Brookline Select Board Committee Interview on Policing Reforms

Last week, Select Board Chair Bernard Greene and three members from the Select Board’s Committee on Policing Reforms were guests on “BrooklineHub in-depth.” On March 2, the Committee on Policing Reforms presented its final report during a Select Board meeting. At the meeting, the Select Board’s Task Force to Reimagine Policing, chaired by Select Board Member, Raul Fernandez, presented its final report.
Bernard Greene was joined in the interview by:

• Michael Zoorob – Ph.D. Candidate in the department of government at Harvard University’s School of Arts and Sciences.
• Dr. Elizabeth Childs - former Massachusetts commissioner of mental health; and a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist
• Ronald B. Wilkerson, senior business intelligence program technologist at Boston Children's Hospital

Green, Zoorob, Childs, and Wilkerson discussed in detail with host R. Harvey Bravman several recommendations, including forming a police commissioner advisory committee (PCAC). The role of the PCAC would be to assist the Brookline Select Board in its role as police commissioners and provide effective civilian oversite of the police department. The charge to provide civilian oversite of Brookline police was also echoed in the Task Force to Reimagine Policing in Brookline’s report.
On March 23, the Select Board held a public hearing that lasted approximately five hours. On March 25, the Select Board discussed areas of agreement between the reform committee and the reimaging task force. Both discussions can be seen on BIG YouTube.

In the previous episode of “BrooklineHub In-Depth,” Bravman interviewed Task Force to Reimagine Policing Chair Raul Fernandez. In both episodes, members of the task force and the reform committee addressed whether social workers rather than police might better at addressing various non-violent situations.

Task Force to Reimagine Policing in Brookline Executive Summary

Select Board Committee on Policing Reforms Summary of Recommendations

“BrooklineHub In-Depth” is hosted by BrooklineHub.com publisher R. Harvey Bravman. The show is produced by Bravman and Danielle Myers, a producer from Bravman’s for-profit company, ADW Video Productions.
“BrooklineHub In-Depth” can also be seen on all Brookline Interactive Group cable and online channels.

By R. Harvey Bravman

BrooklineHub.com is a 501C3 non-profit dedicated to reporting and commenting on life, culture, and community in Brookline. As part of our mission, we advocate for non-profits vital in making this a better place to live, and by sponsoring and supporting events that promote community-building. We hold the belief that as a community, we should foster the well-being of all, remaining mindful of our young people, seniors, and underprivileged.