Raleigh City Council creates police advisory board after years of protest
After years of debate, and despite the police chief’s opposition, the Raleigh City Council will establish a police advisory board.
A five-person board approved Tuesday will oversee the policy and procedures of the Police Department, Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said.
The city held six community meetings last year that drew activists wanting more police oversight and several police officers who opposed an oversight board.
“There is no one model that fits everyone’s wishes,” according to the city staff’s presentation. “However, there is a strong desire from community members that Council should do something to address the issues of transparency and accountability in the form of some type/model of review board.”
Last May after the fatal police shooting of Soheil Mojarrad, a man with mental illness whom police said was brandishing a knife, Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown cautioned that a citizens review board would not end conflicts and could interfere with officers doing their jobs.
“Police, like all of you and everyone else here, we are human,” she said. “I must ask when does performance become so restricted that officers can simply not do their jobs? They are the ones running toward danger at the risk of their own lives.”
Tuesday’s vote comes after another fatal shooting by Raleigh police last week. Officers responded to a call about a man with a gun who was acting “strangely” near Pleasant Valley Promenade shopping center on Glenwood Avenue.
A judge ruled Tuesday that police may not release body camera footage of the incident to the public out of concern for the man’s family. Later Tuesday, the police department announced that media would be allowed to view the video footage Wednesday at police headquarters. No recording devices will be permitted.
On Tuesday night, Deck-Brown released a short statement, pledging to work with the new board.
“Today, the Raleigh City Council voted to establish a citizens advisory board that will review policies and procedures of the Raleigh Police Department,” she said. “The professional men and women of the Raleigh Police Department will work with city staff per the Council’s mandate, and we will fully support the work and efforts of the new citizens advisory board.”
No subpoena power
The oversight board won’t have subpoena power — which can only be granted by the N.C. General Assembly — like some community members have sought. Activists have attended City Council meetings to share stories of police mistrust and perceived abuse and have protested during meetings after police have shot someone.
It’s not a perfect solution, said Council member Jonathan Melton, but it’s the first step.
The board members will include a mental health professional, a civil rights attorney, a victims advocate, an LGBTQ representative and an appointee of the police chief.
Baldwin asked for people interested in serving on the board to reach out to their council member.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 2:20 PM.
