The Committee for a Citizens Review Board has jumped through all the hoops to follow the ballot initiative law to the letter— and petitions are now being circulated by a small army of volunteers.
The question on the petition: "Shall an independent CRB with subpoena power be created and adequately funded/staffed to review/investigate complaints involving police officers, even if other inquiries are underway, and forward findings/recommendations to city management, the State Attorney, other law enforcement offices and/or Grand Juries? Four members shall be City Commission appointees, nominated by community organizations; three additional members shall be elected by the original four members from applications from the general public."
Committee organizers need 1400 signatures— 10 percent of the approximately 14,000 registered voters here— to put the question in front of the City Commission for approval without changes. If the Commission does not vote the proposal into law, it must put the question to referendum.
Organizers are shooting for the November election. If the majority of the voters vote "yes", the proposal becomes law.
The Key West Business Center, 422 Fleming Street, is the control point for the petitions. If you want to sign a petition, here is where you come. Only registered voters may sign. Bring your voters card. If you're not registered to vote and you want to sign a petition, drop by the Supervisor of Elections office at 500 Whitehead Street (at the corner of Southard) and register. They'll give you a temporary card. Then come and sign the petition.
Volunteers who want to help gather signatures may pick up petition packages at the Key West Business Center. Completed petition sheets will also be returned here.
Interest in forming a Citizens Review Board has swelled here in recent months in the wake of five police officers being arrested or forced to resign on charges ranging from battery to falsification of arrest records.
The Committee for a Citizens Review Board is co-chaired by Attorney Sam Kaufman and Peggy Ward-Grant a prominent activist in the black community.
"We hope to have all the necessary signatures in just a few weeks," Kaufman said. "In addition to the standard methods of signature gathering, we also hope to sponsor several community events, like ice cream socials and picnics, to enable us to gather hundreds of signatures at one time."
If you want to volunteer to help, come by the Key West Business Center and pick up a petition package or email crb@keywestjustice.com or fax 295-7947 or mail: 302 Southard Street, Suite 205, Key West FL 33040.
Contributions are also needed to help finance the committee's expenses. Make checks payable to Committee for a Citizens Review Board and mail to the address listed above.