Profiles of CABs and CRBs

In August 2021, the Fayetteville City Council established the Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB). Its mission is to advise the City Council, city manager, and police chief on police and community relations through policy recommendations, training curriculum support, public records assessment, and community experience sharing opportunities.

CPAB aims to address a variety of goals including considering police wellness and safety programs, encouraging a diverse workforce, and listening to and educating the public about police and justice. It will also evaluate police department performance using department-generated reports from use of force, pursuit, traffic stops, etc. and make recommendations as necessary. CPAB will only have access to materials in the public record and will not have access to internal affairs documents.  

As set out in its charter, the board will also develop a plan to gain community input. With this information, the advisory board will provide recommendations that focus on community policing and offer interactive police and community events. 

The city council began taking applications for appointed positions in September 2021 and initial appointments were made in December 2021.  

There are nine appointed members and one alternate member who will attend all meetings but will not vote unless another member cannot finish their term. In addition to residing in Fayetteville for more than six months, a member must also participate in the nine-hour Citizen Police Academy, a police patrol ride along, and other group learning opportunities. Members will serve no more than two consecutive three-year terms. Terms are staggered to assure a flow of new and continuing participants.  

CPAB will have at least one monthly meeting at which police department experts provide information to educate members on police practices and training.  

In January 2022, the Holly Springs Police-Community Advisory Group (PCAG) began to connect town residents with the Holly Springs Police Department. Community members are encouraged to apply and are appointed to serve three-year terms by the Chief of Police and the Town Manager. The group can have up to ten members with membership that reflects the town’s geographical diversity. Members are limited to serving two full terms.

 The PCAG works to improve communication between the community and the Police Department as they discuss resident, business, and neighborhood concerns as well as regional and local crime trends. In addition to attending meetings, all members volunteer to support police staff and are required to attend the department’s citizen academy to better familiarize themselves with the laws, ordinances, policies, and skills police officers use to maintain and improve community welfare. Meetings are held on a quarterly basis and are open to the public.

Recent topics of discussion include increasing the group’s visibility in the community through social media, community outreach events, analysis of crime trends, youth access to firearms, and the implementation of a new Teen Court, a program run by teens for teen offenders as an alternative to the Juvenile Justice system.

In 2022, the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office formed a Citizens’ Advisory Council (CAC) to hear citizen concerns about law enforcement following the shooting of a community member in the previous year. Duties of the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office CAC not only include hearing appeals of citizen complaints against deputies and employees of the Sheriff’s Office, but they are also charged to hear appeals and grievances from Sheriff’s Office employees, review and provide input on policy and procedural matters, participate in employee hiring, represent the greater community, and promote public awareness about police services.

The 13 members of the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office CAC must be at least 21 years old and a resident of the county for a year prior to being appointed. Membership must be diverse and representative of the community and must include members from all districts represented on the Board of Commissioners. The council must also consist of a representative from the Pasquotank NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), two faith leaders, a mental health provider, an attorney, a former member of law enforcement, and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Members are appointed to four year terms and membership vacancies are filled by a task force consisting of the County Manager, the Pasquotank NAACP president, and a Major from the Sheriff’s Office. As conditions of membership, CAC members must attend 4 out of 6 yearly meetings and complete 16 hours of ride-along experience in their first year and 4 hours each subsequent year of service.

Recent topics of discussion include decreasing violence in schools, member training requirements, selecting members to serve on deputy hiring committees, and finding the best methods to receive comments and feedback from the greater community.