Board to monitor Lima police

LIMA, Ohio - Two years after a police shooting called into question Lima police's treatment of African-Americans, a citizens review board is being assembled to examine allegations of racial profiling, excessive force, and other forms of misconduct in the justice system.

The as-yet-unamed group is to meet for the first time tomorrow to begin framing up how it will work.

Allen County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Reed, who headed a committee from which the review board emerged, said the board should be ready by fall to accept and investigate complaints.

"My hope is that at least the community will feel this board is something that's there, that's independent, that doesn't have an agenda one way or another, that's not to be a rubber stamp," Judge Reed said.

Concerns about police investigating themselves were among the issues raised after the Jan. 4, 2008, fatal shooting of Tarika Wilson, a 26-year-old mother of six.

Wilson and her 1-year-old son were shot by Sgt. Joseph Chavalia, a member of the Lima Police Department's SWAT team, during a drug raid.

An internal review by the Sheriff's Office from nearby Montgomery County concluded Sergeant Chavalia did not violate any departmental rules when he shot

Wilson and wounded her son.

Although Sergeant Chavalia was indicted by an Allen County grand jury on misdemeanor charges, he was acquitted by a jury on all counts. He is back to work for Lima police.

Jason Upthegrove, president of the NAACP's Lima chapter, said he was impressed by a presentation officials from Cincinnati made to the oversight committee led by Judge Reed.

Mr. Upthegrove said Cincinnati's citizen review board has experienced a gradual reduction in citizen complaints. He hopes to see that happen in Lima.

"I'm not concerned about how many officers get reprimands," he said. "I'm more concerned with how many law enforcement officers change their behavior based on being held to a higher standard. And I'm excited about the fact that the public is going to have an inside window into these investigations."

No elected officials will be on the review board, which consists of 13 community members appointed from a cross-section of organizations, including the bar association, clergy groups, neighborhood associations, Lima City Council, Allen County commissioners, the county's police chiefs association, and the NAACP.

Lima Police Chief Greg Garlock said he has not been directly involved with the committee's work but said he is supportive.

"I'm all for whatever we can do to bridge the gaps and answer the questions because I truly do feel confident that in the majority of cases, officers want to do their job right," he said.

Judge Reed said the review board will not have authority to enforce its recommendations on court offices or police departments, but he hopes those departments will heed its findings.

"The bottom line is, if there's not cooperation, there will be transparency - if [agencies] don't cooperate, the public will know and the agencies will be accountable for that," he said.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at:

jfeehan@theblade.com

or 419-724-6129.

40.74269 -84.10729

NAACP President Jason Upthegrove JETTA FRASER / THE BLADE Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Two years after a police shooting called into question Lima police's treatment of African-Americans, a citizens review board is being assembled to examine allegations of racial profiling, excessive force, and other forms of misconduct in the justice system.