Common council approves Community Police Review Board members

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- After more than ten years of discussion and bills, the South Bend Common Council approved a resolution Monday night to appoint the first nine members of the Community Police Review Board.

The board was officially approved in 2020 and created in response to the officer-involved shooting and death of Eric Logan.

The review board will act as another layer of observation and transparency between the community and the South Bend Police Department.

At-large council member Dr. Oliver Davis believes the appointment of board members is a long time coming, and that the board will be effective in bridging any gaps between the community and police misconduct.

"Our whole key of envisioning this over ten years ago in 2014 was to bring public trust to our public safety boards. Therefore, the people can be involved, they can understand what's going on with our police. I believe it can help the police department and I believe it can help the citizens." Said Dr. Davis.

Director of the board, Charles Louis King III, hopes that they can begin training and working with the police department over the course of the next few months.

The nine new board members are as follows: 1st District: Sherria Williams, 2nd District: Komonique Thomas, 3rd District: Kelly Johnson, 4th District: LuElla Webster, 5th District: Dennis James Givens, 6th District: Clara Davis, 5th District at-large: Joseph Adam’s, 5th District at-large: Cheryl Ashe, 6th District at-large: Otis Davis.