Battle Creek seeking members for new Community Oversight Board

BATTLE CREEK — The city of Battle Creek is seeking members for a new, volunteer Community Oversight Board that will, among other things, oversee police relations.

The board has been established with City Commission approval, not to mention several years of work throughout the community. The COB will be an advisory board to the city manager, reviewing appeals of investigations, and findings from community complaints against the Battle Creek Police Department.

The COB will also "create bridges between the community and law enforcement officers" by supporting community education and transparency, providing community perspective on police department practices and policies, and working to build credibility and community trust, per the city.

"The Community Oversight Board is an important example of a community-driven effort that led to action," Battle Creek Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Kimberly Holley said. "I believe it is needed to help build trust between community and law enforcement by enhancing accountability and transparency, centering community voice and perspectives, and serving as a conduit of information and education. Going forward, it will also be important for this board to build credibility as a community resource, in order to successfully serve as a bridge between community and law enforcement."

The board will have seven members and two alternates who reflect the city’s demographics as closely as possible:

• Up to seven members who live in the city; voting members; three will represent the NAACP, Voces and the Burma Center, community organizations serving and advocating for marginalized neighbors
• Up to one member who lives in another municipality that receives contracted BCPD services
• Two members who live in the city; alternates who will attend all meetings and have the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of members in those members’ absence
• The city's human resources director and diversity, equity, and inclusion officer will serve as ex-officio and non-voting members

Members must attend meetings at least quarterly, as well as mandatory training sessions. They must also participate in community engagement activities and additional relevant training opportunities. Members can serve two consecutive three-year terms.

Applications are available online at battlecreekmi.gov/BoardsAndCommissions. Those interested must submit an application by Aug. 5.

Those who cannot serve on the COB include: Current city employees (except the HR director and DEI officer); immediate relatives of city employees (siblings, children, spouses/partners, parents, or household members); active employees of other area law enforcement agencies and their immediate relatives; and former or retired law enforcement officers who worked in Calhoun County.

For more information about the BCPD complaint and appeal process, call (269) 966-3322 or email PoliceAdmin@battlecreekmi.gov. For other COB questions, contact DEI Officer Kimberly Holley at (269) 966-3355 ext. 1207 or klholley@battlecreekmi.gov.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com