Police Use Of Force Committee Created In Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Falls Church City Council has created a Use of Force Review Committee to examine the Falls Church Police Department's procedures and make recommendations for changes. Volunteers for the committee are being sought.

Council created the committee in June as activists call for racial justice and policing reforms in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody. Falls Church Mayor David Tarter had signed the Obama Foundation's Mayor’s Pledge calling on mayors, city councils, and police oversight bodies to address police use of force policies.

According to a city news release, the committee will "review the City of Falls Church Police Department and Sheriff’s Office use of force policies and procedures, engage the community to gain insight into their experiences, report the findings of the review and community experiences, and make recommendations for changes to use of force policies and procedures." The committee is expected eight times — every two weeks — from August to November and give a presentation to City Council in November.

The committee will be made up of seven Falls Church residents, as well as one representative each from the Falls Church Police Department command staff, the Police Department "rank and file" staff, the Falls Church Sheriff’s Office, the City’s Employee Advisory Council, a city government department director, and Falls Church Public Schools staff.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on July 5. The City Council Appointments Committee will recommend committee members from the applicants, and City Council is expected to appoint members on July 27.

Volunteers must be City of Falls Church residents. To apply, visit the city's list of vacancies online.