On February 25, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Judiciary Committee in support of HB 139 – Public Safety – Police Accountability – Deadline for Completion of Investigation with amendments.
This bill clarifies a timeline of nine months for when a law enforcement agency must complete a review of a misconduct complaint from the public.
After almost five years of implementation, it is clear minor changes to the investigation and filing timelines are necessary to ensure the public has effective means for civilian oversight and remuneration on behalf of residents. An independent report from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy recently confirmed that all statewide Police Accountability Boards, applicable law enforcement agencies, and Administrative Charging Committees (ACC) have raised concerns with the timeline for investigating and filing charges through the civilian process.
Currently, the investigation and subsequent review by the ACC must be completed within one year and one day. This means the investigation must be completed in a shorter period for the ACC to review and decide on the case. HB 139 wisely attempts to separate the investigation and review timelines for these types of complaints, but likely does not leave enough time for a thorough investigation by the agency.
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