The newly selected Board Members of the Community Review Board (“CRB”) met for the first time today, Friday, October 27, 2023. One of the first orders of business was to establish the Board Officers and confirm Mayor Freddie O'Connell’s selection of Jill Fitcheard to the position of Executive Director of the new Metro agency.
"I am thrilled to be selected and confirmed for the position of Executive Director of the newly formed Community Review Board and am thankful for this opportunity to expand our role in the public safety discussion. I am excited to work towards building thriving, productive and solution-focused relationships with community organizations and criminal justice stakeholders to amplify the voices of the community in matters of accountability, violence, safety, and prevention as well as working alongside Mayor O’Connell’s administration to carry out the mission and vision of a better, stronger, and safer Nashville for all,” stated Director Fitcheard.
Mayor O'Connell expressed his hope for a smooth transition for the recall of staff and because of his expedient directives, Metro leadership in the Law, Finance, and Human Resources departments were able to meet and strategize on how to bring the staff of the Community Review Board back to work on Monday, October 30, 2023. A recall letter will be delivered today to each employee with an offer that details their classification and salary, and with their anticipated acceptance, the layoff process will cease.
"The reconstitution of the Community Oversight Board to the newly formed Community Review Board was initially very uncertain, but with the swift support of our newly elected Mayor, Freddie O'Connell, we were able to see a clear path forward. The parameters set by the state preemption law of the abolishment of oversight boards in the State of Tennessee was designed to be a setback to community police relations. The Community Review Board's focus will be on creating a bold, inclusive vision for public safety for all Nashville residents, broadening the scope of police accountability and transparency that preserves the spirit of what made the original Community Oversight Board a reality,” stated Chair Alisha Haddock.
The Community Review Board was created by Metro Council ordinance earlier this year in response to the State Legislature's attempt to abolish the Community Oversight Board. The Community Oversight Board was created by Charter referendum and passed by overwhelming support in 2018. The new Community Review Board will have the ability to receive and resolve anonymous complaints of police misconduct from the community, review the completeness of investigations by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department's Office of Professional Accountability, and make recommendations for the improvement of police policies and activities and to benefit the community.