Changes possible for civilian oversight board

Council delays vote on executive director

One third of Albuquerque’s Police Oversight Board is vacant and the contract for the executive director of the Civilian Police Oversight Agency comes to an end in the middle of next month.

Several city councilors said they plan to take up those issues after an upcoming study session about civilian oversight, which could lead to changes.

Last month, city councilors in a committee delayed a vote to reappoint Ed Harness, the executive director of the Civilian Police Oversight Agency, to another three-year term.

The POB, to which the CPOA reports, sent a letter to councilors in May that said they are pleased with Harness’ performance and asked councilors to extend his contract for three more years.

“We’re kind of upset about that. Ed had done tremendous work,” Leonard Waites, the chairman of the POB, said about councilors not voting on the contract. “We kind of have him in limbo.”

Councilor Brad Winter said the City Council plans to have a study session and get feedback on how the system is working from various stakeholders, including the American Civil Liberties Union, police union, POB and community policing councils, which could lead to changes. He said it will reconsider Harness’ contract and other appointments after the session, which is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 27, at noon.

“I think it’s absolutely a lot better than it was,” Winter said of civilian oversight in Albuquerque. “I think it’s the most important board in the city. It’s a necessity that it works.”

Harness said he’s currently under contract to hold his position until mid-October.

“I’m not sure why the City Council is thinking of changing civilian oversight right now,” he said.

Currently, six of the nine POB seats positions are filled. Waites said that has forced the board members to serve on multiple subcommittees, which is taking its toll on the volunteer board.

Harness has led the CPOA since Albuquerque’s civilian oversight system was revamped following a U.S. Department of Justice investigation that found Albuquerque police had a pattern of excessive force.

The city and DOJ later reached a settlement agreement as a result of those findings, which outlines a series of reforms police have to make. One of those reforms included having a powerful civilian oversight system.

Councilor Pat Davis said while he thinks Harness has done a good job as the head of the CPOA, there are some concerns about the civilian oversight in Albuquerque. Specifically, he said the City Council would like to see more reports from the CPOA about how it handles investigations and there are concerns about a high rate of turnover on the POB.