The Police Review & Advisory Board

The Police Review & Advisory Board

Welcome to the official webpage of The Police Review & Advisory Board, a local government office committed to maintaining transparency and accountability in police conduct. Located at 51 Inman Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, our Board serves the community by ensuring a fair and impartial investigation of complaints against members of the Cambridge Police Department.

Our Mission

Established in 1984 by Cambridge City Ordinance, the Police Review & Advisory Board is dedicated to providing prompt and unbiased investigations into complaints from the public. Our mission is to foster trust between the community and the police department by addressing concerns with integrity and transparency.

How We Operate

The Board generally convenes on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm via Zoom. Agendas are available the Monday before each meeting, and minutes from previous meetings can be reviewed on our website.

Filing a Complaint

Complaints can be submitted in person, by email, mail, or telephone. Each complaint must be accompanied by a signed complaint form and detailed information about the incident. Complaints should be filed within 60 days of the occurrence. Once a complaint is received, our staff collaborates with the Professional Standards Unit of the Cambridge Police Department to conduct thorough investigations. This process includes interviews with the complainant, involved officers, witnesses, and a review of relevant documents. The Board then evaluates the investigation report and may either accept it or request further investigation.

Board Deliberations and Decisions

Upon completing the investigation, the Board deliberates to determine if there was a violation of policy or procedures. In certain cases, a hearing may be requested and conducted at the Board's discretion. Even if no violations are found, the Board may propose recommendations to the City Manager and Police Commissioner to prevent future incidents.

Our Team

The Police Review & Advisory Board is composed of five civilian residents of Cambridge, reflecting the city's diverse racial, social, and economic demographics. You can view the current Board members on the Open Meeting Portal.

Public Records and Service Requests

As a governmental entity, we adhere to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. Any information received is subject to these provisions. For non-police-related issues like missed trash pickups or potholes, please submit a service request via SeeClickFix.

For more information or to engage with us, please visit our secure .gov website, ensuring a safe connection for sharing sensitive information. Thank you for your interest in the Police Review & Advisory Board, where we strive to uphold justice and community trust.