COLUMBUS, Ind. – The City of Columbus asks eligible candidates to apply to serve on the Columbus Human Rights Commission and the Community Police Review Board. Applications are accepted year-round, regardless of vacancies.
The City Council appoints Human Rights Commissioners. The Mayor and the City Administration name Community Police Review Board members. Appointees serve three-year terms without pay. Interested Bartholomew County residents should represent the community’s diversity and be willing to devote time and commitment to making Columbus a fully inclusive community.
The Human Rights Commission enforces the City’s anti-discrimination ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, credit, public accommodation, and education based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age (over 40), disability, veteran status, and familial status (in housing only).
The Community Police Review Board’s purpose is to provide a systematic means for achieving continuous improvement in police-community interactions; to provide an independent process for the review of appeals of formal citizen complaints; to add a citizen perspective to the evaluation of the determination by Columbus Police Department of these formal complaints; to contribute to timely, fair, and objective reviews of formal citizen complaints; and to ensure fair and equal treatment for both community members and police officers.
Frank Miller, the City Council Liaison to the Human Rights Commission, reviews the Human Rights Commission applications. Mayor Ferdon and the City Administration evaluate the Community Police Review Board applications.
Members of the public who want more information on the positions or would like to apply for a Commission appointment can go here. You can also call the Human Rights Commission office at 812-376-2532, dial 711 to connect to Relay Indiana, or email humanrights@columbus.in.gov.
