Citizens to watch and document police actions

asheville | copwatch | feature Thursday November 15, 2007 00:48 by Jim Brown

FROM THE NEWSWIRE: Local residents using the NC Constitution, form their own Citizen’s Police Oversight Review Board

Asheville, NC…………. (14 Nov 2007) A private group of citizens in Asheville announced today the formation of The Citizen’s Police Oversight Review Board. Gene Hampton, spokesman for the group, said on the steps of city hall, that this citizen’s review board was established under the North Carolina Constitution, article 1 Section 3, which says “The people of this state have the inherent, sole, and exclusive right of regulating the internal government and police thereof.” Hampton said the group was formed to (assure) “Quality Police” and to provide “independent police oversight.” He said the public is welcome to join the group which will be training in “proper observation and documentation of police conduct.” The group has been meeting since Aug 24th to establish the cop watch program locally. A former Asheville Justice Watch group disbanded last year after failing to get the City Council to work with the NC Legislature to establish a Review Board for the Asheville Police. The new group formed after Jonas Phillips a resident of West Asheville was arrested for protesting on a highway over pass, and local residents met to talk about this incident and others. (Jonas court date is Dec 5th) The new group contends that they have the authority under the NC Constitution (above) to provide oversight. Hampton said that information gathered would be dispersed all the way to the NC Attorney General and or the US Dept of Justice if necessary.

Citizen’s Awareness Asheville contact info: phone (828)-398-4817 web: policeoversight.com
written by: JimBrown@Ashvl.com

Asheville Citizens Start COP WATCH