City of Fernandina Beach Police Chief Announces Police Department Advisory Board

Police Chief Jim Hurley has announced the formation of a Police Department Advisory Board to provide insight and counsel on department issues and policies, and to further help build strong personal relationships and trust between police officers and community members.

The twelve members of the board will each serve a one year term and will meet with the Chief and department staff both one-on-one and in small groups. “The uncertainty of Coronavirus helped to shape the structure of this advisory panel, but I plan to utilize Zoom meetings and email to communicate on a regular basis with members,” said Hurley. The Advisory Board will be asked to weigh in on current and controversial topics, community perceptions, and organizational trends, and will regularly review police tactics, training and policies.

This inaugural board will consist of the following individuals; Samir Gupte, Chief Change Officer at Samiracles Consulting; Bishop Thomas Coleman, President of the Nassau County NAACP; Rick Keffer, local businessman and well-known community leader; Judge Lester Bass, Fourth Circuit Court; Vicki Cannon, Nassau County Supervisor of Elections; Wendell McGahee, local community activist; Senator Aaron Bean, (R) Fernandina Beach; Rev. Nicole Campbell, Elm Street Church of God; Edward Brown, Principal at Fernandina Beach Middle School; Sherri Mitchell, Interim Executive Director of the Nassau County Economic Development Board; Wayne Peterson, Union President at Rayonier Advanced Materials; and Medardo Monzon, a retired management consultant.

“Although police reform, fueled by violent police confrontations nationwide, remains an important focus of this group, I anticipate that the group will push into several other areas, such as institutional racism and obstacles to minority success, as well as local business and educational opportunities,” Hurley said. Community members are encouraged to reach out to any advisory board member to share thoughts or concerns or they may contact Chief Hurley directly to participate in this ongoing discussion.

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