Rules Committee
September 12, 2024
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson
City Administrator
FROM: Felicia Verdin
Assistant to the City
Administrator
SUBJECT: Selection Panel Nominations for
Police Commissioner Appointments
DATE: August 26, 2024
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Accepting The Police Commission Selection Panel’s Slate Of Two Commissioners, Angela Jackson-Castain And Samuel Dawit, To Serve On The Oakland Police Commission
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In accordance with the City Charter, City Council’s approval of the resolution will accept the Selection Panel’s slate of nominees, Angela Jackson-Castain and Samuel Dawit to serve on the Police Commission. With City Council’s approval, Ms. Jackson-Castain will be appointed as a Police Commissioner for a three-year term beginning on October 17, 2024 and ending on October 16, 2027. Mr. Dawit’s term will begin on October 17, 2024, and end on October 16, 2026 as he is completing a term previously held by Karely Ordaz who resigned.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
The Oakland Police Commission was first established by voter approval through Measure LL on November 8, 2016, and later amended through Measure S1 on November 3, 2020. Measures LL and S1 established a seven-member Police Commission, with two alternate commissioners, charged with overseeing the Oakland Police Department (OPD) to ensure that its policies, practices, and customs meet national standards of constitutional policing. Duties of the Police Commissioners include overseeing the Community Police Review Agency (CPRA), which conducts investigations into allegations of officer misconduct, overseeing the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which performs independent audits of OPD, proposing changes to, approving, or rejecting current or proposed OPD policies, hiring and removing the Chief of Police, and other duties.
Measures LL and S1 also established a nomination process whereby a nine-person Selection Panel is responsible for nominating four (4) Commissioners and one (1) Alternate Commissioner to the Police Commission. The Mayor is responsible for nominating the other three (3) Commissioners and one (1) Alternate Commissioner to the Police Commission. All nominations are subject to City Council approval. The Mayor and each City Council Member Jestin Johnson (Aug 29, 2024 17:05 PDT)
Aug 29, 2024
Jestin Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Selection Panel Police Commissioner Appointments Date: August 26, 2024 Page 2
Rules Committee
September 12, 2024
select an individual to serve on the Selection Panel. The Selection Panel meets as needed to determine its selection process, including reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and selecting commissioners.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
This recommendation is connected to the citywide priority of holistic community safety. The work of the Selection Panel to nominate Police Commissioners is critically important to public safety in Oakland to ensure that the body is representative of Oakland. The Police Commission is responsible for overseeing many policies and other work that govern OPD, the OIG and CPRA.
For the 2024 nomination period, the Selection Panel was tasked with selecting two commissioners to replace one commissioner whose term was set to expire on October 16, 2024 and another to replace a commissioner that resigned.
In the spring, the Selection Panel conducted an extensive community outreach process to seek applications for two commissioner positions. During the summer of 2024, the Selection Panel interviewed 6 applicants over the course of two rounds of interviews.
The Selection Panel selected two (2) candidates as its nominees to the Police Commission:
Angela Jackson-Castain and Samuel Dawit. Ms. Jackson-Castain was previously selected to serve on the Police Commission as an alternate. Her appointment as an alternate Police Commission was approved by City Council on June 7, 2022, pursuant to City Council Resolution No. 89214 C.M.S.
She was elevated by the Police Commission to a full
commissioner seat after a commissioner resigned and her term is set to expire on October 16, 2024. Ms. Jackson-Castain applied to the Selection Panel as an incumbent to serve as a full- time Police Commissioner during the 2024 nomination process and was selected by the Selection Panel as their nominee.
Ms. Jackson-Castain and Mr. Dawit’s application materials are included herein as Attachments A, and B.
