(A) There is hereby established the City Police Complaint Advisory Committee. Said committee shall consist of five residents of the city, of which three shall be appointed by Common Council and two shall be appointed by the Mayor. So that terms are staggered, three of the initial terms shall expire December 31, 2001 (two of the Council appointments and one of the Mayor appointments) and two shall expire December 31, 2002, (one of the Council appointments and one of the Mayor appointments). Upon expiration of the initial terms, subsequent appointments shall be for a term of two calendar years. Members may be re-appointed at the discretion of the appointing authority.
(B) The City Police Complaint Advisory Committee shall meet upon notification by the Police Chief of any pending complaint, or as needed. To the extent any agenda item shall deal with any employee’s alleged misconduct, or other information for which an executive session may be held pursuant to I.C. 5-14-1.5, the meetings may be held in executive session.
(C) Members of the Committee shall elect from their membership a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary who shall be elected at the first meeting of each calendar year, and shall serve until the end of said calendar year.
(D) The City Police Complaint Advisory Committee shall not investigate the merits or lack thereof of any incidents leading to a complaint, but shall review the process followed in taking and investigating any original complaint to ensure that proper procedures were followed and that both the complainant and any police officer involved were treated fairly. After completing said review, the Committee shall advise the Police Chief whether proper and consistent procedures were followed and whether all involved were, in the opinion of the Committee, treated fairly.
(E) The City Police Complaint Advisory Committee shall also provide ongoing feedback, including suggestions for improvement, with respect to the complaint process. The Committee shall consider any input received from citizens, law enforcement officials and other sources.
(F) In order to preserve the integrity of the process and protect those involved, the names of any complainant filing a complaint and any accused police officer shall be deemed part of an investigation record; part of an officer’s personnel file; and/or part of a record specifically prepared for discussion in an executive session, and therefore confidential pursuant to I.C. 5-14-3-4, which information shall then be kept in confidence by the members of the Committee.
(Prior Code, § 31.60) (Ord. 66-2000, passed - -)