By Tamara Orange, ACRB Board Member & Interim Chair
The ACRB is committed to providing a fair forum for the investigation and adjudication of citizen complaints against Atlanta police and corrections officers. This is one of the agency’s hallmarks and it guides the way we conduct our work. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, fairness is the quality or state of being fair, where fair means marked by impartiality and honesty: free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism.
From the above definition, the word that strikes a chord the most, to me, in regard to the ACRB, is IMPARTIALITY. We go into complaint reviews with open minds. Even the appearance of bias is and should be rejected by all members of the board.
For the ACRB, fairness is an action, not just a word. It requires the board and staff members to perform investigations without regard to the individual characteristics of the citizen filing the complaint or the officer receiving the complaint. It is demonstrated through the respect shown to citizens and officers during their interviews and allowing them to provide all information related to incident without intimidation, skepticism, or embarrassment.
It includes assertively gathering the facts and evidence without delay and basing recommendations on where the facts lead. For the board, fairness is completely reviewing the investigative files, asking questions of the investigative staff as needed, fully discussing the complaint investigations, and making determinations based on the evidence and policies contained in the file.
Sources:
“Fairness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fairness. Accessed 12 Oct. 2023
“Fair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fair. Accessed 12 Oct. 2023.