Womack’s secret committee
Embattled Police Chief Lisa Womack, stung by the criticism that exposed this charade, fired off a memo to Elgin City Manager Femi Folarin that said in part, “Over the past several weeks, there has been a great deal of media attention regarding the EPCAC. Most of what has been reported has been completely inaccurate and without merit.”
The memo said the committee would be advisory only, but failed to address why then it must meet in secret with a secret agenda. (source: Courier 6/3/07)
Both Baileys (the Herald’s and the Courier’s) have questioned the composition, the nature and purpose of this police committee.
The Elgin Police Citizen Advisory Committe (EPCAC), if you recall is supposed to advise the police chief on matters related to minorities in the community. Mike Bailey’s concern, expressed in a previous editorial, is that the committee even if it is purely advisory remains influential, because the police chief will be under pressure to go with what it recommends. Can you imagine a police chief who repeatedly ignores an advisory committee?
Mike Bailey is right about this. And if the committee will have that sort of influence, its proceedings ought to be public.
However, there’s an alternative. The alternative is to make sure that this committee has no power to issue resolutions. If the committee has no position on something, it’s not an issue if it is ignored. This way the chief can have her committee, the committee can be as secretive as it wants to be, and the rest of the city can relax.
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