Relating to the peace officer, public safety, and emergency personnel bill of rights

This bill relates to the peace officer, public safety, and emergency personnel bill of rights. The bill provides that a formal administrative investigation of an officer shall be commenced without unreasonable delay from the date of the incident giving rise to the allegation against the officer. The bill provides that the employing agency shall provide to the officer or the officer’s legal counsel a complete copy of the officer’s incident reports, other statements, and video or audio recordings from the incident giving rise to the complaint against the officer, upon request of the officer or the officer’s legal counsel, at least hours before an interview with the officer unless the officer agrees to a shorter period of time. The bill provides that an officer may bring a private cause of action, including but not limited to an action for money damages, against a private citizen for filing a false complaint against the officer. The bill provides that an officer’s personal information, including certain personal information specified in the bill, shall be confidential and shall be redacted from any record prior to the record’s release to the public by an employing agency. The bill provides that the following information shall also be kept confidential: an officer’s statement, recordings, or transcripts of any interviews or disciplinary proceedings, and any complaints made against an officer. The bill provides that an agency shall provide annual training to any person who may perform or supervise an investigation under the bill. The Iowa law enforcement academy shall adopt minimum training standards not inconsistent with the bill including training standards concerning interviewing an officer subject to a complaint. The bill provides that upon request, the employing agency shall provide to a requesting officer or the officer’s legal counsel a copy of the officer’s personnel file and training records regardless of whether the officer is subject to a formal administrative investigation at the time of the request. The bill modifies the definition of “complaint” to mean a formal written allegation signed by the complainant or a signed written statement by an officer receiving an oral complaint stating the complainant’s allegation.