Citizens Advisory Board Will Work With Gwinnett County Police

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — In the hope of strengthening relations between the community and the Gwinnett County Police Department, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has approved the creation of a citizens advisory board to offer input on issues such as use of force, training, transparency and to deal with complaints.

The 11-member board will be comprised of representatives from various groups across the county and will provide advice to the police department, the county administrator and the board of commissioners. The board will be made up of appointees from each member of the board of commissioners, a Gwinnett 101 Citizens Academy graduate, and a member each from the Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the Gwinnett Bar Association Criminal Defense Section, the Gwinnett Tech Student Government Association, View Point Health and Gwinnett cities within the Police Services District. Members will serve staggered two-year terms.

The citizens advisory board will assist the department by using a collaborative problem-solving process that supports both the community and the police department’s "desire to enhance public safety," the board of commissioners noted in a release.

The new board will offer feedback about reforms to improve community-oriented policing practices, transparency, professionalism, accountability, community inclusion, fairness, effectiveness and public trust while taking into account national standards, best practices, current and emerging research, and community expectations.

“The citizens advisory board will support the board of commissioner’s vision of a vibrantly connected community where all stakeholders feel informed, engaged and heard,” Comissioners Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson said in a statement. “Establishing the citizens advisory board will help build an open and positive relationship between the public and law enforcement. It builds mutual understanding and trust.”

District 4 Commissioner Marlene Fosque said the citizens advisory board fulfills a promise she made with community leaders to improve connections and engagements with police.

“The board will empower people and help them to be more knowledgeable about law enforcement,” Fosque said. “Hopefully it will open some eyes and enlighten our community even more. The dialogue that stems from a citizens advisory board can broaden how people perceive things. Both parties may very well end up saying, ‘I never knew that,’ or ‘I never thought of it that way before.’”