Community Oversight Board

The Community Oversight Board (COB) was created in 2021 by the State College Borough Council (Ordinance 2146) to provide civilian oversight of the State College Police Department (SCPD) to help ensure that everyone who lives in, works in, or visits State College may experience excellent equitable treatment in their interactions with the police. To do so, one of the goals of the COB is to create an environment which allows for better communication, understanding, and relations between the SCPD and the community.

Members of the COB are community volunteers with no links to the Police Department.

Duties and Responsibilities

The COB has the following main duties and responsibilities:

  • Civilian Complaint Process (CCP). The COB Civilian Complaint Process provides an alternative way to file a complaint against the SCPD or to voice a concern about the SCPD. The CCP is designed to support you and your choices throughout the whole process in a confidential manner. If you feel uncomfortable dealing with the police, would like support or help in filing a complaint, or are unsure about filing a complaint but still want to voice your concerns, the COB complaint process was designed for you. More information about the CCP can be found here: one-page overview. You can review the complete CCP process description here: CCP protocol.
    • To file a complaint or concern to the COB, please click on the link in the left sidebar of this website.
    • Alternately if you wish to make a complaint OR COMMENDATION directly to the State College Police Department, you may do so here – Officer Commendation / Officer Complaint
  • Data Analysis. The COB is authorized, within limits imposed by law, to collect and examine relevant information used to track performance measures and assess outcomes related to police practices and community perceptions. The board facilitated a contract between the SCPD and the Center for Policing Equity (CPE) to have the CPE conduct an analysis of how the data and metrics currently being collected by the SCPD compare to best practices for data collection aimed at helping to minimize bias in policing practices. Based upon this analysis, the COB presented a set of recommendations to the SCPD and Borough Manager for improving the SCPD’s data collection process.
    • A copy of the COB’s recommendations to the SCPD can be found in the left sidebar of this website.
  • Monitoring. The COB conducts a quarterly review of all SCPD incidents involving the use of force, injuries, complaints or State College Police Department or internal affairs investigations conducted by the Department. This review by the COB is to help ensure fairness and consistency, and that all such actions were conducted in a manner consistent with the SCPD’s disciplinary protocol and policies.
  • Independent Review of Closed Cases. The COB is authorized to engage in an independent investigation of closed cases involving use of force resulting in serious injury or death when questions persist even after the auditing and monitoring functions have been completed. Investigations will occur at the conclusion of litigation if pursued and will be conducted primarily for the purpose of making policy recommendations to the Council, the State College Police Department, and the Borough Manager.

Meetings

Meeting dates are available on the meeting and events calendar.

Agendas and Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.
View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

COB Members and Membership Information

The nine voting members of the COB are appointed by State College Borough Council. Board members are not employed by, or elected officials of, the municipalities in the police service area. The current COB members are:

  • Parth Gosar
  • Michelle Hamilton
  • Kim Frankenfield-Pro (Co-Chair)
  • Ron Madrid (Chair)
  • Jan Ulbrecht
  • Zachary Van Horn

For bios of each member, please see COB 2025 Members' Bios

If you are interested in joining the COB, please see the link in the left sidebar of this website for additional information. You can fill out an application here: https://pa-statecollege-gettingstarted.app.transform.civicplus.com/forms/23665