What: license plate readers (Flock/ALPR), shock gloves, and proposals for civilian oversight of policing.
Where it stands: A Council review order on Flock/ALPR (September 2) was reported 'complied with' by Public Safety, and the Police Chief's ALPR policy was received October 6. The GLOVE order to bar shock gloves was adopted in committee; a November 5 order calls for an outright ban ordinance with a funding bar.
Next: Council action on the November 5 ban order; pending orders for a Citizens Police Review Board and a Community Response Division sit in the Ordinance Committee.
Details
Public comment on September 2 was dominated by about ten speakers, several from outside Holyoke, against the cameras and shock gloves; rules were suspended to allow it.
Public comment was dominated by about ten speakers, several from outside Holyoke (rules were suspended to allow it), against Flock/ALPR license plate cameras and shock gloves; one comment concerned energy planning for school window and door projects. See Police Technology and Oversight.
New orders referred to Public Safety: a shock-glove ban order (Councilor Thalheimer and six others) and a Flock/ALPR review order (Thalheimer and eight others). See Police Technology and Oversight.
Police Chief Brian Keenan's ALPR (license plate recognition) policy and procedure was received. See Police Technology and Oversight.
Public Safety reports adopted: the Flock/ALPR review order 'has been complied with' (the police department provided data), and the shock-glove ban order was adopted; Councilor Thalheimer said the chief would not be getting shock gloves any time soon. See Police Technology and Oversight.
A Rivera order for a Community Response Division and Purcell orders for a Citizens Police Review Board and an Office of Tenants' Rights. See Police Technology and Oversight and Housing and Redevelopment.
Orders from Councilors Panitch and Thalheimer on problem-properties lists and reports (see Housing and Redevelopment) and a GLOVE-ban ordinance order (see Police Technology and Oversight); a tree-pit and stump plan (see Urban Forestry and Tree Planning).