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Citizens Complaint Authority reports backlog, cites delays in police records and legal holds
Summary
Interim Director Dina Brown told council the Citizens Complaint Authority (CCA) faces delays in closing some investigations because of late delivery of police records and legal holds; staff turnover and training needs also affect throughput.
Interim Director Dina Brown and senior administrator Bridal Upchurch reported to the Finance Committee on the Citizens Complaint Authority’s (CCA) caseload and performance. The CCA investigates serious police interventions and complaint‑based allegations of misconduct and provides independent review and policy recommendations.
Brown said the department has experienced investigator vacancies in recent years and that records delays from the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) and legal holds on evidence are the principal reasons many investigations remain open past the 90‑day target. “As of 02/24/25, 68.57% of the complaint investigations that have not been closed within 90 days are open secondary to not receiving records and or interviews from CPD,” Brown said.
Why it matters: Timely receipt of CPD records — particularly body‑worn camera footage and investigation files — is essential for CCA investigations. CCA staff reported that some records flows moved from an internal investigations routing to the records unit and that getting a steady, predictable delivery cadence remains a work item.
Metrics and staffing: CCA’s FY25 performance goals include closing 50% of investigations within 90 days and 80% within 1 year. Brown reported 69 investigations assigned in Q1 and 41 in Q2; closures during the quarters were four and two respectively. The office currently operates with 10 of 11 authorized FTEs: seven investigators, one division manager, two administrative staff and a permanent director vacancy (an interim director is in place).
Questions and follow up: Council members pressed for faster records delivery and more training for investigators; Brown said the department is reestablishing a legal internship program and scheduled two law interns from the University of Cincinnati to begin in May. Brown also reported a modest decline (about 5.4%) in the number of complaint investigations open beyond 90 days compared with a recent baseline and said most cases outside the 90‑day window fall into the 90–180 day range.
Ending: Council members and CCA staff agreed on the need for improved interagency cooperation on records delivery and on the value of investing in investigator training to reduce turnover and backlog.
