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)

In November 2011, the Mayor and Chief put out a 44-page document
followed days later by the City Auditor's own 45-page document
responding to over 150 recommendations for changes to Bureau Policy
and the "Independent" Police Review Division (IPR).
Depsite the community waiting for nearly 2 years to strenghten the IPR's
Citizen Review Committee (CRC), Council voted in only 4 significant changes
to the ordinance on December 14, 2011, one of which weakened the CRC.

Read Portland Copwatch's eight-page analysis of the review board proposals (.pdf only- November 9)
and our four-page analysis of the Bureau policy issues (November 11).
For clarity, we created a document outlining the Auditor's proposed changes
and eleven other changes derived from the Stakeholders' recommendations for IPR (Nov. 30).

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