The National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) identifies, on their web page, 26 California agencies that employ some type of civilian oversight. The identified agencies include 20 cities, three counties, two universities and one other law enforcement agency.

Each agency may employ differing models of oversight, from a single person to multiple person boards. Additionally, there are differing roles, power and authority for each oversight model. The 2018 COPS Office report titled “Civilian Oversight of the Police in Major Cities” (attached for your review) identifies three common types of oversight models to include Investigative, Review and Auditor Models. The authority and power of each type varies and may include the ability of the body to:

1.      Investigate complaints independently (internal and external)

2.      Subpoena witnesses

3.      Subpoena records

4.      Impose discipline

5.      Recommend discipline

6.      Review discipline

7.      Hear citizen appeals

8.      Hear officer appeals

Currently, POST has 607 agencies in the POST program. The identified agencies represent 4.2% of POST participating agencies.

There is no current course provided by POST regarding training for civilian oversight of law enforcement agencies. Some agencies provide training to civilian oversight personnel that includes completion of a “citizen academy” presented by that agency. Currently, training available to law enforcement officers employed by POST participating agencies, but not citizens, includes applicable topics including internal affairs investigation, officer involved shootings, use of force, procedural justice and implicit bias, personnel skills, police vehicle pursuits, background investigation and traffic collision investigation.