Boulder Reporting Lab: City officials have decided that Boulder’s Police Oversight Panel will no longer review certain internal investigations into complaints of officer misconduct, citing limited resources and a desire to focus more time on the most serious allegations.

The decision has sparked backlash from panel members, who said it weakens one of the panel’s core functions of providing community oversight of all investigations. The change means members will lose access to some body-worn camera footage and investigative records that they previously used to make recommendations on officer discipline before the police chief’s final decision.

The city’s 11-member Police Oversight Panel was established to review the police department’s internal investigations into alleged rule and policy violations. The goal was to provide a community check on the system and ensure officers are held accountable, particularly in cases involving potential racial bias.

Visit Boulder Reporting Lab for more.