Lexington’s city council is expected to vote next week on a rule change related to police disciplinary information. Vice Mayor Steve Kay won preliminary approval Tuesday for changes pertaining to agreement of conformity in police cases.
That would include more details about what happened resulting in disciplinary action and reaffirming that council members not discuss a case with anyone prior to the matter coming to council.
Council Member Mark Swanson said he reviewed ten years of police disciplinary cases before council in which all decisions were passed by the governing body. Swanson said, quote, “That is not oversight, that is a rubber stamp.” “I’m not criticizing the police. I think they’re doing exactly what the system tells them to do. I’m criticizing council. This is a fundamental flaw on how we’re designed to do oversight of police,” said Swanson.
A number of council members took issue with the term ‘rubberstamp,’ as it relates to police disciplinary findings.
Council Member Richard Moloney said council members are given the complaint details before a final recommendation and can inquire about them before a vote. Council Member Amanda Mays Bledsoe added it’s in police officers’ best interest to hold each other accountable. “And I think the reason we have not had to have those public hearings is because our command staff does hold their team responsible. And those who have left the department realize that they maybe can’t handle that accountability, that transparency, the level of expectation, and on their own, leave,” said Mays Bledsoe.
A few council members asked about waiting for recommendations from the mayor’s Commission for Racial Justice and Equality before considering these changes. Kay said he’d like to see movement sooner, adding it could be a few months before action is taken regarding any recommendations. The commission report is expected the end of this month.?
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