MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The city of Montgomery is considering whether to form a citizen review board to evaluate police after decades of discussion.
A proposal by Mayor Steven Reed would form a 13-member panel that would meet at least twice monthly to make recommendations on police policy, budget, community relations and discipline.
The board would have subpoena power and take testimony at hearings. Any recommendations about disciplining officers would go to the police chief and mayor.
Discussions about forming such a board have gone in Montgomery for decades without any action. The current proposal, which Reed presented to City Council members on Tuesday, came from discussions that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
“We want to do this in a transparent manner,” Reed said. “We’re trying to get to a point where we can improve and get to as close as perfect as we can. Where we are right now is a place where other cities can look to as an example.”
The council decided to have its public safety committee, made up of four council members, review the proposal.