ACLU-WV Launches Police Accountability Dashboard to Increase Transparency in Law Enforcement

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By Black By God: The West Virginian

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia (ACLU-WV) has launched a new tool designed to give West Virginians unprecedented access to information about who’s policing their communities.

The Police Accountability Dashboard—an interactive map available at https://dashboard.dragline.org/ – allows users to search the career history of police officers certified to work in West Virginia, including what departments they’ve worked for, how long they served, and the terms of their separation from previous positions.

“All too often, police officers who end up fired or resign in lieu of termination end up continuing to work as police officers,” said Kyle Vass, ACLU-WV Investigative Reporter. “People ought to have a right to know if an officer in their community has a problematic history. This tool empowers people in West Virginia with critical information about how, where, and by whom their communities are policed.”

What the Dashboard Shows

Beyond employment history, the tool cross-references U.S. Census Bureau data to display county-level information in an accessible format. Users can explore an interactive map highlighting diversity indices, poverty rates, and officer distribution across all 55 West Virginia counties.

The data is current as of September 24, 2025. Users seeking real-time employment information are encouraged to contact the West Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards office directly.

“All across the country, police officers are given huge amounts of authority and very little oversight,” said ACLU-WV Executive Director Eli Baumwell. “West Virginia is no different. And we’re excited to be able to increase transparency in law enforcement by turning public records into a publicly accessible database.”

The dashboard is part of ACLU-WV’s ongoing commitment to civil liberties, criminal justice reform, and government transparency.

To access the Police Accountability Dashboard, visit:https://dashboard.dragline.org/
To learn more about ACLU-WV’s work, visit:http://www.acluwv.org