Citizens' Police Review Board

Meetings

• 6 p.m.
• Quarterly, third Thursday of month

Members

Chief Staff Person

Takeisha Redd
Assistant City Attorney
Phone: 336-734-1468

Charleen Goombs
Phone: 336-747-7387

Current Membership

How to Apply

Each member must be a resident of Winston-Salem. Persons interested in serving on this board should apply to the Mayor’s Office, Suite 150, City Hall, 101 N Main Street The mailing address is:
P. O. Box 2511
Winston-Salem, NC 27102

The Mayor recommends appointments to the Citizen Police Review Board to the City Council, and all appointments are made by the City Council. Persons interested in serving may also wish to inform their Council Member of their interest.

Board Overview

The primary purpose of the Citizen Police Review Board is to act as a fact finding body in cases involving unresolved citizen complaints against employees of the Police Department.

At the request of the Winston-Salem City Council, the Public Safety Committee developed a plan for a Citizen Police Review Board. The Public Safety Committee was assisted in developing this plan by interested citizens who gave their comments and suggestions during public hearings.

Authority for Creation

An ordinance was adopted by the City Council on February 15, 1993, which amended the City Code by adding a new Article XVII - Winston-Salem Citizens’ Police Review Board.

Purpose / Function

The Citizens’ Police Review Board serves as an advisory board to the City Manager and Public Safety Committee. The Board reviews citizens’ request for appeals of the Police Chief’s decision regarding complaints against Police Department employees, determines necessity of a hearing, and, when necessary, conducts appeals hearings which include receiving and evaluating testimony, and issuing findings of facts to the City Manager for action and the Public Safety Committee for its information. The board receives and reviews a summary of internal and externally made complaints against the police officer and may also perform such other duties as may be assigned to its form time to time by the Public Safety Committee or the City Council.

Complaints

If you find that you need to bring a complaint against a Police Department employee, be sure to note the date and time of day of the incident and try to get as much specific information as possible about the incident. As examples, try to get the name of the employee and names and addresses of any witnesses to the incident.

Complaints may be filed immediately with the employee’s supervisor or at any one of the following locations:

Professional Standards Division
Section-PSC
725 N Cherry Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Phone: 336-773-7765

City Clerk’s Office
City Hall, Suite 140
101 N Main Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27102

Phone: 336-727-2224

Staff at these locations will be available to assist you in filing your complaint.

Investigations

All complaints will be investigated by the Internal Affairs Division of the Police Department. When the investigation is completed the Police Chief will provide you with a written answer to the complaint. The Chief’s letter will indicate if the investigation found the allegations in the complaint to be accurate, false, or unable to prove. It should be noted that the Police Chief cannot provide you with specific information regarding disciplinary actions taken against an employee.

Appeals

If you are not satisfied with the conclusions reached by the Police Chief, you may appeal his/her decision to the Citizen Police Review Board.

Hearings  

You may appeal the Police Chief’s decision by filing a notice with the City Secretary’s Office. Your appeal will be presented to the Citizen Police Review Board. Usually within 30 days of the appeal, the Citizen Police Review Board will decide whether to hold a hearing. If the Citizen Police Review Board decides to hold a hearing you will be notified of this decision in writing stating the time, date, and place of the hearing. You will be expected to encourage all of your witnesses to attend. To assist you in the hearing, you may use the services of an attorney or any other person of your choice.

What to Expect  

At the hearing, which will be conducted in private, you and your witnesses will be given an opportunity to explain to the Citizen Police Review Board the details of your complaint. The Police Department employee and witnesses will be given an opportunity to detail their account of the incident. Each side may ask questions of all persons who offer evidence, as well as members of the Citizen Police Review Board. 

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Citizen Police Review Board will consider all of the information received and prepare a report on its findings. This report will be presented to the City Manager for his actions. The City Manager will advise you in writing of his resolution of your complaint. This is the final step in the administrative process to resolve a citizen complaint.