Why a civilian oversight board is unnecessary for Fort Worth police accountability

Our city government’s first priority is public safety. Policing is a dangerous and difficult job for which we owe our officers much gratitude and honor.

All organizations have accountability systems that detect and deal with policy violations and unethical activity. Since we deputize officers to detain citizens and use lethal force when necessary, police oversight is arguably the most critical of all.

Traditionally, police departments have overseen officer conduct via internal affairs divisions. Because internal affairs investigators can face pressure to protect fellow sworn officers, many cities form additional police accountability groups that report to the city manager, rather than to the police chief.

Following a year that saw nine officer-involved shootings of Black men, in 2020 Fort Worth created the Office of the Police Oversight Monitor (OPOM). Staffed by experts in police oversight, the OPOM processes citizen complaints against police officers, reviews use of force events, and assists the police chief with the evaluation and adjustment of department policies. An important role of the OPOM is to communicate their activities and findings to the public.

The creation of the OPOM and hiring Kim Neal to lead it was a good step for Fort Worth. Neal has been an active participant in the oversight process working collaboratively with Police Chief Neil Noakes. She aided in rewriting department policies regarding turning on and off body cameras, de-escalation, and timely reporting on investigations.

In 2021, her office handled 80 inquiries and 16 complaints, and they reviewed hundreds of use of force videos. The OPOM acknowledges by letter each time they receive a complaint, and they send a second letter describing the outcome when the investigation is finalized.

In the coming months, the Fort Worth City Council will consider approving a civilian oversight board that would be managed by the OPOM. Its role would be confined to reviewing police policy and training. Board members would be Fort Worth residents appointed by city council members.

Advocates argue that oversight boards can strengthen trust between police departments and communities. However, with a police monitor already providing supplemental police accountability, it is difficult to see the value in adding one. Managing it would divert significant resources from the OPOM.

Oversight board members would not necessarily have training or knowledge in policing or civil rights matters, which means their decisions and rhetoric could put citizens or officers at risk. In this setting, a self-promoting person on an oversight board could be more divisive than helpful. Lastly, we already have a group of elected citizens who hear from community members all the time about city issues. We know them as the nine members of the Fort Worth City Council.

Some council members are suggesting the idea of a civilian board that would go a step further and participate in investigations of police officers. This kind of board is particularly troublesome because of its potential to undermine the police chief’s departmental authority.

Rather than creating a council-appointed citizen oversight board, the city should encourage the OPOM to assemble a panel of experts in homelessness, civil rights, mental health, and other disciplines that will offer policy and training recommendations to the police department. This kind of group would add significant value without creating unnecessary rancor.

City management should also increase the OPOM’s staff level so that it grows alongside the expanding police department. So that citizens feel comfortable raising their complaints with the police monitor, our community needs to hear from the OPOM more directly and more often. That should be possible now that they will begin meeting with community members in person rather than virtually.

In the end, it’s about good leadership. As our police chief, community leaders, and police monitor continue to work cooperatively and communicate well with one another and citizens, their efforts will foster trust, safety, and adherence to the highest standards of policing. Ultimately, that is what we are all after.