If the City Council does not take any action on Angela Jackson-Castain and/or Samuel Dawit’s nomination within sixty (60) days, in that case, the two nominees shall be deemed appointed to the Police Commission pursuant to City Charter Section 604(c)(3)(c).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with City Council action on this report.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
Public outreach for the Police Commission vacancies were conducted through a press release, postings on various social media channels including Nextdoor and Twitter, outreach at Jestin Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Selection Panel Police Commissioner Appointments Date: August 26, 2024 Page 3
Rules Committee
September 12, 2024
community events, emails to local nonprofits, flyers provided at community events, and ads placed in the Oakland Post and El Mundo.
COORDINATION
This report has been prepared in coordination with the Office of the City Attorney.
SUS TAI NABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: There are no economic opportunities associated with this report.
Environmental: There are no environmental opportunities associated with this report.
Race & Equity: There are no race and equity opportunities associated with this report.
ACTION RE
QUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Accepting The Selection Panel’s Slate Of Two Police Commissioners (Angela Jackson-Castain and Samuel Dawit) To Serve On The City Of Oakland Police Commission.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Felicia Verdin, Assistant to the City Administrator, at (510) 238-3128.
Respectfully submitted,
Felicia Verdin
Assistant to the City Administrator
Attachments (2):
A. Angela Jackson-Castain – Application for Police Commissioner B. Samuel Dawit – Application for Police Commissioner
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Application for Position of Commissioner: Supplemental Questionnaire Applicant: Angela Jackson-Castain
1. Please describe any life work and significant community volunteer experiences that prepare you to contribute to the work of the Commission.
As someone born and raised in Oakland, community engagement and advocacy were instilled in me at an early age. One of my first significant experiences preparing me for the work of the Commission was serving as Chair for the City of Oakland’s Mayor’s Youth Advisory Commission under former Mayor Jerry Brown while in high school. This experience afforded me insight into how communities addressed societal issues from a governance vantage point; and, not just as individuals experiencing them. This was my introduction into city government, I then went on to major in political science in college.
Another significant experience was through work. I was instrumental in establishing the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Diagnostic Center where I lead the delivery of national best practices, training and technical assistance, and data-driven solutions to local communities across the country grappling with systemic criminal justice and law enforcement issues.
In this capacity, I honed my expertise to become a nationally recognized criminal justice professional and subject matter expert (SME) with over twelve years of experience in quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques and the application of rigorous research methodologies to assess the efficacy of law enforcement, systemic violence and other serious crime problems. I collaborated with top executives in law enforcement, municipal and judicial sectors and other leaders in the criminal justice community to help communities address these complex justice issues by developing empirically-based recommendations and customized solutions to persistent public safety and organizational challenges. The goal of this work was to develop holistic, tangible solutions that encompassed all facets of the community to build local capacity to implement recommendations and monitor progress for sustainable change.
The experiences of my personal and professional life have more than adequately prepared me to contribute to the work of the Commission, as I have demonstrated experience in the following:
Policy & Practice
• Reviewing, customizing and developing policing policy and procedures in accordance with national standards; specifically, in the areas of police misconduct and discipline, use of force, organizational risk management, police accountability and the customization of Lexipol policies
• Establishing police/civilian oversight, transparency and accountability organizations • Conducting program evaluations and developing and implementing key performance indicators and to track progress toward intended outcomes
• Serving as a key contributor, panelist and trainer at international and national conferences (i.e., IACP, NOBLE, NCJ, NFCJ, PERF; see resume for an exhaustive list and organizational affiliations) Stakeholder Coordination & Collaboration, Strategic Planning & Resourcing • Understanding of the entire criminal justice system and key stakeholder groups needed to support reforms and initiatives
• Establishing criminal justice coordinating councils for top officials across all sectors of the justice system
• Facilitating community outreach and engagement; hosting/moderating townhalls, focus groups, roundtable discussions, etc.
