Boards and Commissions
Independent Police Oversight Board (IPOB)
Overview: The Independent Police Oversight Board (IPOB) are volunteer members of the community appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council to review internal police investigations of possible misconduct by employees of the Houston Police Department.
Mission: To provide a system of increased accountability, transparency and to facilitate resident input into the internal investigative and disciplinary process of the Houston Police Department. Panels rotate on a weekly basis to review all cases assigned during that period.
Purpose:
On May 15, 2011, by enactment of the Mayor’s Executive Order 1-5, the IPOB was created. The City of Houston Executive Order 1-5 Revised, Dated June 25, 2018, and November 9, 2021.
Scope of Work
- 5.1 The Board, acting through its designated panels, may review all Class I and Class II internal investigations, and shall review internal investigations of possible misconduct by employees of the Houston Police Department that involve any of the following:
- 5.1.1 Use of force.
- 5.1.2 Discharge of firearms; and
- 5.1.3 Serious bodily injury or death.
- To review and make recommendations to the Chief of Police and the Mayor regarding the hiring of new police officers, training on proper treatment of citizens, evaluation of officer conduct and community concerns relating to police misconduct.
- Report findings to the Chief of Police and the Mayor.
- To monitor community concerns regarding the Department and report any issues to the Chief of Police.
Board Chair
The new Chair of the Independent Police Oversight Board (IPOB), Alexander E.M. Johnson, was appointed on Nov 8th, 2023. Rev. Johnson brings a wealth of experience to his new role as IPOB Chair. He is currently the Executive Pastor at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, one of the fastest-growing churches in the Greater Houston area, where he is responsible for the daily operations and overseeing Christian Education and ministry offerings for over 80 ministries. Additionally, he serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston and is a member of the University of Houston CLASS Dean's Advisory Board. He has served as Co-Chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Religious Affairs Committee, Executive Board Member of Pace Youth Programs, Inc., and a Ministry Fellow for the FUND for Theological Education.
Rev. Johnson has a BA in Religion with a secondary focus on African American Studies from Harvard College, a Master of Divinity Degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, and is pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry in Transformational Leadership from Boston University.
Rev. Johnson's appointment to the IPOB comes after the tenure of outgoing Board Chair Stephen Ives, who has served as Chair since April 29, 2021.
Board Members
The Independent Police Oversight Board currently consist of twenty-three (23) members of the community that resided in the Houston-Woodlands-Sugarland Metropolitan area. The board is divided into 4 panels of 5 members each along with the Panel Chair. The panel is diverse and with varied expertise and experience. Members include but not limited to retired judges and prosecutors, civil rights attorneys and academic experts or scholars. The Board Chair and a Panel Chair from each panel shall sit on the Administration Disciplinary Committee (ADC) an internal committee currently responsible for reviewing investigations containing sustained allegations and making a disciplinary recommendation to the Chief of Police.
Click graphic above to download the Structure Organizational Chart in .jpg
ADMINISTRATION DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
The Administration Disciplinary Committee (ADC) reviews all Class I cases and all cases that have a sustained cite(s) with a division recommendation on discipline that falls in a Category C or above. If a case is reviewed by IPOB and there is a sustained cite in the investigation, then the case will be reviewed a second time by the ADC for a discipline recommendation to the Chief of Police.
IPOB CASE REVIEW
IPOB review cases that involve allegations of excessive force, discharge of firearms, serious bodily injury or death, and all other Class I internal investigations, as well as Class II investigations involving mistreatment of citizens. Pursuant to Article VI, Section 7a, of the City Charter of the City of Houston, Executive Order 1-5, IPOB may review any and all internal investigations, and shall review internal investigations of possible misconduct by employees of HPD that involve any of the following:
- Use of Force
- Discharge of firearms; and/or
- Serious bodily injury or death
The cases are assigned to one of the four panels on a weekly basis and the panel has fourteen days to complete the review. Upon completion of the review, they can make recommendations on disciplinary actions, recruitment, training, and evaluation of police officers; and to consider community concerns regarding the Department.
How to Apply
If you wish to apply to serve on the Independent Police Oversight Board, please follow the link to the Boards and Commission website.
Please refer to Executive Order 1-5 to review the qualifications to serve on the IPOB board prior to submitting your application. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Boards & Commissions at (832) 393-0817, or the Office of Policing Reform & Accountability at (832) 393-6772 or COH_Policing_Reform@houstontx.gov.
Contact Boards and Commissions
City Hall901 Bagby, Third Floor
Houston, TX 77002
