Here are the people that Raleigh picked for its first police advisory board
The Raleigh City Council has selected its first police advisory board members, with no representation from of one of the Police Department’s strongest critics.
Social justice and police accountability groups have asked for a police-oversight board for years. After community meetings late last year, the council voted in February to create one.
Raleigh Police Accountability Community Taskforce pushed for a review board with subpoena power, which must be granted by the North Carolina General Assembly.
PACT released a statement explaining why its members did not apply for the city’s board. It noted the board will not “conduct investigations, hear testimony, or contribute to disciplinary action” or respond to citizens’ complaints, according to the city’s website.
“The police advisory board approved by the Raleigh City Council will not provide Raleigh citizens, especially those heavily and unjustly impacted by racialized police violence, with any power to hold police accountable,” the statement read. “Rather this advisory board threatens to serve as a rubber-stamp collective to support police and council’s bare minimum efforts to create a vibrant, health Raleigh for all of its citizens.”
The Raleigh CIty Council appointed the members during its virtual meeting Tuesday. More than 150 people applied for the board after applications were opened for a second time.
Here is who will sit on the police advisory board:
Mental Health Provider
Four people applied for the seat reserved for a mental health provider and all were eligible. Scotia Burrell, a social worker and mental health therapist in Raleigh, was picked.
“As a citizen of Wake County, I recognize and appreciate the role the police play in our safety, but as a social worker, an advocate, and a minority, I recognize that any persons with unchecked power can problematic,” she wrote in her application. “This has created a huge disconnect between the police and the community and I would like to assist with filling the gap.”
Victim Advocate
Six people applied for the seat reserved for a victim advocate but only three were eligible. Shelia Alamin-Khashoggi, a former City council candidate, past chair of the city’s Human Relations Commission and founder of a family resource center, was picked.
“I have been and continue to be actively involved in the affairs affecting families and individuals in our city,” she wrote in her application. “As a past chair and member of the Human Relations Commission I developed and implemented policies and procedures that positively impact the quality of life and socio-economic condition for communities in the city.”
Attorney
Eight people applied for the seat reserved for an attorney but only six were eligible. Stacey Carless, an attorney and executive director of NC Counts Coalition, was selected.
“I developed a greater passion for protecting individual rights, furthering justice and fighting for the inherent rights of marginalized communities,” she wrote in her application. “All of these issues connect to police accountability.”
LGBTQ Community
Ten people applied for the seat reserved for an LGBTQ community member, but only seven were eligible. Jeremy Roca, a real estate broker and volunteer in the LBGT Ministry at St. Francis of Assisi, was picked.
“As a person of color and an immigrant, it is imperative that our community collaborate with our city, and person of authority to ensure that we uphold justice not only for us but for the generations to come,” he wrote in his application.
Police Chief’s Appointee
Nearly 30 people applied to be the police chief’s appointee, but only eight were eligible. Gerald Takano, a retired Raleigh police lieutenant and partner in Mindset Force Management LLC, was picked for the position by the chief.
“I am a use of force expert and provide risk assessment/consulting/training to law enforcement in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia,” he wrote in his application. “ I have experience in creating, reviewing, and revising law enforcement policies and procedures. I am familiar with many of the Raleigh Police Department’s policies and procedures.”
At-large
More than 90 people applied for the four at-large seats on the board. But only 40 were eligible for the position. The following people were selected:
- David Bland who is active in the Pretrial Justice Institute and Restorative Justice Institute and chairs the North Carolina Episcopal Diocese committee for the reform of Cash Bail Bonding in North Carolina.
- Sean Ingram is an author and motivational speaker who wrote “From Poverty to Prison to Prosperity” and founder of the Sean Ingram Academy that provides juvenile diversion and intervention programs for the police department.
- Genevieve Sims describes herself as a “semi-retired” attorney focused on family law and is a previous member of the board of directors for Interact.
- Greear Webb is a UNC-Chapel Hill student and co-founder of Young American Protest (YAP!), which has helped organize local peaceful protests after the death of George Floyd.
Alternatives
Two alternatives were selected from the at-large applications. The following two people were picked:
- Deonte’ Thomas is the felony chief of the Wake County Public Defender’s Office and his family recently made news for encountering a man with a giant wrench protesting the state’s stay-at-home orders.
- Johnnie Thomas is a former peer support specialist and mental health counselor and had been previously assaulted by police in New York, he wrote in his application.
This story was originally published June 17, 2020 at 3:34 PM.
