March 21, 2017

SCPD Relaunches Chief’s Advisory Committee

Santa Cruz Police Department Announces the Reinstatement of Chief’s Advisory Committee

Deputy Chief Rick Martinez announced today the reformation of the Chief’s Advisory Committee.
 The panel provides a forum for discussion and presents the Chief with a diverse spectrum of viewpoints represented by our community members. The Chief’s Advisory Committee further creates an avenue for greater understanding between police and community and promotes public input into the Department’s policies, strategies, and priorities.
The Santa Cruz Police Chief’s Advisory Committee consists of local leaders in the field of homelessness, mental health, education, faith, social justice, as well as neighborhood, business and community leaders. The Committee will address the most pressing issues facing the Santa Cruz Police Department, specifically around Department policies and accountability, and provide critical feedback to the Department on these issues. The discussions allow the Department to engage and collaborate with the community in a comprehensive manner with goals of increasing public safety, confidence and trust.

“We are fortunate to work with such a diverse and qualified group of people to review imminent policies such as body cameras,” said Deputy Chief Martinez.  “The relaunch of the Chief’s Advisory Committee gives community members a greater voice and most importantly builds public trust.  The input shared will assist the Department in refining our community policing concepts, and improve public awareness about future Department initiatives.”

The panel, chaired by Deputy Chief Martinez, will meet monthly starting in April.  Positions on the Chief's Advisory Committee are voluntary and unpaid.

The Chief’s Advisory Committee includes the following members:
Robert Orrizzi- Santa Cruz Neighbors

Analicia Cube- Take Back Santa Cruz

Sarah Durant-Smith – Resource Center for Nonviolence

Steve Pleich- American Civil Liberties Union/Mental Health Client Action Network

Brent Adams- Warming Center

Brenda Griffin- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Celeste Faraola-Perie- Downtown Business Owner 

William Ow- Business Owner/Developer

Mark Hodges- Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Nane Alejandrez- Barrios Unidos 

Phil Kramer- Homeless Services Center

Beverly Brook-Peace United Church of Christ

Sharon Papo-Santa Cruz Diversity Center

Sheryl Lee- National Alliance on Mental Illness

JD Sotelo-Neighbors of Lower Ocean
   
ABOUT SCPD

The Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) is committed to working in partnership with the community to enhance public safety, prevent crime, enforce laws and protect the rights of all people through innovative problem-solving approaches.  A progressive, professional organization, SCPD officers are dedicated to conducting themselves with the highest ethical standards and the department is accountable to the community. SCPD has 94 sworn officers and 29 civilian staff to protect and serve Santa Cruz’s 64,000 residents and millions of annual visitors. Learn more at www.santacruzpolice.com, http://santacruzpolice.blogspot.com, or via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.