A scene from the Buffalo Common Council's Police Oversight Committee.
Justice & Opportunity
Open Buffalo's Danielle Johnson Named to New Community Police Advisory Body
Published March 8, 2018
From the office of David A. Rivera, Niagara District Council Member & Majority Leader on Buffalo Common Council:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2018
COMMON COUNCIL CREATES COMMUNITY ADVISORY BODY TO POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMITEE.
On Tuesday, March 5, the Council unanimously adopted a resolution creating a community advisory body to the Council’s Police Oversight Committee. The body is made up of 11 City residents who represent a diverse range of issues, neighborhoods, expertise, and generations. They are charged with making recommendations to the Council and Buffalo Police Department on how community-police relationships can be improved. The body will convene public meetings to hear from residents and also meet with BPD leadership to relay the concerns they’ve heard and develop solutions. At Tuesday’s Council meeting, new Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood affirmed his commitment to working with the new community advisory body during his confirmation hearing. The group will report its findings, including potential policy solutions to the Council’s Police Oversight Committee.
“We received over 50 applications for these 11 seats, which made for a very competitive process” Council Member Rivera remarked. “I was overwhelmed by Buffalo residents willingness to serve their City. Many of those who were not offered a seat stated they remain committed to helping the advisory body. This, along with the statement of Commissioner Lockwood and his staff, shows how committed our community and our police department are to improving the relationship between our residents and police officers on a neighborhood and city-wide level. I highly commend those who have volunteered to take on this task and look forward to working together on this critical issue.”
Below is a list of the members of the advisory body. The group will be officially introduced at the Common Council’s next Police Oversight Committee on March 27 at 11am.
Bobbi Brown – Resident Advisory Board for Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority
Erin Carman - Assistant Professor at Daemen College’s Department of Social Work
Danielle Johnson – Open Buffalo’s Justice and Opportunity Table
De’Jon Hall – The MOCHA Center
Jonathan Manes – Assistant Clinical Professor at UB’s School of Law; Director, Civil Liberties & Transparency Clinic
Ari Moore – WNY Anti-Violence Project
Charles Morrison – My Brother’s Keeper Initative
Benjamin Nelson – National Lawyers Guild
Steven Sanyu – Burmese Community Services
Willie Smith – My Brother’s Keeper Initative
Yasmin Young – WBLK Director of Community Outreach
Contact:
Sean Mulligan
Chief of Staff to Niagara District Council Member David A. Rivera Office: 851-5125
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