Former U.S. Attorney Kenyen Brown’s report on the Mobile PD’s use of force (PDF)
UPDATE (6:30 p.m.): The City of Mobile has released Kenyen Brown’s “Use of Force Review and Report of City of Mobile Police Department.”
Read it here, in full:
UPDATE (5:36 p.m.): The City of Mobile is set to release a redacted version of former U.S. Attorney Kenyen Brown’s report within the hour, according to Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s office.
Tuesday’s city council meeting ended moments ago, but the report was not discussed.
Council members discussed Kenyen Brown’s report on the police department’s policy and procedures in a lengthy executive session, which caused the meeting to start at 3 p.m.
Some city leaders said that they favor removing Police Chief Paul Prine after he made several allegations against the city since he’s been placed on administrative leave.
Council members CJ Small and William Carroll have sponsored a resolution to investigate Prine’s claims.
Prine said that’s something he supports.
“There’s been a lot of, in my opinion, prejudicial statements, especially made within the pre-council meeting today,” he said. “But I’m confident that they see the support in the community, even from those that are not here today. That transparency, some of their statements made, I don’t think, were intentional on the behalf of the council because they’ve only heard one side.”
Stimpson urged the council Tuesday morning to terminate Prine as chief.
They did not vote Tuesday on Prine’s termination.
Stimpson’s office released this statement after the 3 p.m. meeting:
“Former U.S. Attorney [Kenyen] Brown and his team arrived at 8:00am to conduct meetings throughout the day to discuss their report with the Administration, City Council, MPD Command Staff, and the Media,” the statement said. “MPD staff at the executive level just received the report after lunch and have not had time to digest it, and most of the command staff which includes the Captains, have not even seen the report.
“Their input and feedback is paramount for us to take a truly introspective look at the department and address any concerns head on. In my discussions today, the command staff relayed that they would like the opportunity to have more time to review the report and produce comments.
“Due to having been interviewed with attorney/client privilege, there are statements that may compromise this privilege. In an effort to be fair, to not compromise this privilege, and at the request of the MPD Command Staff, I have elected to give Mr. Brown time to redact the report.
“Once completed, he will be available to discuss with the media.”
UPDATE (3 p.m.): Watch a live stream of the Mobile City Council’s 3 p.m. meeting below:
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MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) —The Mobile City Council discussed its relationship with suspended Police Chief Paul Prine during Tuesday morning’s pre-council meeting.
The council agenda previously released included Resolution 60-372 which was a “Resolution authorizing Council investigation into public allegations against the Administration made by Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine.”
During the council meeting later today, city leaders will consider investigating Chief Prine’s allegations against the city and city council. They will also consider Prine’s termination, News 5 has learned.
According to previous reporting on the resolution, Prine has alleged that the city has made improper attempts to control or run the police department, the city didn’t address his grievances, and that’s been silenced by city officials.
Council member William Carroll and President CJ Small have sponsored a resolution to investigate the validity of the allegations Prine has made against the city.
Many council members addressed the anticipated investigation.
Small said he is “very disappointed” about what is happening in the city.
He also questioned why Prine had not submitted his allegations to the Department of Justice if his allegations against the city were true.
Other council members also asked the same question, with four council members urging Prine to save time and taxpayer dollars by going to the DOJ or District Attorney’s Office.
“There are a set of people out there that don’t trust the government,” Small said. He urged for a third party — not the government — to investigate.
District 1 Councilman Cory Penn expressed his disappointment in the city’s current situation. He cited the number of times Prine attended city council meetings to protest the legislative body’s involvement in police policy.
“I’m confused, because I thought our job was to stay out of police policy,” Penn said. “Our city needs answers on both sides.”
If the resolution to investigate Prine’s allegations passes, the city council will appoint a council to investigate the matter. The findings of that investigation would be published within 90 days of the ordinance’s passing.
“I’m not being biased; I’m just going to be 100% truthful. At this point in time, there’s no pulling back on the chief,” District 2 Councilman William Carroll said in Tuesday’s pre-council meeting.
In addition, Carroll said his main concern is public trust, and due process is needed because Prine is still a police officer.
“I’m going to hope, that over the next week, we can find a (resolution) that’s going to work with everyone,” Carroll said.
One final offer for Prine would allow him to remain with the police department until the end of Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s term.
“I can assure you; we will sweep nothing under the rug,” Stimpson said. Stimpson met with high-ranking members of the MPD to explain everything to them.
Stimpson pleaded his case to the council and recommended they vote to terminate Prine.
Several council members said they would like to move forward with the termination during the council meeting and hold over the item to investigate allegations.
District 6 Councilman Josh Woods addressed the elephant in the room.
“I agree that the past 14 days have been rough,” Woods said. “It’s time for ‘he said, she said’ to quit.”
Mobile’s form of government is spelled out by a piece of mid-1980s legislation called the Zoghby Act. It stated that the police chief could be terminated with five votes from the city council and the mayor’s approval.
“The reason we’re asking the council to intervene is because, by statute, you have to act,” City Attorney Ricardo Woods said.
To veteran City Council members like District 7’s Gina Gregory, this type of action within the council is unheard of.
“In all the years I’ve been on the council, I’ve never seen us in this predicament,” Gregory said.
The Mobile City Council is expected to meet at 3 p.m.
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