Just two weeks after being created, the Mount Pleasant city commission has voted to dismantle an advisory board that would review the complaint process against city police.
The initiative was brought before the commision in early November by the Mount Pleasant Diversity Group, among others. The groups argued for allowing citizen insight into the complaint process.
Detective Chuck Morrison is President of the Mount Pleasant Police Officers Association. He said police officers were not considered in the approval of the advisory board.
“In the past four years, a total of seven citizen complaints were filed against police officers in the Mount Pleasant police department. Seven! None of those revolved around discrimination.”
Kathy Ling is a city commissioner who was in support of the board. She said the commision doesn’t think city police are racist. Rather, the board intended to make sure there are clear complaint channels between citizens and police.
“I can’t make my decision based on what’s on social media I have to make my decision based on what’s in front of me and what I saw in front of me was a very limited proposal that was designed to enhance communication.”
Other commision members said they felt the advisory board was pushed through too quickly.
In lieu of the board, the commision voted to have the police department meet with community members on a regular basis.