Community Police Board and IPD discuss handling of internal complaints, paper options and new board phones

The Community Police Board on May 28 received notice that the deputy chief had forwarded an internal complaint to the department and opened a procedural discussion about how internal complaints will be handled and when the board will conduct parallel reviews.

Board members said they have sought internal-complaint records historically and welcomed the deputy chief’s recent submission; the board asked the chief and deputy chief to meet with board members so the group can establish whether complaints will be handled internally by IPD, reviewed side-by-side with the board, or both. The board asked staff to place the process on a future agenda for more detailed discussion and to create a clear flowchart of how complaints reach the department and the board.

On a related administrative note, the board accepted two new mobile phones for investigative use that were described in the meeting as upgrades to previously circulated 'burn phones.' Members agreed to refer to them as “board phones” for future reference and discussed secure storage for idle devices. One board member volunteered to help develop operational recommendations for the devices’ use and custody.

Board members also confirmed that paper complaint forms and a PDF remain available and discussed placing printed complaint forms and informational cards in police lobbies. The board agreed to audit the lobby forms and the station’s paper folders to ensure the current version and an addendum describing what complainants can expect from the board are available to visitors.

The board voted to go into executive session to consider two complaints; the public-session procedural discussion remains open and will be followed by formal agenda items to craft a standing process for internal-complaint handling and for distributing complaint access information to the public.