The City of Albany, New York (hereinafter referred to as the “City”) hereby requests Proposals from qualified firms, organizations, or individuals to provide services for the City’s Community Police Review Board (hereinafter referred to as the “CPRB”) on an as-needed and non-exclusive basis. Joint Proposals are encouraged.
As defined, the CPRB is an independent body performing review of complaints of misconduct committed by officers of the Albany Police Department (hereinafter referred to as “APD”). The CPRB’s goals are (a) to improve communication between APD and the community and (b) to increase police accountability and credibility with the community it serves.
The selected Proposer will assist the CPRB in navigating a critical moment in the CPRB’s history. In 2024, the City’s legislative body, the Common Council, passed Local Law D. Local Law D incorporates the CPRB into the formal structure of the City as a separate agency under the oversight of the Common Council with independent day-to-day operations at the direction of the appointed, active CPRB body in coordination with the Program Director. For the scope of this proposal, the selected Proposer will be tasked with assisting the appointed, active CPRB body and Program Director with developing CPRB as an efficient and effective City agency.
CPRB’s responsibilities include (a) receiving and reviewing community complaints of police misconduct, (b) reviewing any investigation conducted by APD’s Office of Professional Services (hereinafter referred to as “OPS”), (c) reviewing APD and OPS policy, (d) developing a police disciplinary matrix, and (e) conducting independent investigations into alleged police misconduct. Thus, a familiarity with law enforcement investigations and disciplinary proceedings, including complaints, reports, audio and visual recordings, statements, testimony, personnel files, general orders, and levels of discipline is preferred.
The selected Proposer will also assist the CPRB Program Director, at the will of the appointed, active CPRB body,in the identification, recruiting, and training of appropriate investigators to investigate community complaints of misconduct.
Of those firms, organizations, and individuals submitting a Proposal, the City encourages law firms or agencies with a legal background, including those experienced in investigations, litigation, and/or criminal prosecutorial work.
