Let’s go carefully on the notion of setting up a citizens advisory panel to monitor the activities of the Amarillo Police Department.

The issue came up this week in a public hearing. Some residents have complained that the police department has committed acts of “brutality,” mostly against minorities and poor residents.

http://www.newschannel10.com/story/29558538/police-brutality-claims-stem-oversight-committee-proposal

Let’s hear the examples, chapter and verse.

The allegations leveled at the police department contain some tough language. The very word “brutality” connotes something quite a bit more severe than an arresting officer twisting a suspects arm a bit too aggressively while slapping on the handcuffs.

I don’t object to a citizens panel being selected to review cases of alleged brutality when they occur. But you’ve got to be careful in selecting individuals to serve on this panel. They need to be as impartial and fair in their assessment as, say, someone selected for a trial jury. There cannot be any predisposition of bias either for or against law enforcement officers.

First things first. There needs to be a compelling need for such a panel to exist. So far, I haven’t heard it.

Randall County Criminal District Attorney James Farren — himself a former police officer — noted that the system already has a “checks and balances” provision built in. He said he’s prosecuted only four police officers during his more than two decades as district attorney. OK, fine. That might be the result of grand juries’ reluctance to indict officers.

This topic has been broached once again.

Let’s talk about it. Carefully and with great care.