Police review committee gives annual report, flags process and independence questions

Members of West Linn’s Police Review and Recommend Committee presented their second annual report to the City Council on Jan. 21, describing the complaints they reviewed, constraints on information sharing, and several process items the committee wants council and staff to consider.

Mary Carlson, speaking for the committee, said the panel reviewed six complaints during the year; two were closed without committee action because one complainant withdrew and another complainant later died. "Of the complaints we did review, nearly all circumstances [involved] discrimination," Carlson said, adding that the committee did not find those allegations supported in the reviewed cases. She said two complaints remain pending because of open criminal-justice processes.

Committee members and staff described the committee’s…