PHOENIX—Today, Mayor Kate Gallego and the City Council voted to appoint nine members to the Phoenix Civilian Review Board, an oversight body established to continue the City’s mission to improve transparency and accountability in the Phoenix Police Department. The appointments come in response to community input and shortly after the City Council
unanimously passed
a series of key police reform recommendations that aim to better document police activity and enhance data collection, among other efforts.
The Phoenix City Council voted on May 15 to create the Board, which will review, discuss, and approve monitoring reports issued by the
Office of Accountability and Transparency
(OAT). The Board will also review OAT policy recommendations to the Phoenix Police Department.
“My colleagues on the City Council and I know that accountability and transparency are essential to building trust between law enforcement and our community, and we are eager to continue our momentum on making improvements in both of those areas,” Gallego said. “Our newly established Civilian Review Board further institutionalizes meaningful community engagement and gives residents a permanent role in our oversight processes. We look forward to the recommendations that will be made by this diverse group of engaged residents.”
The Civilian Review Board consists of nine voting members, which were nominated by the Mayor and approved by a two-thirds vote of the City Council. The Board includes members with backgrounds in mental health, veteran care, and homelessness outreach, among other expertise.
Civilian Review Board members will serve staggered terms; three members for two years, three members for three years and three members for four years in their initial terms. All members will be eligible to serve a three-year term thereafter.
The members of the board are:
-
Terry Araman
-
Penny Allee Taylor
-
Tyrone Benson
-
Armando Ruiz
-
John Graham
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Valentina Hernandez
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Patricia (PJ) Jasso
-
Braden Lopez-Biggs
-
Dr. Michael Robert
