BETHEL: THIS MAY BE ONE OF THOSE ISSUES WHERE A REFERENDUM IS NEEDED TO LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE
Key West City Commissioner Harry Bethel said this week that he has not made up his mind about whether the town needs a Police Civilian Review Board— "but if we're going to have one, it should have some teeth".
He said the Commission is awaiting a recommendation from City Manager Julio Avael— "but I don't want to see a recommendation for a powerless, feel-good advisory committee," Bethel said.
"In fact," he added, "this may be an issue that should go to referendum, to let the people decide."
So far, Avael has conducted two meetings to solicit input, but Bethel and others have been critical that those who attended and were allowed to speak were hand-picked by Avael. Both meetings were dominated by law enforcement officers, or others close to law enforcement, who are opposed to the creation of a Civilian Review Board— and said so.
Review Board critics were allowed to speak before opening up the floor to others at the meetings.
"I wanted the meetings to include a cross-section of the public and not just attorneys and law enforcement people," Bethel said.