Citizens’ police review board creation postponed for final time, say city officials

DeKALB – Another vote to create a citizens’ police review board for DeKalb police again was tabled, although city officials said they expect the final vote to take place Nov. 8 amid union agreements reached with local and state police unions.

DeKalb city aldermen and DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes unanimously voted Monday to postpone the creation of the board.

DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas said during the meeting city officials, local Fraternal Order of Police lodge members in DeKalb and state FOP labor council officials “reached an agreement on some new language and amendment” related to the potential creation of the board. He said the changes “do not substantially change” the previous outline of the citizens’ police review board.

“It does identify what those protection points are going forward for police officers, which are defined in state law,” Nicklas said. “And so there’s a dual language we’ll put into the contract, and some minor revisions that we’ll put into the ordinance that I presented to you on the police review board some weeks ago.”

Nicklas said city staff is expected to bring forward the proposed changes to the City Council during its Nov. 8 meeting. He declined to provide additional details about the changes after the meeting, saying he wanted all involved parties “on the same page” at the same time.

“That’s important for all of us,” Nicklas said.

The comments came after a man was fatally shot by a DeKalb police officer during a domestic violence call early Monday morning in the 100 block of Tilton Park Drive.

In a department statement, DeKalb police said the man had threatened himself, a woman and officers with a “samurai sword” weapon. The officer who fired the gun has been placed on administrative duty, meaning they will not do patrol or field work while the use of force incident is being investigated by the Illinois State Police.

Byrd said there were three officers involved, and one each fired a different weapon: a taser, a bean bag projectile – which fires bean bags for police to use as a “non-lethal” weapon – and a firearm.

It’s the second time this year that a DeKalb officer has been involved in a shooting and given desk duty while the state police investigates. No one was injured in the incident earlier this year, however.

On Aug. 8, a DeKalb police officer fired their gun at a man in the 900 block of Spiros Court. According to DeKalb County court records, the officer fired one shot at the man – but did not hit him – after he allegedly was seen pointing a handgun at others and didn’t comply with the officer’s order to put the weapon down. The officer involved in that incident also was placed on desk duty, pending an ISP investigation.

Nicklas said a matter to be discussed by the potential review board would not have to be prompted by a citizen’s complaint. He said it also could be at board members’ and the police chief’s request to discuss specific topics as they arise.

Nicklas reiterated the creation of a citizens’ police review board would be “uncharted for our community.” He said the idea is to have citizens better aware of police officers’ experiences and officers more aware of citizens’ expectations of local law enforcement.

“It should be a reciprocal learning experience.”

• Daily Chronicle editor Kelsey Rettke contributed to this report.