By Antonio Olivo
Virginia’s largest jurisdiction is seeking
applicants for a new nine-member civilian panel that will review police abuse
cases.
Fairfax County approved the creation of the
civilian review panel last month, part of ongoing police reforms in the county
of 1.1 million residents spurred by controversy over the 2013 fatal shooting of
John B. Geer outside his home.
Fairfax officials are also wading through
applications for an independent police auditor who will review police
department investigations of cases in which use of force caused a death or
serious injury.
In a news release Thursday, the office of
Sharon Bulova (D), the chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors,
said the members of the civilian review panel will be appointed to three-year
terms, with one person serving as chairman.
Board appointments to the panel will be based
on previous civic involvement, expertise in law enforcement and an applicant’s
reputation in his or her community. The board will seek racial and ethnic
diversity and will try to appoint members from each of the county’s nine
magisterial districts.
The panel will not be open to current county
employees, former county law enforcement officers or any of their immediate
relatives. Elected officials or political candidates also are excluded from
serving on the panel.
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