Civilian Oversight Board Established To Review Arlington Police

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County Board voted unanimously on an ordinance Wednesday that establishes a Community Oversight Board (COB) to serve as an independent and investigative entity overseeing the county's police department.

The seven-member board will be comprised of Arlington residents who represent the county's diverse demographic makeup. The board will also include two non-voting members with backgrounds in law enforcement. All COB members will be appointed by the county board.

Working with the Independent Policing Auditor, the COB will conduct separate and simultaneous investigations when necessary, review citizen complaints, review policies, and recommend or review police disciplinary actions. The COB will also have subpoena power.

“This ordinance takes important steps necessary to increase transparency, accountability, and trust among our police department, our community, and our residents and communities of color in particular,” County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said, in a release. “The Community Oversight Board and Independent Auditor will provide significant and new community oversight with the goal of improving policing in Arlington County."

COB originated as a recommendation from the Police Practices Group (PPG), which County Manager Mark Schwartz appointed last year in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder at the hands of Minneapolis police and the subsequent protests calling for racial justice and police reform.

The PPG delivered its report and recommendations to the county board in February. It also provided a first-year snapshot of its recommendations status. Since May, board members have been soliciting feedback from the public at community conversations about the PPG's recommendations.

The next step is for the board to solicit applications and make COB appointments throughout the fall. The goal is to have COB begin its work next spring.

One of the first things the new oversight entity will do is help the county manager recruit and select the Independent Policing Auditor. The county's FY 2022 adopted budget includes $125,000 to fund that position. That figure is expected to rise to approximately $200,000 in the FY 2023 budget.