“It gives the impression that, ‘We don’t have faith that the chief will do this properly, so let’s have someone on the outside look at it,’” Corvington said. “What I’m saying is that the organization is overseen by a civilian board and we have some responsibility to bear in making sure that the allegations are addressed much like we’ve done many times before.”

Council Chairman Sam Page, in a statement, argued that there was a distinction between the type of investigation the police board will conduct and the one the County Council called for on Tuesday. The police board will determine whether internal policies of the police department were violated.

But the council, Page said, is also requesting a separate independent investigation to determine whether any laws were broken.

The resolution approved by the council on Tuesday did not specify what agency would conduct that investigation.

“It’s time to work together to ensure the public has confidence in the County Police Department,” Page said. “Our constituents deserve to know that both internal policies and the laws were followed.”

The police board is made up of five members appointed by the county executive.