The Civilian Review Board (CRB) is bringing together top officials from the New Haven and Yale police departments at a public meeting next week for a conversation with residents about policing, oversight, and community trust.
The event comes as the police accountability board also prepares for the upcoming National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement conference in October, where members will join oversight boards from across the country to discuss best practices and emerging trends in civilian-police accountability.
CRB members discussed those upcoming events Monday evening during their latest monthly meeting, held at City Hall and virtually via Zoom. The CRB provides civilian oversight of investigations into alleged misconduct by New Haven police officers.
The community meeting with New Haven and Yale police brass will take place in person at City Hall and virtually via Zoom on Monday, Aug. 4 at 6 p.m.. NHPD Chief Karl Jacobson, YPD Chief Anthony Campbell, and other department representatives slated to attend. The forum will give community members a chance to raise questions, voice concerns, and learn more about police accountability and oversight processes in New Haven.
“This isn’t a regular CRB meeting — it’s a community conversation,” CRB Chair AnneMarie Rivera-Berrios emphasized during Monday’s discussion.
To promote the event, CRB members have launched a wide-ranging outreach effort. Flyers have been emailed, posted online, and distributed in person across the city — including at the Q House, Whitney Avenue businesses, the mayor’s office, community management team meetings, and the mailboxes of all New Haven alders.
Attendees can expect light refreshments, including sub sandwiches, courtesy of the CRB’s event planning. While the gathering is informal, CRB members emphasized that it serves a serious purpose: to increase transparency and foster a two-way dialogue on issues of public safety and police conduct.
To Travel Or Not To Travel To Minneapolis
In addition to planning for the community forum, the board discussed Monday night ongoing training opportunities and preparations for the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) conference, which will take place Oct. 26 – 30 in Minneapolis.
At the conference, CRB members plan to attend workshops and panel discussions focused on oversight strategies, accountability measures, and community-police relations, joining oversight professionals from across the country to exchange ideas and best practices.
Board members debated the cost and accessibility of out-of-state trainings. While some members championed recent training sessions — such as a well-reviewed course in Tampa offered by the Center for American and International Law — others expressed concerns about travel expenses and time commitments.
“I work two full-time jobs and can’t get out of town for days,” said Fair Haven Alder and CRB member Frankie Redente, expressing concerns about the time commitment required for out-of-town trainings.
CRB member Jean Jenkins agreed, adding, “We have Yale and the University of New Haven right here. We should look into local training options instead.”
CRB staff acknowledged those concerns and said they would explore more local training partnerships, including potentially working with the University of New Haven or Yale. Still, they emphasized the unique value of NACOLE, describing it as the only national conference specifically designed for civilian oversight boards.
Board administrator Alyson Heimer noted that a one-day Saturday training option for board members offers a more affordable and accessible alternative, reducing costs to around $1,200 instead of $3,000. She emphasized the value of the opportunity for networking and sharing best practices.
Members were reminded that while the board previously voted to participate in NACOLE, no additional travel trainings had been approved yet. The CRB also issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) last month to identify local experts who could lead trainings tailored to the board’s needs.