After years of discussion over how Urbana should use surveillance technology, officials have enacted a measure that implements transparency requirements and mandates city council approval for departments to adopt new tools like license plate readers or facial recognition software.
Chaundra Bishop, who represented northeast Urbana on the city council, said she is stepping down to to put more focus on her health. The city is expected to take applications from residents hoping to complete her term.
Zachery Mikalik has been with the Urbana Police Department for nearly 18 years,.
Williams will be sworn in on May 3. IPM’s Kimberly Schofield asked him what it means for him to be Urbana’s first Black mayor, how he hopes to bring the city together and why he plans to spend a lot of time with youth.
Adams describes herself as “a real systems person” who knows how to navigate city governance to get results.
Williams says he will bring “proven leadership” to city governance.
Officials in Urbana have tabled an ordinance that would require the city’s police department to seek approval before purchasing and using surveillance technology, including license plate readers, facial recognition software, drones, social media analytics software, mobile X-Rays and tools used to gain access to a mobile device.
This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in Champaign County between the Champaign-Urbana Civic Police Data Project of Invisible Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit public accountability journalism organization, and IPM News, which provides news about Illinois & in-depth reporting on Agriculture, Education, the Environment, Health, and Politics, powered by Illinois Public Media.
This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in Champaign County between the Champaign-Urbana Civic Police Data Project of the Invisible Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit public accountability journalism organization, and IPM Newsroom, which provides news about Illinois & in-depth reporting on Agriculture, Education, the Environment, Health, and Politics, powered by Illinois Public Media. This investigation was
URBANA — Urbana Police Chief Larry Boone asked the Urbana City Council Monday night to amend the budget to hire four additional police officers. The Council deferred the decision until a national consulting firm hired by the department releases a report with staffing recommendations. Boone requested $569,198 to fund four new positions, including a Deputy
URBANA — The Urbana Police Department hired a national consulting firm this year to evaluate how the department works, including how — and if — officers should handle certain types of calls for service. The firm, BerryDunn, has worked with police departments throughout the U.S. to evaluate their processes and offer recommendations. One consideration is
Chief Boone has been a law enforcement professional for 33 years and retired as Chief of Police in Norfolk, Virginia before finding his way to Urbana.
URBANA – More than a year since the retirement of Urbana’s police chief, the City Council unanimously appointed the only finalist, Larry Boone, as the new chief. The appointment came after months of various interviews and community meetings and the recommendation of Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin. Marlin said the city conducted online and paper surveys
Former Norfolk, VA police chief Larry Boone has been appointed the next police chief of Urbana.
URBANA – Racial justice and police reform have been on the minds of Americans across the nation. And they’re a major issue in the race for mayor of Urbana. The three candidates running for the post in the Feb. 23 Democratic primary in Urbana all say they would make change in the city’s police policies.