In recognition of the historical and ongoing challenges that exist with law enforcement agencies and racially marginalized (BIPOC) communities, and following the national, regional, and local protests that arose following the murder of George Floyd, La Crosse County leaders took action. La Crosse County’s Criminal Justice Management Council (CJMC) had been exploring the concept of a Citizen Advisory Board or Police Oversight Committee, but it was believed that an ad hoc committee might provide a more focused setting to study and discuss these concepts. Therefore, on November 2, 2021, the County Board adopted Resolution 34-11/21 which created the Study Committee on Policing (SCOP).

On September 26, 2023, the SCOP presented the Judiciary & Law Committee a final recommendation, which outlined the establishment of a pilot La Crosse County Civilian Review Board (CRB). While remaining within the parameters outlined in Resolution 34-11/21, which stated that “any recommendation, decisions and authority related to the hiring, termination or discipline of individual law enforcement officers remains under the control of each jurisdiction and their own law enforcement agency and personnel/Human Resource department” the SCOP proposed the following official charge for the CRB: To serve as a respected, trusted, and independent liaison between Law Enforcement agencies in La Crosse County and the communities they serve.

On February 15, 2024, the Civilian Review Board was approved by the La Crosse County Board and became authorized to receive community concerns regarding law enforcement. The CRB convened its first official meeting in November 2024.