PSRB: city review board reports high policy compliance in uses-of-force reviews

The Professional Standards Review Board told the West Valley City Council on Feb. 10 that its yearlong review of police uses of force and internal affairs files shows active oversight and generally strong compliance with department policy.

Eric Anderson, speaking for the PSRB, said the volunteer board reviews every reported use of force and every internal affairs allegation that reaches the board. He summarized quarterly findings that included mixed results on internal-affairs allegations (for example, one quarter showed four allegations with two sustained and two unfounded), and noted the board’s role is advisory — it recommends discipline and provides written feedback to officers and supervisors.

“And they actually read probably dozens of files each month before they meet,” Anderson said, summarizing the board’s workload and concluding that the board’s oversight “is active and effective.” He told council the PSRB had reviewed hundreds of incidents over the year and provides written critiques and rewrites to officers’ reports where appropriate to improve documentation.

Council members asked for trend data and clarification about taser use. Staff said they would include year-over-year figures in the next quarterly presentation so trends are easier to track and confirm whether the two taser displays noted in one quarter were the only occurrences that year or whether recording/reporting differences may explain the discrepancy.

The presentation closed with council members thanking the PSRB for its work and a staff commitment to provide clearer, comparative data in future reports.