Civilian panel reviews investigations of police misconduct

The Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel offers another layer of oversight over controversial actions of the county’s police department. It doesn’t have the authority to investigate complaints, however, only to review investigations by the Fairfax County Police Department’s Bureau of Internal Affairs (BIA).

The independent police auditor can initiate investigations for certain issues, including the use of force, but has no authority to take any disciplinary actions.

Neither the auditor nor the panel have authority over the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office or any law enforcement agency other than the FCPD.

The roles of both groups are more about persuading the BIA and chief of police to ensure that investigations of improper conduct are done in a thorough, accurate, and impartial manner, the auditor and members of the civilian review panel explained at a community forum in Annandale Nov. 16.

The panel and auditor were established by the Board of Supervisors last December in response to the recommendations from the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission, which was created by the BoS following a police-involved shooting and other accusations of police misconduct.

The panel is “an independent body that will make sure when a complaint is made, it will be followed up on,” BoS Chair Sharon Bulova told the audience of about a dozen people. “This group doesn’t investigate complaints; it looks at whether complaints are done properly.”

Members of the panel include attorneys; advocates for immigrants, minorities, and the mentally ill; and people with experience in law enforcement. Read more here.