The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ordered an audit of the county police department, even as it staunchly defended the department’s performance against ongoing complaints from a local citizens group. The group — Virginia Citizens’ Coalition for Police Accountability — appeared before the board at its public safety committee meeting to argue for outside oversight of police beyond the scope of a county audit. Specifically, they want a citizen board to review complaints against the department.
The group has cited a variety of complaints against the department over the last decade, including a 2008 fatal accident caused by an officer running a red light without lights or siren. But instead of being allowed to make their case, the group was given several minutes at the end of the meeting to react to the board’s decision to order an audit.
