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authority to review internal affairs investigations and make recommendations about dispositions to the department. Changes to department policy and procedures may be subject to the commission's approval. A commission may require a chief to submit annual reports, which could be made public. A commission may also be charged with receiving and reviewing complaints of police misconduct, uses of force, and allegations of racial bias and civil rights abuses. In some cities, such as Oakland, the Police Commission works in conjunction with an investigative body that is separate from both the police department and the Commission. Complaints of police misconduct are forwarded to the investigative body. After completing its investigation of a complaint, the investigative body submits its findings and proposes discipline to the Commission and Chief of Police. If the Chief disagrees with the investigative findings, the Chief is required to prepare separate findings and propose discipline. A three-member panel of the Commission then considers the Commission and Chief's recommendations and will make the final decision. Most police commissions are established in large metropolitan cities across the United States and serve communities where public trust in the police has eroded over time. The cities of Seattle, Los Angeles, Oakland, New York, and Albuquerque have each established a police commission with varying forms of authority. In each of those cities, the establishment of a commission was the outcome of an investigation by the federal Department of Justice where civilian oversight was mandated. The resulting external oversight was either the result of a series of significant civil rights violations by the departments or one singular, high-profile event spotlighting an inability of a department to properly hold its employees accountable. Independent Police Auditor An Independent Police Auditor (IPA) is an office separate from a police department. An IPA is appointed by a city council. An IPA is authorized to take complaints concerning department employees from members of the public, provides another level of accountability to ensure complaints are fairly investigated, and recommends modifications to the department's policy and procedures. An IPA audits investigations of police misconduct to ensure those investigations are fair and objective. The purpose of an IPA is to ensure an independent perspective and that the police department's process for handling complaints is objective and fair. Auditors in some jurisdictions also review calls for service where a use of force occurs, and, when appropriate, makes recommendations to strengthen police policy and procedure. Page 8 of 10