Founding Member of Urbana Police Review Board Blames Human Relations Officer Vacellia Clark for Failures

At the June 1st, 2020 Urbana City Council meeting, the Council and the public spent hours speaking about local police misconduct issues. Most commentary focused on the violent arrest of Urbana resident Aleyah Lewis in April, and on the broken status of the Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) which is…

Urbana Police Review Board Ignores Mandate for Six Years, Elizabeth Hannan Advises Council Take “No Action”

At the May 18th, 2020 Urbana City Council meeting, Bill Brown finally called for some governmental review of the Urbana Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) after more than a month of complaints from engaged residents. Criticisms of the CPRB have been nearly endless, but Brown focused in on the claim…

Bill Brown Calls for Review of Urbana Police Review Board Reporting Requirements

After concerned residents issued complaints and concerns about Urbana Police Department misconduct for the sixth City Council meeting in a row, Council members are finally show some movement, if only an inch. At the May 18th, 2020 Urbana City Council meeting , Council member Bill Brown called for a review…

U of I Professor Mikhail Lyubansky Takes the Reins at Urbana Civilian Police Review Board

After months of residents criticizing the failures of the Urbana Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB), and amidst a barrage of Urbana Police misconduct allegations following a violent arrest video which went viral on social media, a new Chair was quietly assigned to the CPRB. Previously chaired by Grace Mitchell, who…

Urbana Mayor Marlin to Choose New Police Review Board Member Amidst Storm of Misconduct Allegations

On May 5th, 2020, Mayor Diane Marlin announced that she will be accepting applications for a vacant seat on Urbana’s Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB). Grace Mitchell, the Chair of the CPRB, and a member of the group since its founding in 2007, has resigned her position after widespread criticism…

Champaign Police Review Board Chair: Urbana Police Gave “Slipshod Review” of Violent Arrest

“I witnessed a poor review of police conduct at last week’s City Council meeting” A publicly presented “review” by Urbana Police Chief Bryant Seraphin and Lt. Jason Norton at the April 27th, 2020 Urbana City Council meeting has begun to draw more public scrutiny than the violent arrest that prompted…

Urbana, IL Mayor Diane Marlin Denies Citizen Police Complaints During COVID-19 Emergency Order

The emergency order unanimously pass by Urbana City Council on March 16th 2020 continues to come under scrutiny by citizens. We’ve just received notice that since Mayor Diane Marlin has shut down all citizen access to the services offered at the Urbana City Building, citizens now cannot submit police or…

Urbana’s Preston James Attempts to Cover His Butt After Violating Civilian Police Review Board Ordinance

The follies and tribulations of the Urbana Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) process continue to add up at virtually every meeting or action of the board and related City staff. Communications from a citizen show that “Community Relations Specialist” Preston James failed to mail required documents to a complainant after…

A “Historic Moment”: Urbana Police Review Board Holds Third Hearing in 12 Years

On January 29, 2020, the Urbana Civilian Review Board (CPRB) held a special appeals hearing meeting for Complaint 2019-06. The appeals hearing is part of the civilian police complaint process – the mechanism by which civilians can file complaints concerning Urbana police conduct. The CPRB is tasked with hearing appeals…

Retired Urbana Police Officer Preston James Attempts to Conceal Efforts to Dilute Civilian Police Review Board

The September 25th, 2019 meeting of the Urbana Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) was unique in many ways. It was a “special meeting” called with the apparent goal of diluting the review powers of the CPRB. During this meeting, Urbana Police Lieutenant Richard H Surles attempted to persuade board members…

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