Civilian review board accepts multiple Inspector General findings; discusses transparency, virtual meetings and online complaint tracking

The Columbus Civilian Review Board voted to accept the Department of Inspector General’s (DIG) findings on a large number of citizen complaints against Columbus Police Department (CPD) officers and held extended discussion about transparency and procedural issues, including online complaint tracking and the possibility of virtual committee meetings.

The board’s vote approved the DIG’s recommended dispositions for multiple case files — including sustained, unfounded and exonerated findings — and separately accepted a DIG-added sustained finding that officers failed to notify dispatch in one incident.

The actions matter because they finalize the board’s formal response to DIG investigations and set the record on whether officer conduct violated CPD policy. Board members also used the meeting to press DIG and staff about patterns in traffic stops, choices about searches under exigent circumstances, outreach and how to make case information more accessible to residents.

Board Member Nathan summarized the DIG reviews and moved that the board accept the subcommittee recommendation on a long list of case numbers, saying, “I move to accept the DIG’s findings with respect to case [list of case numbers].” The motion was seconded and approved by voice/hand-raise; the board recorded the motion as carried. The board later moved and carried acceptance of an additional DIG finding in case 1042 that officers failed to advise the channel…