In response to numerous complaints against the Greensboro Police Department, the Greensboro Citizens’ Interim Police Review Committee (GCIPRC) has been established.

 Two North Carolina A&T faculty members chair the committee, which is sponsored by the Beloved Community Center. James Mayes, interim chair of criminal justice, and Derick Smith, a political science professor, are accompanied by five Greensboro citizens who possess a background in criminal justice and police accountability. 

Alongside Smith and Mayes, the board includes Kathleen Casey, Rev. Randall Keeney, Barbara Lawrence, Yamile Nazar, and Bevelyn Ukah. 

At a town hall meeting to introduce the GCIPRC, citizens had the opportunity to meet each committee member, hear their experience in the criminal justice field, and to also understand why each member made the decision to serve. 

“I’m here tonight because I made a choice. I want to be a part of the solution,” said Mayes. “We need to remind people that the documents of our land say there needs to be checks and balances so that the people will always be protected in their rights.”

As stated in the GCIPRC’s Declaration of Intent, “A number of citizens have filed official complaints with the City of Greensboro about improper behavior by police officers without receiving satisfactory responses.”

Recently, Bennett College graduate Ashley Buchanan was arrested and charged with two misdemeanor accounts of assaulting a government official and resisting an officer. Buchanan was later acquitted of all charges. One officer was fired in result of the incident as well. 

Although there is currently a Complaint Review Committee (CRC) established, the GCIPRC handles complaints directly from citizens, conduct their own investigations separate from the police department, and will pursue subpoena power of evidence and all those involved in the complaint. The CRC receives most of its information involving a complaint from the police department and does not have subpoena power. 

The CRC was unavailable to comment on the forming of this board. 

In attendance at the meeting were various clergy members, city officials, students, citizens, community organizers as well as representatives of the Greensboro police department.

Committee member Barbara Lawrence shared that she chose to serve on the committee because she feels that there is a need to strengthen and enhance the relationships that we already have with the police department.

 “There are current policies that are in place that we need to continue to educate the public on,” she said. Lawrence currently serves as an assistant professor of Justice and Policy Studies at Guilford College.

Johnson, executive director of Beloved Community Center, is very adamant on making the presence of the GCIPRC known in Greensboro.

“All of Greensboro needs to know that there is an interim review board,” said Johnson. 

The GCIPRC’s declaration of intent also explains that it does not view itself as a permanent body. 

“We believe that it is not a total solution but a partial solution,” said Johnson. “Let us do our best to walk together toward equality.”

The board has not reached a decision as to how soon they will begin to receive complaints from citizens.

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• LACI OLLISON, Register Reporter