Cleveland City Council Set to Interview Finalists for Appointment to Cleveland Police Commission

Sep 02, 2022

Council’s Mayor’s Appointments Committee will interview 12 finalists on Tuesday Sept. 6^th and  Wednesday Sept. 7^th  for the new Cleveland Police Commission. Council’s Public Safety Committee determined the finalists to be interviewed for the newly formed commission.

Public Safety Committee members reviewed 169 qualified applicants before narrowing the field to 12 finalists. The Mayor's Appointments Committee will narrow down the finalists to three and the full City Council will appoint their three representatives to the 13-person Commission.  

The Commission is a result of voter support of a charter amendment - Issue 24 - in November 2021. Issue 24 provides additional oversight for Cleveland Police. The new Commission will oversee misconduct investigations and gives them final say on police discipline and input in key policy decisions, such as training and recruitment of officers, and they can over rule decisions made by  the Police Chief and Safety Director.

The Mayor’s Office will nominate 10 representatives to the 13-person Commission, and has its own process for selecting the finalists. The Mayor’s 10 representatives must be approved by the Mayor’s Appointments Committee and then the full Council before taking their seats on the Commission.  

The hearings will begin at 10 am on both days and will be in person but the public can watch virtually either on TV20 or Council's YouTube. Council’s finalists to be interviewed Tuesday Sept. 6^th are:

• John Adams
• Shandra Benito
• Virginia Beckman
• Jerry Billups
• Alexander Cooke

Council's finalists to be interviewed Wednesday Sept. 7th are: 

• Matthew Ahn
• Luke Davis
• Bree Easterling
• Audrianna Rodriguez
• Gregory Wheeler
• Gary Williams - withdrew application
• William Tell Sr.