Independent Police Review Division: Analysis and Background

Portland's "Independent" Police Review Division (IPR), created in 2001 as a professionally staffed office in the City Auditor's office to handle complaints about police misconduct, has theoretically had the power to conduct its own investigations since its inception. However, any full investigation done as a result of a complaint to IPR is handed over to the Portland Police Bureau's Internal Affairs division (generally less than 15% of all complaints). Since this perpetuates a system in which police continue to investigate other police, Portland Copwatch frequently puts the term "Independent" in quotes.

Affiliated with IPR is a 9-member volunteer Citizen Review Committee, which holds hearings on appeals of misconduct cases, produces reports recommending improvements to Bureau and IPR policies, and holds public forums.

Analysis of IPR Annual Reports

NEW!*    IPR 2010 Annual Report , Some Improvement, Leaves Much to Be Desired
  (7 pages, 6/7/11)
   IPR 2009 Annual Report , Fails to Highlight Major Issues
  (7 pages, 6/25/10)
   IPR 2007 Annual Report , Continues Using Misleading Statistics
  (7 pages, 10/10/08, posted 1/1/09)
   Third Annual Report (2004), shows system still needs work
  (8 pages, 8/3/05)
   Second Annual Report (2003), continues to ignore community concerns
  (2 pages, 8/31/04)
   First Annual Report (2002), shows shortcomings in the structure
   (9 pages, 6/19/03)

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Analysis of other IPR Reports and the IPR's structure

Analysis of the Independent Police Review Division (IPR)'s
Tort Claim report, which calls for lawsuits to be handled
like complaints (9/20/04)

Portland Copwatch participated in the
IPR Stakeholder Workgroup (May- September 2010)
evaluating changes to the Independent Police Review Division (IPR)
made in March, 2010. Read the Stakeholders Report
the Auditor's Response and Chief's Response
Read Portland Copwatch's analysis of the "Standard of Review" for the
Citizen Review Committee (4/8/11-.pdf)

Read about the 2008 Luna-Firebaugh Report on the IPR

• Download the January, 2008 report from the IPR's website,
• read our full analysis (2/12/08), watch the companion video.

Read an analysis of the Auditor's "Independent Police Review Division", showing that it acts to shield police from scrutiny (5/21/01)

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Background on the IPR

Read the Majority Report of the Mayor's PIIAC work group,
proposing a strong police review board (Oct. 30, 2000)

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