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City of Albuquerque
File #: OC-18-4   
Type: Other Communication Status: Confirmed
File created: 1/17/2018 In control: City Council
Final action: 2/5/2018
Enactment date: Enactment #:
Title: Staff Recommendation to Appoint Ms. Chelsea Van Deventer to the Police Oversight Board
Attachments: 1. OC-4

CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE

CITY COUNCIL

 

 

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                     City Councilors

FROM:                     Jon K. Zaman, Director of Council Services

SUBJECT:                     title

Staff Recommendation to Appoint Ms. Chelsea Van Deventer to the Police Oversight Board

body

DATE:                     January 12, 2018

 

 

Pursuant to the provisions of §9-4-1-5 of the Police Oversight Ordinance, City Council staff recommends the appointment of Ms. Chelsea Van Deventer to the Police Oversight Board.

 

                     APPOINTEE NAME                                                                                                                              TERM                     

Chelsea Van Deventer                                                                                                              February 2, 2021                     

332 Fontana Pl. NE                     

Albuquerque, New Mexico  87108

 

Ms. Chelsea Van Deventer was formerly a trial attorney at the Public Defenders Office. Ms. Van Deventer has a Bachelors and Law degree from UNM. Ms. Van Deventer’s interest in serving on the Board comes from the meaningfull discussion on law enforcement and communities that is happening nationally and locally, and recognizes the POB is the perfect opportunity to problem solve and move forward. Ms. Van Deventer finds the Board’s work crucial and and is interested in helping the Board execute its oversight and policy analysis functions. If appointed, Ms. Chelsea Van Deventer would replace Dr. Susanne Brown, whose term has expired and declined reappointment. Ms. Van Deventer would serve her first full term, which would expire on February 2, 2021.

 

 

 

 

Current Board Membership:

Name                                                                                                         Term                     

Dr. Susanne Brown                                                               02/02/2018

Mr. Leonard Waites                                                               02/02/2018

Mr. Johnny J. Armijo                                          02/02/2018

Ms. Chantal M. Galloway                                           02/02/2019

Ms. Valerie St. John                                                               02/02/2019

Mr. Eric Cruz                                                                                    02/02/2019

Ms. Joanne Fine                                                               02/02/2020

Rev. Dr. David Ring III                                          02/02/2020

Dr. William J. Kass                                                               02/02/2020

 

Per the Ordinance, the POB composition is to consist of nine at-large members who:

“broadly represent the diversity and demographics of the City by way of, including but not limited to, cultural, gender and geographic diversity; and who are representative of the stakeholders of the police oversight process, and who reside within the City of Albuquerque.” 9-4-1-5(A) ROA 1994.

Members serve three-year terms. Per the Police Oversight Ordinance, Board members must also meet the following requirements:

(1)                     He or she must not have been employed by law enforcement for one year prior to appointment; and

                                          (2)                     He or she must successfully pass a background check; and

                                          (3)                     He or she must have a personal history lacking any pattern of unsubstantiated complaints against APD; and

(4)                     He or she must have a demonstrated ability to engage in mature, impartial decision making; and

(5)                     He or she must have a commitment to transparency and impartial decision making; and

                                          (6)                     He or she must be a resident of the City of Albuquerque

 

Per Ordinance requirements for the Board’s composition, listed above, Council Staff recommends Ms. Chelsea Van Deventer be appointed to the Police Oversight Board.

 

BACKGROUND

 

In the summer of 2016, City Council Staff decided to open the application process for POB membership in order to refresh the City pool of pontential POB members and to outreach to certain underrepresentated areas of the City. The Ordinance requires that the Board broadly represent the demographics of the City by cultural, gender, and geographic diversity.

 

The Council Office published the Police Oversight Board Application webpage on it’s website at 8:00am on June 1, 2016 and closed the the page and application process at 5:00pm on July 8, 2016. There were a total of 54 applications submitted. One applicant withdrew his application, two applicants lived outside of City limits, which disqualified them, and three applicants did not turn in their background waiver form, which disqualified them. This left 48 applications for the Selection Committee to review. 

 

The Selection Committee consisted of:

                     Jon K. Zaman, Director, Council Services

                     Chris Melendrez, Senior Policy Analyst/Legal & Land Use, Council Services

                     Julian Moya, Special Projects Analyst, Council Services

 

After filling a previous vacacy, the Selection Committee recommended keeping the list of qualified applicants for consideration should any other vacancies occur. This would allow the Selection Committee to select from a pre-qualified and diverse candidate pool in order to fulfill the Ordinance requirements.

 

ATTACHMENTS

                     Map of POB Members

X:\CITY COUNCIL\SHARE\CL-Staff\_Legislative Staff\Legislation\Other Communications (OC)\Staff Recommendation to Appoint Chelsea Van Deventer to POB.doc