State College’s Community Oversight Board wants feedback on new police complaint process
State College’s Community Oversight Board is developing a new way for area residents and visitors to submit complaints about the local police department — and it’s turning to the public for help.
The COB, which first met last December, was developed by borough council in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. While the nine-volunteer board has multiple responsibilities, it’s currently tasked with developing a civilian complaint process — and two hybrid public hearings about it are scheduled this week and next.
The first will be held at noon Wednesday in Room 220 of the Municipal Building, with the second to be held at 7 p.m. next Wednesday in Council Chambers. Both meetings are expected to take about 90 minutes, and both can also be followed online.
“The goal is really to figure out whether or not the draft civilian complaint process that we have authored works,” COB chairperson Cynthia Young said. “In other words, does it seem to meet the needs of the community? Does it feel user-friendly? Is it easy to use and understand? Do people have public confidence in the ability of that kind of process?”
The purpose of the civilian complaint process is to guide people through the steps of providing a complaint directly to the State College Police Department or to provide people an alternate — and confidential — way to submit complaints about the police. Additionally, depending on the complaint, the COB could also steer people to other appropriate community services.
The COB is not authorized to conduct any investigations itself. But anyone is welcome to submit a complaint — witnesses, victims, neighbors, etc. — and, even if the complainant prefers to remain anonymous or the complaint confidential, the COB can use that information to make recommendations to the police department.
In other words, if several people would report to the COB that they spotted police cars speeding around downtown — but they wanted those individual complaints to remain confidential — the COB could still notify the department of the overall issue and increase transparency by including the info in an annual report.
The COB has consistently said it is not out to “get” the police, but is simply looking to partner with — and help — the department. State College Police Chief John Gardner has called the COB “a step we need to take in this community.”
Young reiterated that commitment. And she hoped the public hearings would elicit feedback from as many community members as possible.
“I think the test of a good process is that you get both positive and negative feedback and that you’re able to adjust the complaint process accordingly,” she added.
To receive as much feedback as possible, borough residents are being sent a postcard with a QR code that links to a short survey on the civilian complaint process. Those interested are also invited to give handwritten comments directly to the borough, or to simply email cob@statecollegepa.us.
After the public hearings, the COB will adjust the civilian complaint process as necessary before it heads to borough council for formal approval. A council vote is expected to take place in November or December.
