New Castle County subcommittee reviews nominees for Police Accountability Board amid questions about appointment process

New Castle County's boards and commissions subcommittee on Feb. 17 interviewed a slate of nominees for county boards, including five candidates for the Police Accountability Board, and discussed several reappointments. Chair Dee Durham said formal votes on the nominees will be taken at the council meeting next Tuesday.

The nominees who spoke at the subcommittee meeting included Matthew Kelly, a social worker with the Division of Aging who said he would bring lived experience with the justice system and advocate for vulnerable populations; Kerwin Gaines, who cited prior law enforcement training and a focus on research and training for the board; Kenneth Woods, a former county council member who said he would not "check the box" and would rely on research before voting; Nuraldine Story, a retired Internal Revenue Service agent who emphasized bridging communication between the police and community; and Kaye Fitzgerald, a Citizens Police Academy graduate and project manager who said she would emphasize transparency and relationship building.

Council members also discussed reappointments. Kevin Evans was noted as having served as vice chair and helped build the board's online repository; Dr. Jenna de la Terrio was praised for her community work and the Knollwood Peace Walks. Several council members asked to be listed as cosponsors for reappointments and new nominations; counsel advised that co-sponsorship requires the prime sponsor's approval and can be documented on the floor or by written confirmation.

A recurring theme in the meeting was concern about the Police Accountability Board's vacancies and the appointment process. Councilman Street said he was troubled that the board has many vacancies after more than a year of operation and asserted that the process "reeks of mischief," adding that he would not support nominees next week unless the appointment practice changes. Councilman Cartier responded with a procedural point, noting that 70% of board appointments come from the county executive's office and are then consented to by council, a factual clarification about how most appointments are initiated.

Councilmembers and staff also discussed how the board's recommendations will be measured. Councilman Toole and others said research and quantifiable measures like crime rates are part of the conversation, but measuring whether a community "feels safe" may require surveys and other community-specific metrics.

During the hearing, the committee addressed an administrative question about whether Jared Harris's listing was an appointment or a reappointment. Councilmember Smiley moved that if the listing was an appointment and the individual was present, the nomination should be allowed to proceed to a vote next Tuesday; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote, with one member opposed.

At the meeting's close, Rob Bullock, president of the Community Alliance Coalition, asked whether recommendations from the previous iteration of the Police Accountability Board had been received by council and whether a new group would have to start over on prior recommendations. The subcommittee did not announce a formal resolution on that question during the session; next steps for the nominees are the scheduled votes at the full council meeting.

The subcommittee adjourned after a short procedural motion. Votes on the nominations and reappointments were scheduled for the next Tuesday council meeting.