Police Civilian Oversight Board

Purpose

The Board aims to provide objective and independent civilian-led oversight of the Charlottesville Police Department in an effort to enhance transparency and trust, to promote fair and effective policing, and to protect the civil and constitutional rights of the people of the City of Charlottesville.   

The Board’s functions, as outlined below, shall pursue the following principles and objectives: 

  1. Ensuring that police officers act with integrity and treat every person with equal dignity;
  2. Empowering and inspiring self-governance and a culture of mutual respect;
  3. Seeking social and racial justice;
  4. Engaging in community outreach and amplifying the voices of the socially, politically, and economically disenfranchised;
  5. Listening to and building cooperation between all stakeholders to find and develop common ground and public purpose;
  6. Championing just, equitable, and legitimate policing policies and practices; and
  7. Processing complaints, reviewing police practices and internal investigations, issuing findings, writing public reports, and making recommendations.

Contacting the PCOB

[Information subject to change as this program develops.] In order to communicate with the PCOB electronically please send an email to pcob@charlottesville.gov . If you prefer to mail hard copies to the PCOB, please mail the documents to ATTN: Police COB, P.O. Box 911, Charlottesville, VA 22902. Please know that all written communications with the PCOB are subject to disclosure pursuant to Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act.