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Home > City Departments > Commission on Citizens' Rights and Community Relations > Commission Responsibilities

Commission Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the of the Commission on Citizens’ Rights and Community Relations are extensive as outlined in the Buffalo City Charter, Section 18:22:

  • the development of programs to improve relations among city’s racial, religious, ethnic, and other communities and build an inclusive sense of community throughout the city;
  • the investigation of incidents, patterns and causes of discrimination on grounds of race, ethnic background, cultural background, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality and age;
  • the examination and assessment of issues of equal opportunity and respect for cultural diversity within city government and its services and programs;
  • the assistance to citizens with filing and pursuing complaints of police misconduct;
  • the review and monitoring of the police department’s (i) initial and continuing training program in community relations and respect for citizens’ rights; and (ii) standards and procedures for investigating, acting upon, and resolving complaints of police misconduct.
  • upon completion of the police department’s investigation of a complaint of police misconduct, the review of the police department’s file on the investigation;
  • the submission at least one each year, and as requested by the mayor or common council, a report on: (i) its activities; (ii) the state of community relations in the city; (iii) the state of equal opportunity and respect for cultural diversity within city government and its services and programs; (iv) the state of the police department’s initial and ongoing training programs in community relations and respect for citizens’ rights and standards and procedures for investigating and acting upon complaints of police misconduct; and (v) significant issues that have arisen concerning any of the foregoing matters;
  • the institution of public and private hearings and take testimony under oath, and to issuance of subpoenas requiring the attendance of persons and the production of books, papers and other things;
  • the requisition of the cooperation of the other agencies of city government.