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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The city's civilian police-oversight office will host a community listening session during Alexandria's Juneteenth Festival on Friday, June 19, inviting residents to share feedback on policing and learn how the office works.
The session, titled "What Does Public Safety Owe Black Communities?," runs from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. It is free and open to the public. The event is hosted by the Office of the Alexandria Independent Policing Auditor, known as AIPA, and is part of the city's slate of free, family-friendly Juneteenth programming.
AIPA serves as Alexandria's independent civilian oversight agency for the Alexandria Police Department. Established by City Council in April 2021 — following a June 2020 council resolution condemning police brutality and systemic racism and affirming the city's intent to create a review board — the office receives and investigates complaints of police misconduct independent of the department. Its findings are reviewed by the eight-member Independent Community Policing Review Board and forwarded to the police chief and City Council. The city's first independent policing auditor began work in December 2022.
The listening session comes at an active period for police oversight in Alexandria. The review board is scheduled to hold a public hearing June 29 on the in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II, who died at the city's adult detention center last August, and the board's structure and investigatory authority have been the subject of recent debate at City Council.
Residents who cannot attend can reach the office year-round to file complaints, commendations or comments about the police department. AIPA can be contacted at 703-746-3993 or policeoversight@alexandriava.gov.
