Vallejo has many city commissions but the MOST important commission it still doesn’t have is an independent police citizens review board.  

We need an Independent Police Citizens Review Board.

We the undersigned ask the Vallejo City Council to create an Independent Citizens Review Board for law enforcement; our community has been asking for this kind of citizen review board for more than a decade.  The time is now. 

This Independent Citizens Review Board board would always meet to review an officer-involved shooting.

This board should be similar to the Planning Commission or the Ethics Board, with members appointed by the city council after a rigorous application process.  This board should be something that lasts, a board that will be on the books, an ordinance, an official part of what we do.  

Civilian oversight is more equitable policing because it is a process by which the non-police community can regularly provide input into police operations.

A Pew study found that roughly 40% fewer African Americans than whites believe that the police use an appropriate amount of force, treat racial and ethnic groups equally, or hold officers accountable.  This racial gap makes minorities less confident in the police and less willing to cooperate with them. By bolstering confidence,  citizen oversight boards with members of the community could increase and improve public cooperation and make communities safer for everyone.

There are nearly 150 oversight boards or civilian–police oversight agencies operating in the United States.  Although these institutions differ, generally the model that seems the most responsive to the community is the investigator focused model.  

Investigator-focused models enlist non-police civilian investigators to look into complaints against officers. These agencies tend to have access to individuals with specialized training.

The key to success, is independence from law enforcement – which is necessary to ensure unbiased reviews of cases and for the board to have the authority to either discipline officers or recommend the discipline of officers that department leaders enforce. 

Studies suggest that the investigator-focused model is best equipped to provide a community with police accountability, because it has the expertise, authority, and independence necessary to conduct credible and thorough investigations.  

Civilian oversight boards have been shown to reduce excessive police force,  help to hold police accountable and reduce instances of the unnecessary use of force.

Effective oversight boards essentially promise enhanced public safety and the renewing of public trust in the police.  

Vallejo needs an independent police review board and it needs it now.  

The time is right.