Community Police Review Board (CPRB)
410 E Washington St
Iowa City, IA 52240
319-356-5043
Email

Options for filing a complaint about an Iowa City Police Officer

There are three kinds of complaint forms a person may file against an Iowa City Police Officer. A person may choose one or all three. Please note that each type of complaint has a different statute of limitations. The form you choose determines how your complaint will be handled.

1) Iowa City Police Department Complaint Form - No Statute of Limitations

If you use the Police Department form, Iowa City Police Department Policy will determine the level of investigation into your complaint.

You can choose to limit your involvement to a discussion between you and the officer's supervisor, or you can choose to participate in an internal investigation which means that you, the officer, and witnesses will be interviewed by Police Department investigators and a written report on the department’s findings and conclusions will be prepared.

Generally, investigations and any officer discipline that may result from them are considered nonpublic, confidential records. By law, the Police Chief decides if and how an officer will be disciplined.

It usually takes from one week to three months to receive a final response from the department. When you use the Police Department complaint form, the Community Police Review Board will not review your complaint, unless you also file a CPRB complaint form. If you have questions, contact the Police Department (356-5275).

2) Community Police Review Board (CPRB) Complaint Form

**Filing Deadline:** Within 180 Days of the Alleged Misconduct 

If you use the CPRB form, the Police Department will conduct an internal investigation. A Supervisor or Investigator from the Police Department will contact you as part of the investigation process. Your participation is critical to the review process.

You will be notified of the outcome of the CPRB’s review. The CPRB has no authority to discipline police officers. The CPRB handles its work with complaints confidentially and generally does not include information identifying you or the officer in its reports. However, if a complaint is upheld, the CPRB does have the right to include the names of complainants and officers in its reports under certain conditions.

For more information about the CPRB, consult the city ordinance that established it (Iowa City Code Chapter 8-8). The City Code is available on-line on this website or for review in the City Clerk’s office at the City Hall, 410 E. Washington Street, or contact the Community Police Review Board (356-5041).

3) Office of Equity and Human Rights Complaint Form

**Filing Deadline:** Within 300 Days After the Alleged Discriminatory or Unfair Practice Occurs

If you believe you have experienced discrimination based on age, race, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, creed, sex, color, religion, gender identity, or retaliation, you can file a complaint with the Office of Equity and Human Rights.

Complaint forms are available upon request by calling 319-356-5022 or a complaint can be filed online. For more information about filing a complaint, please call 356-5022 or email humanrights@iowa-city.org.

**Important Note:** Complaints regarding discrimination against the City of Iowa City, including the Iowa City Police Department, are forwarded to an external agency for investigation to maintain transparency and avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

File a Complaint with the CPRB

Please fill out the online web form or complete the printable complaint form and mail to: Community Police Review Board (CPRB), 410 E. Washington St, Iowa City, IA 52240.

Complaint Forms Are Available From:

• City Clerk/City Hall
• Police Department/City Hall
• Iowa City Public Library
• Broadway St Neighborhood Center
• Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center
• Robert A Lee Recreation Center
• Mercer Aquatic Center
• City of Iowa City Website

The Complaint Review Process

All complaints to the Board must be filed with the City Clerk within one hundred eighty (180) days of the alleged misconduct.

Any person with personal knowledge of the alleged police misconduct may file a CPRB complaint with the board. In order to have "personal knowledge", the complainant must have been directly involved in the incident or witnessed the incident. A person who observes an incident solely on social media, television, or other media outlets does not have the requisite "personal knowledge" needed to authorize such person to file a complaint. If the person with personal knowledge is underage or otherwise unable to complete a CPRB complaint form, the CPRB complaint maybe filed by such person's designated representative.

Those who may file a complaint are:

• an adult;
• a minor with an adult’s assistance;
• an adult filing on behalf of a minor;
• or a vulnerable adult with assistance from a family member, friend, clergy, or a guardian or other similar court appointed representative.

A support person may accompany the complainant through the complaint review process.

The CPRB staff receives a completed complaint form and immediately forwards a copy to the Police Chief for an internal affairs investigation; a copy will also be sent to the Equity Director. A Supervisor or Investigator from the Police Department will contact the complainant as part of the investigation. (If the complaint is about the Chief, the City Manager will conduct the investigation.) The Chief completes the investigation within 90 days and issues a detailed written report that concludes with a finding that the complaint is "sustained" or "not sustained." The CPRB will grant extensions from this deadline for good cause shown.

Copies of the Chief’s report are sent to the CPRB and to the complainant, the police officers, and the City Manager.

The complainant shall have 21 days to respond to the Police Chief's report and the Police Chief shall have 10 days to respond to complainant's response.

The completed complaint form will be forwarded to CPRB for their review.

The CPRB reviews the Chief's report and may conduct additional investigation or request that the Chief do so. Within 90 days of receipt of the Chief’s report, the Board issues a written report that contains detailed findings of fact and a conclusion that explains why and the extent to which the complaint should be "sustained" or "not sustained." The City Council may grant extensions, upon written request.

Copies of the CPRB’s public report on the Chief's investigation are sent to the complainant, the police officers, the City Manager, Equity Director and the City Council.

The CPRB may recommend that the Chief reverse his findings if it determines that they are unsupported by substantial evidence; are unreasonable, arbitrary, or capricious; or are contrary to Police Department policy or practice, or any federal, state, or local law.

Community Police Review Board (CPRB) Complaint Process Timeline

1. Complaint form filed with CPRB within 180 days of the alleged misconduct by an Iowa City Police Officer.
2. Complaint form is forwarded to the Equity Director – And ICPD for investigation; an Acknowledgement letter is sent to the Complainant.
3. Within 90 days ICPD completes a written confidential report and forwards to the Complainant, officers, City Manager, and CPRB for review.
4. The complainant shall have 21 days to respond to the Police Chief's report and the Police Chief shall have 10 days to respond to complainant's response.
5. The Complaint form is forwarded to CPRB 
6. CPRB reviews the Chief’s report, sets the level or review, and conducts an additional investigation if necessary.
7. Within 90 days the CPRB issues a public written report with the findings to the complainant, Police Chief, officers, City Manager, Equity Director and the City Council.

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer