[Archived] Alexandria City Council Adopts Ordinance to Establish Independent Community Policing Review Board

For Immediate Release: April 17, 2021

At its public hearing on April 17, the Alexandria City Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance establishing the structure of a new Independent Community Policing Review Board, effectiveJuly 1, 2021, along with its authorizing state law. The ordinance grants this board the authority to receive concerns from the community regarding policing in Alexandria; review Alexandria Police Department investigation of certain incidents and complaints; conduct independent investigations of certain incidents and complaints of more serious incidents, as defined in the ordinance; and to consider and make recommendations on policing practices, policies and procedures. The ordinance also establishes a new City Council appointed position, the Independent Policing Auditor/Investigator, to staff this new review board

“Alexandrians are blessed to be served by a deeply professional and capable Police Department. Today’s adoption of this ordinance is an effort to enhance the trust between our Police Department and our community,” said Mayor Justin Wilson. “This review board will work to provide enhanced citizen oversight and policy input to address racial and social equity in community policing as part of our commitment to ensuring the protection of all Alexandrians.”

Based upon feedback received through various public engagement opportunities over the last 10 months, the adopted hybrid review board model contains components from existing nationwide models that have been tailored to meet the particular needs and characteristics of the Alexandria community. 

The ordinance follows adoption of Resolution 2950 in June 2020, which condemned police brutality and systemic racism; reaffirmed that Black Lives Matter; and stated Council’s intent to establish a community policing review board in our City. Recently adopted Virginia legislation states that a law enforcement civilian body may receive, investigate and issue findings on complaints from civilians regarding conduct of law enforcement officers and civilian employees of a law enforcement agency serving under local authority.

Visit alexandriava.gov/CityManager for more information. 

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.