Laments are “a legitimate prayer,” Rev. Nora Boerner told the people gathered at Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City on Monday evening. “Anger is a legitimate prayer. Frustration, pain, anything that you are feeling and anything you believe, you can offer to God, Higher Being, Source, whatever that may be.”
ICPD
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Former Iowa City officer alleges discrimination in excessive force cases
A former Iowa City police officer is suing the city, alleging racial discrimination related to excessive-force complaints. Emilio M. Puente is seeking unspecified damages for alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. According to the lawsuit, the Iowa City Police Department hired Puente in April […]
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Dustin Liston sworn in as Iowa City police chief as ICPD reform efforts continue
Dustin Liston was sworn in as Iowa City’s chief of police on Monday morning at City Hall. The choice of Liston to lead the Iowa City Police Department by City Manager Geoff Fruin was unanimously approved by the Iowa City Council in October. Liston joins the ICPD as the city council considers changes to the […]
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The man who intentionally hit Iowa City protesters with his car in August avoids prison
After spending 76 days in the Johnson County Jail, an Iowa City man who attempted to take the law into his own hands this summer by driving into protesters has avoided prison time and, pending any further infractions, will have a clean record by 2024. The incident Just before 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 21, as […]
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ICPD issues warning about burglars posing as utility workers
The Iowa City Police Department is warning the public to beware of two individuals posing as utility workers as part of a scheme to enter people’s homes and steal items. The department says it has received multiple calls about the two men recently. “In one incident, suspects were described as two males driving a white […]
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ICPD explains what the ‘suspicious package’ was that caused City Hall to be evacuated
A “suspicious package” left at the Iowa City Police Department shortly before 3 p.m. on Wednesday caused City Hall to be evacuated and nearby streets to be closed down. More than two-and-a-half hours later, things reopened after the police determined the package posed no threat. The Iowa City Police Department did not explain on Wednesday […]
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Police interactions with youth, the homeless discussed at final Iowa City Council listening posts
Last week, the Iowa City Council concluded its series of listening posts to gather feedback from residents on issues related to community policing, including police interactions with young people and people experiencing homelessness. During Monday’s listening post at Chauncey Swan Park, representatives from Shelter House, CommUnity Crisis Services, United Action for Youth and the Jail […]
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City Council unanimously approves Dustin Liston as Iowa City’s new police chief
The Iowa City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to approve the appointment of Dustin Liston as chief of the Iowa City Police Department. Liston, an Iowa native who has served as police officer in El Paso, Texas, for 22 years, was the choice of City Manager Geoff Fruin after a search process that began […]
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‘We need to do better’: Iowa City Council holds listening post to discuss mental health and police reform
The Iowa City Council held the first of six scheduled listening posts to get public input regarding community policing reforms at Mercer Park on Wednesday evening. Approximately 50 community members attended the event, which focused on how situations involving mental health, crisis intervention and addiction should be handled. As part of the resolution passed on […]
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Iowa City Council is holding a listening session on community policing at Mercer Park
The Iowa City Council will hold the first of six listening post events on police reform at Mercer Park on Wednesday evening. Each of the six planned events will focus on an issue important to improving community policing in Iowa City. Wednesday’s listening post will focus on how to better handle situations involving mental health, […]
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Iowa City releases body-camera footage of law enforcement officers tear-gassing protesters on June 3
Three months after law enforcement officers used tear gas, pepper spray, flash-bang grenades and other munitions on protesters marching up Dubuque Street on June 3, Iowa City released two police body-camera videos from that night. The Iowa City Council had directed City Manager Geoff Fruin to release the footage at its Tuesday night meeting. During […]
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Iowa City man arrested for driving a car into protesters on Friday night
Late Tuesday afternoon, the Iowa City Police Department announced it had arrested a 45-year-old Iowa City resident for driving his car through a crowd of protesters gathered in the intersection of Gilbert and Burlington streets Friday night. Multiple people who had turned out for the march led by the Iowa Freedom Riders were struck by […]
