City of Alexandria, Virginia
MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 17, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: AMERATU KAMARA, INVESTIGATIVE AND POLICY ANALYST, OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT POLICING AUDITOR
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of Ordinances for the Independent Policing Auditor and the Independent Community Policing Review Board. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of ordinances governing the Alexandria Independent Policing Auditor (AIPA) as well as the Independent Community Policing Review Board (ICPRB).
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council hold a public hearing, conduct a second reading and adopt the ordinances on final passage on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
BACKGROUND: The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Independent Policing Auditor was established by ordinance in April 2021 as a mechanism with which to provide oversight and accountability of the Alexandria Police Department (APD). The City of Alexandria’s first Independent Policing Auditor commenced in December 2022. This office serves as an independent proactive leader in law enforcement accountability of APD to the population it serves. The City Council also voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance establishing an Independent Community Policing Review Board, effective July 1, 2021.
DISCUSSION: In June 2024, the Auditor provided an update to City Council on the early implementation of policing oversight in Alexandria and recommended modifications to the enabling ordinances with the intent of clarifying the Board and Auditor’s roles and responsibilities, updating certain procedures and training/operational requirements.
To ensure a collaborative approach with the goal of building consensus from key stakeholders, the Auditor convened an ad hoc working group with representatives from the Board, Alexandria Police Department and city staff. The process also included community engagement and outreach. The ad hoc group met frequently beginning in July as it refined proposed ordinance changes. Weekly updates and monthly meetings ensured transparency and alignment among the ICPRB members.
Ultimately, the ad hoc work group built strong consensus around the ordinance updates. The primary themes in the proposed changes to the ordinances are:
• The Board would retain authority to review investigations conducted by APD.
• The Auditor’s primary role would be monitoring. However, the Auditor still has investigative authority should a complaint be received, referred to, or warrant an investigation by the Auditor.
• The Board would establish a formal inquiry intake process for community concerns about policing, and the Board can request investigations pursuant to identified patterns and practices of potential discrimination, bias and unequal treatment.
• Amendments to Board training, quorum, and meeting requirements and duties.
• New provisions outline the process of removal of board members for failure to comply with confidentiality, ethics, and professional conduct agreements.
Proposed changes to the Auditor’s ordinance reflect clarity around monitoring and direct the Auditor to engage with APD, predominantly marginalized and minority communities, and provide periodic reports to City Council, City Manager, the Board and APD. During the update process, the Auditor held community listening sessions, and the Board also accepted comments at its public meetings. The public engagement included a virtual community event on October 23, 2024, which garnered 22 attendees, followed by a special public ICPRB meeting on October 28, 2024.
On November 12, 2024, the proposed ordinances were presented to the City Council for the first reading. City Council requested additional community feedback, leading to the preparation of a comprehensive outreach plan by AIPA. From November 14 to December 28, 2024, the AIPA published an online feedback form on both the ICPRB and AIPA websites, supplemented by flyers and posters across the city. On December 12, 2024, AIPA staff attended a meeting with Tenants and Workers United, where paper surveys were distributed, resulting in full participation from attendees. Additionally, a public engagement event was held at the Charles Houston Recreation Center on December 16, 2024, where paper versions of the community feedback form as well as flyers with a scannable QR code were provided to attendees. Staff also conducted a presentation on the proposed ordinance changes.
FISCAL IMPACT: None, if Council adopts the current language regarding subpoena power. Should Council maintain subpoena power for the Auditor, there may be future fiscal impacts related to the possible conflict with the Office of the City Attorney which would necessitate the Auditor having to hire outside counsel.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance Cover
Attachment 2: Proposed Ordinance for the Independent Community Policing Review Board and Alexandria Independent Policing Auditor
Attachment 3: Summary Report of Community Feedback Survey Results
STAFF:
Ashley Kollmorgen, Management Analyst