Qualifications
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 father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father in law, mother in law, son in law, daughter in law, brother in law, sister in law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister.
Additional Requirements
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.
Meetings
The board shall meet monthly on the second Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. or on request of the city manager or chair of the board.
Attendance Requirements
Failure to attend three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings will subject the member to removal from the board.
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 two (2) hours per session, attend the Fort Myers Citizen Police Academy, and any other training designed and prescribed by the police department or city manager.
Policies and Procedures
(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:
(a) Use of deadly force.
(b) Alleged use of excessive force.
(c) Any instance wherein police action results in death or serious bodily injury.
(d) Any complaint referred to it by a member of city council, city manager, or chief of police.
(e) 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 five business five (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 citizenry.
(5) Following the review process as set forth in subsections (b), (c) and (d) 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:
(a) A recommendation for approval.
(b) A recommendation for disapproval.
(c) A recommendation for modification or amendment.
(d) A recommendation for additional information, additional investigation, or re investigation 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.
Board Membership
The board shall consist of nine (9) members. The members shall serve for three-year terms at the pleasure of city council and without compensation.
If you wish to apply, please visit Boards and Committees to download an application.
Qualifications
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 father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father in law, mother in law, son in law, daughter in law, brother in law, sister in law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister.
Additional Requirements
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.
Meetings
The board shall meet monthly on the second Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. or on request of the city manager or chair of the board.
Attendance Requirements
Failure to attend three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings will subject the member to removal from the board.
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 two (2) hours per session, attend the Fort Myers Citizen Police Academy, and any other training designed and prescribed by the police department or city manager.
Policies and Procedures
(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:
(a) Use of deadly force.
(b) Alleged use of excessive force.
(c) Any instance wherein police action results in death or serious bodily injury.
(d) Any complaint referred to it by a member of city council, city manager, or chief of police.
(e) 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 five business five (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 citizenry.
(5) Following the review process as set forth in subsections (b), (c) and (d) 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:
(a) A recommendation for approval.
(b) A recommendation for disapproval.
(c) A recommendation for modification or amendment.
(d) A recommendation for additional information, additional investigation, or re investigation 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.
Board Membership
The board shall consist of nine (9) members. The members shall serve for three-year terms at the pleasure of city council and without compensation.
If you wish to apply, please visit Boards and Committees to download an application.