At its meeting today, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed nine members to serve on the Police Civilian Review Panel. The panel was established by the board in December to serve as another way for residents to submit complaints concerning allegations of abuse of authority or misconduct by a Fairfax County police officer.
Appointed to serve were:
- Hansel Aguilar, Fairfax
- Kathleen Davis-Siudut, Springfield
- Steve Descano, Springfield
- Hollye Doane, Oakton
- Douglas Kay, Fairfax
- Randy Sayles, Oak Hill
- Jean Senseman, Lorton
- Adrian Steel, McLean
- Rhonda Vanlowe, Reston
All panel members are Fairfax County residents and have some expertise and experience relevant to the panel’s responsibilities. More details about the individual members can be found on Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova's announcement about the panel.
“The Police Civilian Review Panel will act as an independent portal for residents to submit concerns or complaints regarding the county’s Police Department, and will serve to promote further transparency and openness in community policing,” said Bulova.
Panel members will serve three-year terms with a two-term limit, although some inaugural members will serve for less time to allow for staggered terms.
The panel will have the authority to request and review completed Police Department internal administrative investigations regarding a civilian complaint against an officer. It may also hold public meetings to review police administrative investigations and walk through with members of the community how the investigation was conducted, including findings of fact, evidence collected and witness statements.
"This is a fantastic group of diverse Fairfax County residents,” said Braddock District Supervisor John C. Cook, who is chair of the board's Public Safety Committe. “Our residents can have added confidence in our police knowing that this highly qualified group of people will be providing civilian review in a constructive fashion that will help our excellent police force become even more responsive to community concerns.”
The Civilian Review Panel was a key recommendation of the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission, which delivered 202 recommendations in November 2015.