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City convenes new community task force to review police use of force policies, procedures

This week, Vancouver City Manager Eric Holmes finalized the appointment of 12 members to the city’s new Community Task Force on Policing, designed to oversee implementation of the recommendations made in the Police Executive Research Forum's (PERF) use of force report on the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

The report was completed after a yearlong review by PERF on the VPD's policies, training, documentation and data on use of force and officer-involved shootings.

The task force is comprised of members representing the Vancouver City Council, City Manager's Office, Office of the Chief, the Chief's Diversity Advisory Team, mental health resources, police labor organizations, and organizations representing communities of color in Vancouver. Below is a list of the task force members that have been confirmed to date, with a homeless service provider and youth representative to be confirmed shortly.

"We recognize and are committed to making the changes necessary to serve the public safety needs of our community in a more just and equitable manner," said Holmes. "There is much work to be done within the VPD and our community to implement the full range of PERF recommendations. This task force will represent the community’s voice in discussions and issues related to use of force policies and help ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of these recommendations.”

The official charge of the task force is to:

  • review and assure transparency and accountability during the implementation of the 84 recommendations in the Police Executive Forum's (PERF) use of force report on the Vancouver Police Department; and
  • review and advise the city on establishing a body-worn camera program for implementation in the 2021-2022 biennium.

"An important part of making meaningful change is ensuring that we provide our community members and partners a seat at the table as we work through all the recommendations in the PERF report," said Vancouver Police Chief James McElvain. "The community working in partnership with city and VPD representatives will help us build a better and stronger department. I am grateful to all of the community members who have agreed to give of their time to serve on this important task force."

It is anticipated that the task force will meet for the first time in September. More information will be available on the city's website in the coming weeks.

Task force members:

  • Ed Hamilton Rosales, Southwest Washington League of United Latin American Citizens
  • Clayton Mosher, Washington State University Vancouver
  • Shareefah Hoover, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Vancouver chapter
  • Dr. Khalid Kahn, Vancouver Police Department’s Chief’s Diversity Advisory Committee
  • Kim Schneiderman, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Southwest Washington
  • Andre Marks, City of Vancouver Resident
  • Jamie Spinelli, Homeless Advocate - CVAB (Community Voices Are Born)
  • Eric Holmes, Vancouver City Manager
  • James McElvain, Vancouver Police Chief
  • Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Vancouver Mayor
  • Erik Paulsen, Vancouver City Councilmember
  • Sarah Fox, Vancouver City Councilmember
  • Commander Dave King, Vancouver Police Department, representing the VPD Command Guild
  • Detective Neil Martin, Vancouver Police Department, representing the VPD Police Guild
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