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It has been nearly a year since demonstrators called on Iowa City to restructure a police department that they believe has historically been used to reinforce a white power structure.
On Tuesday, that discussion dominated two meetings of city officials, showing again that there is no clear agreement about what police reform will look like.
The issue at one meeting was whether it would be better to give police officers some discretion over when they carry their handguns on a call: for example, into a school building. Some City Council members and those who serve on a citizen-led police board wondered if armed officers sometimes bring tension into otherwise-benign situations.
Iowa City man at center of walking while Black case sues Iowa City, Johnson County kwwl.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kwwl.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
IOWA CITY With an eye toward diverting as many crisis calls from officers as possible, forging partnerships in the community and creating new public safety roles, Iowa City Manager Geoff Fruin outlined a preliminary plan Tuesday for restructuring the Iowa City Police Department.
Responding to demands of Black Lives Matter protesters, the Iowa City Council resolved six months ago to among over a dozen other items call for a preliminary plan for restructuring the department with a community policing model in mind.
During the council’s work session Tuesday evening, Fruin walked the council through the highlights of his 246-page plan and 36 recommendations. He said his report and recommendations were the result of a seven-month deep dive into the department’s operations, policies and procedures.