Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has issued an executive order directing the Civilian Review Board to modify its policy on public disclosure.
The Civilian Review Board exists to provide an independent investigation of allegations of police misconduct. Previously, only when the board confirmed allegations would they make their reports public. But Mayor Becker’s executive order changes that policy to make all Civilian Review Board reports on high-profile cases to be publicly disclosed regardless of their findings.
Art Raymond is the Deputy Director of Communications for Mayor Becker.
“The change really is one Mayor Becker made in support of public interest and it creates, we think, a higher level of transparency and accountability for the work that the Civilian Review Board does which is, of course, on behalf of Salt Lake Residents,” he says.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank says he supports the decision to change the policy and welcomes the additional transparency.
Mayor Becker said in a statement that the city will also by organizing a series of public forums to help address the issue of police force and create a dialogue between the community and the police.