Boulder oversight panel asks city for evaluation of draft General Order 120 pilot

The Boulder Police Oversight Panel voted to back a set of questions and authorized its co-chairs to request a meeting with the city manager to press for clarity and, if possible, an evaluative review of the pilot implementation of General Order 120.

"We are concerned that the draft policy prevents the IPM and the panel from fulfilling our roles as outlined in the ordinance," co-chair Bill Veil Cruz said. Members framed that concern around recent changes to how complaints flow — notably the department's use of a new "performance and conduct" track that panel members say diverts cases away from the monitor and panel.

Panel members debated whether the changes are part of a pilot and whether the pilot has been evaluated. Chris Reynolds, counsel from the City Attorney's Office, told the group the panel can request the evaluation but cannot compel participation from departments; the panel's authority is to make formal requests and recommendations. Alan Ohashi and others urged the panel to be proactive and either begin an evaluation with the monitor and panel members or invite the police service unit (PSU) to join.

By motion, moved by Larry Wojcick and seconded by Selena, the panel "approved the questions" that co-chairs Bill Veil Cruz and Lizzie Friend had submitted and authorized those co-chairs to request a meeting with the city manager to discuss the responses. The motion passed on a voice/hand vote. The co-chairs said they will follow up and bring answers back to a future panel meeting for a decision on next steps.