In a significant move to enhance the transparency of the Philadelphia Police Department, the Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) has released its debut audit report on the department’s Internal Affairs Division (IAD). This report scrutinizes IAD's handling of Complaints Against Police (CAPs), a response to the pressing demand for consistent external reviews and greater public confidence in how police misconduct is investigated.
The CPOC’s Audit and Monitoring Unit has been charged with thoroughly analyzing completed IAD investigations. The report, made available on CPOC's website, is a step toward demystifying the process and, ideally, to instill a greater sense of justice in the community. "Complaint audits provide rich data that could lead to various outcomes, such as understanding which neighborhoods experience or report misconduct most frequently and what that could mean for Police Department operations," Janine Zajac, Director of the Auditing and Monitoring Unit, explained, as per the City of Philadelphia.
While acknowledging certain strengths in the IAD process, such as clear reporting and comprehensive witness interviews, the CPOC audit uncovered concerns regarding the omission of substantial allegations in final reports and the protracted nature of these investigations. These findings stem from an in-depth examination of a sample of 250 audits conducted by the CPOC.
The audit underlines the need for ongoing scrutiny to enhance the integrity of the PPD’s internal investigations. "While this first report is informative and provides insight into our work, we have not yet made specific recommendations for improvements to IAD’s investigative process," Tonya McClary, CPOC’s Executive Director, noted, as cited by the City of Philadelphia. Moreover, the CPOC is aiming to quickly expand its auditing capabilities by onboarding three new auditors, which will enable more comprehensive case reviews.
Another vital goal for the CPOC is cultivating a productive conversation with the PPD, through which both entities can collaboratively refine the Internal Affairs investigative process. This partnership is pivotal as the commission pursues its mission to ensure the fidelity and impartiality of police misconduct inquiries.
Furthering its commitment to transparency, the CPOC invites the public to its virtual town hall event slated for Tuesday, July 23, at 6 PM. The event, titled "Transparency & Accountability in Policing: Oversight of Police Complaints," will spill light on CPOC's complaint intake process and the significance of their audits.
