CLEVELAND — Cleveland City Council has narrowed the list down to 12 finalists for its appointments to the city's new police commission.
Based on the passage of Issue 24 by voters last November, Cleveland City Council will appoint three representatives to the commission, while Mayor Justin Bibb will appoint ten representatives. All 13 members must be approved by the Mayor's Appointments Committee and the full council before taking their seats.
The Cleveland Police Commission will oversee misconduct investigations and have final say on police discipline. The commission will also have input in key policy decisions, such as training and recruitment of officers. It will also have the power to overrule decisions made by the city's police chief and safety director.
The council's Mayor's Appointments Committee will interview the following candidates on Tuesday, September 6 (You can read their applications by clicking on their names):
- John Adams, chair of social studies department at Cleveland School of Science and Medicine
- Shandra Benito, director of diversity and inclusion at The Nord Center
- Virginia Beckman, executive director at the Lorain County Safe Harbor/Genesis House
- Jerry Billups, intervention/diversion specialist at Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court
- Alexander Cooke, professor at Cleveland Institute of Music
These candidates will be interviewed on Wednesday, September 7:
- Matthew Ahn, visiting law professor at Cleveland State University
- Luke Davis, retired Cleveland police officer, former court security for U.S. Marshals Service
- Bree Easterling, veteran services officer and outreach coordinator for Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission
- Audrianna Rodriguez, family advocate at The Centers for Children and Families for three CMSD schools
- Gregory Wheeler, Collinwood High School head football coach and social-emotional learning teacher for CMSD
- Gary Williams, former prosecutor and assistant dean at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
- William Tell Sr., retired 32-year veteran of the Cleveland Division of Police and former security manager at Cleveland Division of Public Utilities
Hearings will begin at 10 a.m. on both days and can be watched here.
Previous Reporting:
- New Cleveland Police Chief Wayne Drummond goes one-on-one with 3News' Russ Mitchell
- 'Progress takes time': Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb reacts to over 100 homicides in city in 2022 in interview with 3News' Russ Mitchell
- Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb announces selection process for nearly 300 applicants to Community Police Commission
