Kalamazoo oversight board posts 2024 annual report; KDPS complaint totals rise and policy reviews continue

The Citizens Public Safety Review and Appeal Board presented its 2024 annual report and departmental updates at a meeting of the board, reporting that the Office of Professional Standards investigated 48 complaints that produced 91 allegations in 2024 and that several policy reviews and community outreach efforts are underway.

The board said the number of complaints in 2024 rose from 33 in 2023 but was slightly lower than 2022. Board members described continued oversight activity including subcommittee reviews of the board’s policies and KDPS policies on camera integration and unmanned aerial systems. Assistant Chief Victor Green and Inspector Mason provided departmental updates and answered questions from the board during the meeting.

The annual report, which the board approved to be posted on its website, stated that of the complaints investigated in 2024 roughly half were found to be unfounded. The top three categories of allegations remained “improper investigation or search,” “unprofessionalism or rudeness,” and “profiling and harassment.” Six complaints were appealed to the board after findings were issued by the chief of police.

Inspectors and board members described ongoing policy work. A subcommittee drafted recommended edits to the board’s own policies and procedures; those edits were discussed at two work sessions and approved in December for posting in 2025. Another subcommittee produced a preliminary report on KDPS Policy 339, the FUSIS camera integration and monitoring platform; the board is seeking KDPS response on that report. Members are also reviewing KDPS Policy 606 on unmanned aerial systems.

Assistant Chief Victor Green outlined upcoming community-facing events and changes in departmental operations. He announced a Police Report Card and community conversation scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Douglas Community Association, 1000 W. Patterson, with food beginning at 5:36 p.m., the program from 6 to 7 p.m., and a meet-and-greet afterward. He also said the Regional Citizens Police Academy would be held May 17 and described it as an all-day program involving local and regional law enforcement partners.

Green also told the board the department had increased the size of its Community Service Team from two officers to four to broaden daytime and evening coverage. “We have increased our size. They’re officially on board now — we went from 2 officers to 4, which we’re really excited about,” Green said.

Inspector Mason reviewed the January PCR (professional complaints review) report and clarified the status labels used in the online complaint tracker. “Open with no comments means it’s still at my desk,” Mason said. Mason explained that a case moves to “Chief’s review” after the investigative report is complete and is then awaiting the chief’s determination.

Vice Chair Luis Garcia, who reported on two recent ride-alongs, praised officers’ community interactions during nightshift patrols and described seeing officers exercise “zone pride” by focusing on relationship-building as well as enforcement. “They take pride in their area. They take pride in not even issuing tickets or arrests, but just being able to build relationships with the community,” Garcia said. The board also discussed the my90 post-contact survey process: the department provides a physical card with a QR code at traffic stops and sends text-survey links after some 911 responses.

The board agreed to post the approved annual report on its website and to continue follow-up on the KDPS responses to the subcommittee reports. The meeting included routine procedural actions — minutes were adopted by consent and the meeting was adjourned by voice vote — and there were no public commenters by phone or in person.

The board listed future meeting dates of March 11, 2025 and April 8, 2025 at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers. The full annual report and monthly PCR complaint updates are to be posted on the board’s website.