Police review board reappoints two

 

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

 

 

The Key West Civilian Review Board (CRB) reappointed two of its top officials April 27, keeping intact a team that is currently investigating two separate cases of alleged excessive force used by police officers during an arrest.

 

 

Michael Behrend, CRB chairman, and Larry Beaver, the board’s executive director, were both unanimously reappointed. Behrend will begin serving a second four-year term on the volunteer/appointed board and Beaver’s one-year, $45,000 contract was extended for a second year.

 

Beaver, an Oklahoma police officer for almost two decades, said he had expected his contract to be extended. But he was surprised at the multiple votes of confidence he received during discussion of his contract. Prior to the vote, two citizens spoke during the public portion of the meeting saying how good Beaver was to work with.

 

 

“Each board member then spoke individually and said they were pleased I was there. I was really happy with that,” Beaver said.

 

 

Behrend has not indicated whether he wants to continue as the CRB chairman. Board members will vote to fill the chairman post at their June meeting.

 

 

The CRB was established in 2002, when residents voted to create the review board. The board’s mission is to review complaints against Key West police officers and it has the authority to request police reports and hear testimony. However, while it can make recommendations to local law enforcement agencies, it has no authority to enforce any disciplinary action.

 

 

The CRB is in the process of investigating two high-profile cases. One involves the death on Thanksgiving 2013 of Charles Eimers, who stopped breathing after police officers handcuffed him face down on South Beach. Eimers had led several officers on a slow chase around the island after he was stopped for a traffic violation.

 

 

Board members are also investigating a 2011 case involving Matthew Murphy, who has been in a coma since being stunned with a Taser gun, then falling and hitting his head on the pavement.

 

 

Police officers in both cases have been cleared of any excessive force or other wrongdoing by the Florida State Attorney’s Office. In the Eimers’ case, three other local and regional law enforcement agencies also cleared all officers involved.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]