walker case. Mr. Camp suggested that key

leaders/constituents in the community like the NAACP and Urban League, are

invited to attend the commission?s meetings and discuss what key issues they

feel the commission needs to address. Mention is made by Chairman Rainey that

perhaps the neighborhood watch groups be invited as well, they would seem to

represent a diverse population of the community.



Mr. Bryant suggests getting with the Mayor and Council and ask specifically

what they want from the commission. Make sure the commission is not just

wasting its time and was not just put together by Council after the Walker

incident to pacify the community and not really do anything at all.



There is a brief discussion on how citizens can call commission members with

out going through the police department. Mr. Loving suggested getting a

voicemail type messaging system for members.



Discussion moves back to the Council meeting. Mr. Wilson brought up the fact

that Council seemed to pickup on the pay needs mentioned in the commissions

report, but did not notice the fact that the commission did go to the public

and did get their input. This in turn reflects the community?s support of

public safety needing a pay increase, which in turn is due to personnel

shortages and retention.



Mr. Bryant goes back to discussing the possible meeting with community

leaders/constituents. He suggests, due to all this conversation, he would like

to recommend the commission?s next step be to have a round table discussion

with NAACP, Urban League, etc. and let there be an open discussion with them,

because he thinks that is what Council told us to do. There is more discussion

regarding the meeting and putting together another report to give Council

showing them the commission has meet with the community and what was

mentioned.



Then there is an in-depth discussion on who and how many people out of those

groups should be invited. Mr. Loving is given the task of inviting those

people to the next meeting, June 2, 2005 meeting.



DISCUSSION OF NEW BUSINESS:



There is no new business to be discussed.



A motion is made to adjourn the meeting at 5:11 p.m., a second motion is made,

and the meeting adjourned.









Ann Bell

Administrative Specialist, III

Recording Secretary