Santa Barbara Police Review Board Begins to Take Shape

After six public hearings, preliminary plans for a police review board for the City of Santa Barbara are taking shape after the Community Formation Commission tentatively opted last week for a hybrid structure for the new commission, fusing together elements of the three basic models used in cities throughout the country: review, investigative, and monitoring and auditing. 

According to board chair Gabe Escobedo, commissioners liked the idea of having a body to which the public could submit complaints against police officers for anything from bad attitude to physical abuse. The largest number of complaints, Escobedo noted, involve allegations of poor attitude. All are investigated, he said, but most are not found to be substantiated. In addition, Escobedo said, officers are investigated by the department’s Internal Affairs for a host of possible transgressions.

Under the new proposed hybrid approach, the as-yet-unformed review board would review findings unearthed in internal review investigations. If the board concludes key information is missing, they can recommend Internal Affairs try again. If after that they still are not satisfied, a private investigator would be hired to look into the matter on their behalf.