If you have concerns about the police – or just curious about the new Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel– the panel is hosting a public forum in Annandale Nov. 16, 7-9 p.m., at the Heritage Human Services Center, 7611 Little River Turnpike.
The panel invites the public to learn about the complaint process, the roles of the review panel and the Independent Police Auditor, and meet panel members.
The Civilian Review Panel and Independent Police Auditor were created by the Board of Supervisors in December 2016 in response to recommendations by the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission.
Members of the public can speak at the forum but will not be permitted to comment on specific police complaints. Those wishing to speak can sign up on a first-come, first-served basis. Ten time slots of three minutes each are available for attendees to comment on issues related to the panel’s or auditor’s jurisdiction.
At the forum, the Civilian Review Panel will listen to and record comments for further investigation, but will not offer responses at that time. Written comments can also be submitted to IPAPoliceAuditor@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Complaints about the Fairfax County Police Department and specific actions by police officers can be submitted online. The same form is used for the independent auditor and review panel.
The Civilian Review Panel is charged with reviewing completed administrative investigations of public complaints about the abuse of authority or serious misconduct by a police officer. Those reviews could include public meetings with the complainant. It also can hold public meetings on law enforcement policies and practices.
Examples of the type of incidents that would be considered by the panel include the use of racial, ethnic, or sexual language by a law enforcement officer; harassment or discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion national origin, marital status, age, familial status, or disability; and reckless endangerment of a person in custody.
It’s the Independent Police Auditor, not the Civilian Review Panel, that is responsible for reviewing internal investigations by the FCPD on officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and use-of-force cases in which an individual is killed or seriously injured.
The panel invites the public to learn about the complaint process, the roles of the review panel and the Independent Police Auditor, and meet panel members.
The Civilian Review Panel and Independent Police Auditor were created by the Board of Supervisors in December 2016 in response to recommendations by the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission.
Members of the public can speak at the forum but will not be permitted to comment on specific police complaints. Those wishing to speak can sign up on a first-come, first-served basis. Ten time slots of three minutes each are available for attendees to comment on issues related to the panel’s or auditor’s jurisdiction.
At the forum, the Civilian Review Panel will listen to and record comments for further investigation, but will not offer responses at that time. Written comments can also be submitted to IPAPoliceAuditor@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Complaints about the Fairfax County Police Department and specific actions by police officers can be submitted online. The same form is used for the independent auditor and review panel.
The Civilian Review Panel is charged with reviewing completed administrative investigations of public complaints about the abuse of authority or serious misconduct by a police officer. Those reviews could include public meetings with the complainant. It also can hold public meetings on law enforcement policies and practices.
Examples of the type of incidents that would be considered by the panel include the use of racial, ethnic, or sexual language by a law enforcement officer; harassment or discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion national origin, marital status, age, familial status, or disability; and reckless endangerment of a person in custody.
It’s the Independent Police Auditor, not the Civilian Review Panel, that is responsible for reviewing internal investigations by the FCPD on officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and use-of-force cases in which an individual is killed or seriously injured.