MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Following the Morgantown City Council’s decision approving the creation of a Civilian Police Review and Advisory Board, the local Fraternal Order of Police chapter filed a lawsuit to stop the effort.
Teresa Toriseva, who represents the body said that the board would have the authority to deal with discipline, which is not allowed under state law.
“Our case is simply that this ordinance still allows too much power to this advisory board, which is all it really can be under state law,” she said.
Council members approved the board following input from the community and organizations like the NAACP and ACLU. The board’s authority was changed to prevent members from managing complaints, investigating reports and disciplining officers.
The citizen-run board will be responsible for reviewing internal police investigations and outreaching to the public. The city council will be responsible for appointing members.
Complaints against the police department can currently be filed in writing, by email, or by phone.
Toriseva noted the Morgantown Police Department’s efforts to create a better relationship with the community, including an LGBTQ liaison and prohibition on chokeholds being used in training exercises. Officers must also attend annual training seminars related to de-escalation strategies.
“They’re progressive, ahead of the rest of the nation as a department when you start looking at the policies they have in play,” she said. “That gets ignored because of this political charge to create citizens advisory review boards.”
Morgantown Mayor Ron Dulaney said that he is confident the advisory board has sound legal standing and it will be allowed to exist under current laws.