Title
Citizens Review Board Requirements
Action
Action:
Approve the Housing, Safety and Community Committee’s recommendation to revise the Citizens Review Board training requirement and process response times by adopting an ordinance amending Sections 16-56 and 16-62 of the City Code of Ordinances.
Body
Committee Chair:
Victoria Watlington, Housing, Safety and Community
Staff Resource(s):
Stephanie Kelly, City Clerk’s Office
Kirk McSwain, City Clerk’s Office
Explanation
§ The Charlotte City Council established the Citizens Review Board in 1997 to review appeals challenging Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) disciplinary decisions.
§ The Board reviews appeals filed by citizens concerning CMPD disciplinary decisions in five types of cases:
1. Unbecoming conduct by an officer;
2. Improper use of force by an officer;
3. Unauthorized arrest, search, seizure by an officer;
4. The discharge of a firearm by an officer that results in death or injury; and
5. Arbitrary profiling (added in 2015).
§ The Citizens Review Board has eleven members: three appointed by the Mayor, five appointed by City Council, and three appointed by the City Manager.
§ In order to qualify to serve, a person must be a registered voter and citizen of Mecklenburg County, have no conviction or nolo contendere plea to a felony or Class A misdemeanor or Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor within three years of nomination, execute a Confidentiality Agreement, and complete the CMPD Citizens’ Academy.
Proposed Changes
§ The proposed amendments will:
- Revise Section 16-56 to modify annual training requirement for Citizens Review Board members from eight hours to four hours; and
- Revise Section 16-62 to modify the required process response times from seven to 14 calendar days as follows:
a) The Chief of Police shall review the determination and findings of fact of the Citizens Review Board and any other information at his disposal. The Chief of Police shall take such action as he deems appropriate, consistent with state law and city policy. The Chief of Police will then, within 14 calendar days of the receipt of the Board's recommendations, report his decision to the City Manager.
b) The City Manager shall review the decision of the Chief of Police and, within 14 calendar days of the receipt of the decision of the chief of police, take such action as he deems appropriate, consistent with state law, and shall advise the Chief of Police of any intended action.
c) The City Manager shall notify all parties, including the Citizens Review Board, of the decision of the City Manager consistent with state law and city policy. The City Manager also shall advise the City Council of the outcome of the appeal. Notifications made under this subsection must be made within 14 calendar days of the date that the decision of the City Manager was initially communicated to the Chief of Police.
Committee Discussion
§ On August 4, 2025, during the Housing, Safety and Community (HSC) Committee meeting, the Citizens Review Board presented requests for three changes:
- Modify the annual training requirement from eight hours to four hours given that available training is largely repetitive;
- Allocate two scholarships for members of the board to attend the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Annual Conference; and
- Amend City Ordinance to give the Police Chief and City Manager more time to review and respond to CRB recommendations. The current response requirement is seven calendar days.
§ After discussion, at the September 2, 2025, HSC Committee meeting, the committee voted to recommend two of the three Citizens Review Board requests: modify the annual training requirement and amend City Ordinance to all for more response time from the Police Chief and City Manager (vote in favor: Council Members Victoria Watlington, LaWana Mayfield, Tiawana Brown, Reneé Johnson; Council Member Dimple Ajmera was absent)
Attachments
Attachment(s)
August 4, 2025, HSC Presentation
Ordinance