D.C. act calls for nine members on police complaints board

The act calls for nine members on D.C.’s Police Complaints Board. The board would have one member from each D.C. ward and one citywide member. After the sitting police member’s term ends, no board member may have a current affiliation with a law enforcement agency. This board rule ends when part of a 2022 D.C. policing law starts to apply. The emergency act can last no more than 90 days.

The complaints director may file a separate complaint against the named officer. The separate complaint could target only the officer named in the original complaint. The director must find evidence of abuse or misuse of police powers that the complainant did not allege. This can include an officer’s failure to intervene or report another officer’s excessive force or misconduct when police rules require it. This rule ends when part of a 2022 D.C. policing law starts to apply. The emergency act can last no more than 90 days.

The act limits selected victim-related clauses to victims under 18. The wording appears in selected clauses of three D.C. law sections, including clauses about sexual assault victims. The act says it can remain in effect for no more than 90 days after it takes effect.