Pugh Announces Members Of Police Oversight Body

RadioOnFire.com - Mayor Catherine Pugh on Wednesday announced the nine Baltimore residents who will serve on the Community Oversight Task Force.

The police consent decree demanded that a five-member task force be named by July 1 to recommend reforms to the police department task force. City officials say Pugh asked for a larger group to reflect the city's diversity. The Justice Department approved that request, and set forth no other selection guidance.

"To make the selection process as transparent as possible, I did not go through the normal channels to seek task force members," Pugh said in a statement. "I went straight to the community to solicit applications in hopes that we would assemble a group that accurately reflects the makeup of the city."

She said the members had previous policy development experience, a commitment to their community and an understanding of the task force's work. The task force will recommend police reforms.

The announcement is not to be confused with the search for a court-appointed monitor. Officials are still seeking feedback from community members on the applicants.

Source WBAL