Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and the Newark Municipal Council released the names of seven of the nine appointees to the Civilian Complaint Review Board. April 30, Baraka signed a executive order to establish a Civilian Complaint Review Board to oversee the Newark Police Department.
Comprising nine people, the board will review complaints about police behavior and have the power to receive, investigate, hear, make findings and recommend action upon complaints by members of the public, including but not limited to complaints made by other police officers or personnel against uniformed members of the Police Department that allege misconduct involving excessive use of force, abuse of authority, unlawful arrest, unlawful stop, unlawful search and any form of discrimination. Their findings will be submitted to the police director.
The appointees are former ACLU organizer Rashawn Anthony Davis, executive member with the Criminal Justice Program of the NAACP Newark chapter; Richard H. Robinson, Newark Public Schools teacher; Annette M. Alston, senior security specialist; Harrison Munoz, Covenant House staff attorney; Victor Monterrosa Jr., lead pastor of the Lighthouse Assembly of God; the Rev. Pablo Pizarro Jr.; and New Psalmist Worship Center pastor Dr. Bryant Ali.
The inspector general will be appointed by the mayor, three board members were appointed by the Municipal Council and the remaining five were recommended for appointment by organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and the People’s Organization for Progress.
“We are proud and privileged to name these seven outstanding individuals from our community organizations to serve on the city of Newark’s first-ever Civilian Complaint Review Board. Separately and together, they are among the finest, most active and most concerned minds, hearts and souls in our city,” Baraka said.
