THE CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW BOARD AND DEPARTMENT OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE DIVISION OF POLICE

Columbus City Codes tit. 2, ch. 235

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 235.01 Civilian Police Review Board - Membership Terms.

235.01 - Civilian Police Review Board - Membership Terms. (A) The Civilian Police Review Board shall consist of eleven (11) citizen members appointed by the mayor with the approval of city council. In making an appointment, the mayor and council, in addition to assuring that the Board is representative of the diverse Columbus community as provided for in Sec. 215, may consider the following factors in evaluating applicants: residency in and/or connection to the City of Columbus and relevant knowledge and/or experience in a similar role. The members of the Board shall serve without compensation for a term of three (3) years, except that the terms of the initial board members shall be six (6) members for two (2) years, and five (5) members for three (3) years. Members may serve more than one term but may not serve more than two terms consecutively. Members shall hold their seat on the Board until their successors are chosen, qualified, and installed. The mayor shall appoint one of the Board members to serve as chairperson whose role it will be to preside over meetings of the Board. (B) Prior to being presented to city council for approval, all potential board member appointees shall execute a signed release and submit to a full background check, including a criminal background check, as a condition of their appointment. Notwithstanding these requirements, the initial board members shall, upon appointment but prior to beginning their duties, be subject to a request for release and submission to a full background check, including a criminal background check, as a condition of continued appointment to the Board. (C) The initial Board, in consultation with the City Attorney or designee, shall develop Standards of Professional Conduct, policies pertaining to Board membership, and a comprehensive training program for Board appointees. Upon appointment but prior to beginning their duties, each newly appointed member of the Board shall be required to complete this basic course of training, including instruction in police tactics, ride-alongs with patrol officers, seminars on relevant constitutional and criminal law, instruction in de-escalation techniques, and training in diversity, inclusion, cultural competency, and implicit bias. Members of the initial Board shall be required to attend and complete the comprehensive training program, once established, during their initial term of office or if not practicable, upon any re-appointment to the Board. (D) The Board shall develop rules for recommending to the mayor the removal of one of its members for cause. At the recommendation of the board, the mayor, with the concurrence of Council, may remove any member so appointed, for inefficiency, neglect of duty (including failure to attend meetings or complete mandatory training), or malfeasance in office, having first given to such member a copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard in person or by defense counsel, before the city council. Such removal shall be final. (Ord. No. 1169-2021, § 1, 7-12-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 235.02 Civilian Police Review Board - Organization.

235.02 - Civilian Police Review Board - Organization. (A) Within sixty (60) days after the effective date of this ordinance, the Board shall meet and organize under the leadership of an appointed chairperson and elect a vice-chairperson. Following the completion of the first term of the appointed chairperson of the board, the board shall annually elect from its membership a chairperson who shall preside over its meetings and a vice-chairperson who shall serve in the absence of the chairperson. (B) The Board shall adopt by-laws to govern the conduct of its business which shall include provisions for regular or special meetings, voting procedures, amendment of its by-laws or rules, minutes of meetings, the formation of committees, or any other procedural matters the Board deems necessary to regulate the conduct of its business. Where the by-laws are silent, questions of parliamentary procedure shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order. (C) The Board has the authority to promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with C.C.C. Section 121.05, to carry out its duties as provided for in the Charter and in this chapter. The Board and the Inspector General shall develop the procedures necessary for the Board to carry out its duties, including the procedures to convene hearings, to review investigations, to coordinate with the Division of Police, and any other operating procedures. (D) The Board shall meet at such times as may be necessary to carry out its business, provided that at least one meeting shall be conducted each quarter in a calendar year. All meetings of the Board shall be public meetings in accordance with the general laws of the state of Ohio pertaining to the requirements of open meetings of public bodies. Meeting minutes and records shall be maintained in accordance with the general laws of the state of Ohio pertaining to public records. (Ord. No. 1169-2021, § 1, 7-12-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 235.03 Civilian Police Review Board - Duties.

235.03 - Civilian Police Review Board - Duties. (A) The duties of the Civilian Police Review Board shall be as follows: (1) To receive, initiate, review, and, if appropriate, to direct the Inspector General to investigate and prepare a report for review, complaints alleging misconduct and/or excessive use of force by sworn personnel of the Columbus Division of Police; (2) To direct the Inspector General to review and provide a report for review, investigations conducted by the Columbus Division of Police Internal Affairs Bureau for fairness and accuracy and, if warranted, recommend changes to Division policies and procedures based upon said reviews; (3) To make recommendations on resolutions of complaints, if warranted, to the Chief of Police and/or the Director of Public Safety regarding matters reviewed by the Board; (4) To make recommendations on discipline, if warranted, to the Chief of Police and/or Director of Public Safety regarding the outcome of all investigations reviewed by the Board; (5) To evaluate and identify complaint patterns and make recommendations to reduce complaints based upon said evaluation; (6) To review and make recommendations regarding Division of Police policies and procedures; (7) To perform such other duties not inconsistent with the provisions of the Charter, this chapter, or as may be required of the Board by ordinance. (B) The Civilian Police Review Board shall report annually to city council on the disposition of complaints, the outcome of investigations reviewed by the Board, as well as the Board's actions and recommendations which may include division operations, discipline recommendations, trends and patterns, officer-involved shootings, and any issues pertaining to instances of racial profiling or bias. (Ord. No. 1169-2021, § 1, 7-12-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 235.04 Department of the Inspector General - Inspector General Term.

235.04 - Department of the Inspector General - Inspector General Term. (A) The Inspector General shall serve as the Director of the Department of the Inspector General for a five (5) year term in the unclassified service. The Inspector General may be re-appointed for not more than one (1) additional term of five (5) years. The Civilian Police Review Board, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full Board and with the concurrence of the mayor, may at any time remove the Inspector General so appointed, for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, having first given to the Inspector General a copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard in person or by defense counsel, before the Board. Such removal shall be final. (B) The Inspector General shall have professional experience in the investigation of allegations of misconduct and shall conduct the duties of the Inspector General in a fair and impartial manner. Prior to being presented to the mayor for confirmation, a candidate for the position of Inspector General shall execute a signed release and submit to a full background check, including a criminal background check, as a condition of appointment. (Ord. No. 1169-2021, § 1, 7-12-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 235.05 Department of the Inspector General - Duties.

235.05 - Department of the Inspector General - Duties. (A) The duties of the Department of the Inspector General shall be: (1) To receive all complaints of misconduct and/or excessive use of force by sworn personnel in the Columbus Division of Police filed by citizens or initiated by the Civilian Police Review Board for review in order to determine and forward to the appropriate investigatory entity; (2) If so directed by the Civilian Police Review Board, to investigate complaints of misconduct and/or excessive use of force by sworn personnel in the Columbus Division of Police and to prepare reports documenting findings and recommendations for review by the Civilian Police Review Board. (3) To review and provide a report to the Civilian Police Review Board on investigations conducted by the Columbus Division of Police Internal Affairs Bureau for fairness and accuracy; (4) To make recommendations on resolutions of complaints and, if warranted, suggested discipline on matters reviewed or investigated by the Department to the Civilian Police Review Board; (5) To review and make recommendations to the Civilian Police Review Board regarding Division of Police policies and procedures; (6) To perform such other duties not inconsistent with the provisions of the Charter, this chapter, or as may be required by vote of the Civilian Police Review Board or by ordinance of council. (Ord. No. 1169-2021, § 1, 7-12-2021)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2ADCO_CH235THCIPOREBODEINGEDIPOFetched: 10/27/2026