Alexandria council halts police-oversight ordinance, sends revisions to subcommittee after heated public hearing

Alexandria City Council voted unanimously to disapprove proposed revisions to the city's police oversight ordinances after a lengthy staff presentation and a public hearing that drew more than a dozen speakers on both sides of the issue.

The vote came after a staff presentation from Amaratou, acting director of the Alexandria Independent Policing Auditor (AIPA), and Megan Roberts from the city attorney's office, which outlined proposed clarifications to the auditor and review-board ordinances and a compromise on subpoena language. The presentation traced the oversight effort from 2020's council discussions through the ad hoc committee that met weekly in mid-2024 to resolve implementation problems.

Councilmembers and residents said the central disputes were whether the Independent Community Policing Review Board (ICPRB) should retain the ability to initiate mandatory investigations and whether subpoena power should remain available as a backstop. The staff-recommended compromise would have the city manager compel APD cooperation…