LONG BEACH, CA — Applications to serve on Long Beach’s first Police Oversight Commission are now open.
Members will have the opportunity to bring community concerns before the commission and the Long Beach Police Department directly. City officials said the goal of the commission is to improve relations with neighborhoods in the city.
“This is a major step forward in our efforts to enhance public trust in our police department and an important opportunity for members of the community to serve on a critical mechanism for accountability in our city,” Mayor Rex Richardson said.
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In 2022, voters approved Measure E which created the commission as a replacement for the former Citizen’s Police Complaint Commission. The new commission has broader oversight powers and will work closely with city officials.
The City Council appointed Francine Kerridge as the Director of Police Oversight, following a nationwide search. Members of the commission will work with Kerridge to review high-profile incidents and engage with the public.
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Applications are open starting Nov. 7 and will remain open through Dec. 6. Meetings are expected to start in March of 2024.
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