The Columbia Police Officers Association (CPOA) released a statement outlining what officers don't like about the proposed review board.

CPOA Presdient Donald Weaver said he's irked by the fact that neither the CPOA nor the Columbia Police Department were invited to provide input during the early stages of the planning process.

"We asked them for us to be able to participate in the process," Weaver said. "We got no response in April. We publicly proclaimed that we are in support of a civilian review board with certain conditions. One of those was that we be allowed to participate in the development process."

In addition, Weaver noted in Monday's statement that the 20 hours of training the members of the board would receive is not enough. National standards recommend a minimum of 30 hours of training, 20 hours of assigned reading, and 36 hours per year of ride-alongs.

The statement goes on to say, "There is no provision for background investigations for prospective CRB members. It is our position that we cannot have criminals, even those who may not have been caught, arrested, or prosecuted, sitting in judgment of the police."

According to Rex Campbell, the head of the committee in charge of developing the review board, his group is aware of, and listening to, the CPOA's advice.

"I take these as suggestions and all these will go back to the committee that's drafting them and they will examine each and every one of them," Campbell said.

But the major point the CPOA made is that members don't want any convicted felons to be eligible to serve on the board.

Reported by Noel Feldman