LVMPD Civilian Review Board Process

							               LVMPD
               Civilian Review
               Board Process

 Executive Director
 Andrea Beckman

LVMPD 3-2006
LVMPD Citizen Review
Board
 Andrea Beckman, attorney and
  executive director for the LVMPD
  Citizen Review Board.
 Executive Director of the first and only
  review board in the state of Nevada
  since April of 2000.
 Ph (702) 455-6322
Goals and Objectives
 To familiarize the student with the
  Citizen Review Board and its
  interaction with the Internal Affairs
  section of the Professional Standards
  division
 To identify the rights of officers
 To provide suggestions on how to
  handle a complaint filed with the CRB
Who Are The Citizen Review
Board Members?
  The Citizen Review Board is composed
     of 25 members who are volunteer
  civilians appointed by City and County
                  officials
 Membership is composed of
   Retired law enforcement
   Educators
   Business people who are very involved in
    community activities and concerned with
    police/community relations
Mandatory Training For CRB
Members
   Members must attend classes at the
    Citizen’s Police Academy. Members
    undergo training that includes a shift
    ride along, jail tour, knowledge of
    officers’ Bill of Rights, investigative
    procedures of OIA, knowledge of
    Tasers® and training on use of force as
    well as familiarity with the LVMPD
    policy manual.
What Kind of Complaints Can CRB
Members Review?
   The CRB has jurisdiction to review all
    complaints filed within one year of
    alleged incidents involving Metro
    Police and Corrections Officers as to
    allegations by a citizen of officer
    misconduct, whether the conduct
    occurred on or off-duty.
   The CRB may not review conduct such
    as insubordination, tardiness, or
    conduct of a civilian employee of
    Metro.
Role and Purpose of the
Citizen Review Board
   CRB’s role is to review misconduct
    complaints filed by citizens and to review IA
    investigations to determine their
    thoroughness, objectivity and agreement
    with conclusions
   CRB’s purpose is to provide an independent
    panel to review complaints and
    investigations done by IA to instill public
    confidence in the integrity of the process
The CRB Process
 Complaints must be in writing and may
  not be made anonymously
 Complaints are reviewed by a panel of
  5 members who may
     Dismiss   the matter
     Refer it to mediation
     Refer the matter to IA for further
      investigation
The CRB Process
   A copy of the complaint is sent to the subject
    officer and to OIA
   The subject officer may respond in writing to
    the allegations of the complaint personally or
    through their union representative
   The Screening Panel must base their
    findings on the information provided in
    writing
Misconduct
 CRB reviews misconduct including
  allegations of lack of courtesy, use of
  force, biased based policing, search
  and seizure, unlawful arrest, etc……..
 CRB determines whether the
  misconduct violates an LVMPD policy
  or procedure
Rights of Officers When
Involved in a CRB Complaint
 NRS Chapter 289, is the statute
  creating the Citizen Review Board
 That same section of NRS 289 covers
  Nevada Peace Officers Bill of Rights
 All officers are covered by NRS 289 and
  afforded those rights when appearing
  before the CRB
Rights of Officers When
Involved in a CRB Complaint
   The Screening Panel hearing is closed to the
    public and neither the officer nor the
    complainant may appear
   Officers will be subpoenaed if a complaint is
    referred to a hearing panel
   Officers are entitled to representation in the
    event of an evidentiary hearing, and have all
    the constitutional safeguards including 5th
    amendment right to remain silent.
Rights of Officers When
Involved in a CRB Complaint
   Officers are protected from defamation
    actions when giving testimony regarding
    allegations made against them by a
    complainant.
   This protection is provided as an “absolute
    privilege” under law, for any testimony given
    in an executive, legislative or judicial
    proceeding.
   Proceedings are not tape recorded.
Findings and Disposition By
The CRB
The CRB is merely an advisory board
and makes recommendations regarding
findings of misconduct, policy changes
and training suggestions to the Sheriff.
It’s always up to him to determine if
those recommendations should be
followed.
Suggestions For Handling a
CRB Complaint
   Provide any pertinent information, including
    police reports, to the panel for their review
   Don’t let the panel have only one side of the
    story
   The director is not a voting member of the
    board and may be contacted by officers with
    questions