• Developing robust strategic plans with identification and prioritization of initiatives, projects and activities in alignment with near- and long-term goals and objectives • Understanding municipal finances; including financial structures, budget management and resource allocation
• Identifying and coordinating local, state and federal resources to support program initiatives Application for Position of Commissioner: Supplemental Questionnaire Applicant: Angela Jackson-Castain
Expertise & Knowledge Base
• Possessing up-to-date knowledge of key issues such as racial disparities in policing and unconstitutional policing practices confronting justice and social systems • Working with and on behalf of marginalized populations to improve police interactions • Developing/coordinating effective policing solutions on a range of topics; such as racial bias, mental health, substance abuse, recidivism, juvenile justice, domestic and intimate partner violence and homelessness
My hope is to be able to leverage these skills and experience to enhance the work of the Commission.
Through my working relationships with renowned experts and national organizations, I am well- positioned to bring innovative solutions to the Oakland Police Department and the City of Oakland.
I voted to establish the Commission in 2016 and I am still committed to its vision and mission to improve upon and ensure best practices in policing, specifically for people of color and other marginalized groups.
Moreover, I am personally committed to the eradication of systemic racism and injustice. Working with the Oakland Police Commission would provide me an opportunity to directly contribute to the growth and development of my community.
2. Please describe your contacts or experiences with the Oakland Police Department.
Aside from the D.A.R.E. program as an Oakland public school student and more recent requests for support from law enforcement/community liaison officer to address specific incidents/concerns in my West Oakland neighborhood, I have had virtually no other contact with OPD. In a professional capacity, the local departments I have worked directly with include Richmond, Vallejo and Salinas PDs.
3. Please describe, if applicable, if you or an immediate family member has had significant volunteer or employment experience: (a) as a police officer, (b) as a criminal prosecutor or defense attorney, (c) with a public agency or nonprofit community group serving or advocating for crime victims or persons charged or convicted of crimes.
N/A; neither I nor an immediate family member has worked or volunteered in these roles. I have only worked with the aforementioned in a professional capacity.
4. Have you ever served on a board, committee, commission, or other group? (Examples might include church boards or school organizations.) Please describe your experiences. What were the most challenging aspects of your participation?
City of Oakland Police Commission, Alternate Commissioner I am currently serving as an Alternate Commissioner and was recently sworn-in June 16, 2022. As I am being onboarded and going through prerequisite training, I am also collaborating with Commissioners to determine where the greatest need lies and how I can be of most service. I anticipate being a key contributor to the policy-related ad hoc committees, such as Body Worn Cameras Policy, Racial Profiling Policy, Militarized Equipment Policy, Rules and Procedures, SOPs; as well as the Community Outreach ad hoc. I am also exploring the potential to stand up an ad hoc committee around Data and Analysis for to inform decision making. As I am still getting acclimated, no challenges to report at this time.
Application for Position of Commissioner: Supplemental Questionnaire Applicant: Angela Jackson-Castain
YWCA Berkeley/Oakland Board of Directors, Executive Committee For the last six years, I have served as a Board member on the Board of Directors for the YWCA Berkeley/Oakland to support of its mission to eliminate racism and empower women. I am currently on the Executive Committee and have served on a variety of subcommittees; such as the Asset, Financial Development, Program & Policy, Nominating, and Personnel committees. I supported the development, review and approval of annual budgets, audits; evaluated and nominated potential candidates for membership; supported program leads in delivering the YWCA programs’ services to Oakland and Berkeley; and participated and spearheaded funding raising events.
Some of the most challenging aspects of my participation has been around representation. Until recently, I have been serving as the youngest Board member and being a Black woman on a Board that has historically been comprised of more affluent, white women closely aligned to the University (Cal Berkeley). Therefore, the approach to delivering services to underserved members of the community, in particular school-aged girls in Oakland, has come from a limited vantage point and perhaps, a lack of understanding of what needs should be met through our programming.
As a result, we have shifted the focus of the Board to improve understanding and awareness of systemic racism and the cascading impacts. As a Board, we recently received racial justice and anti-racism training, we are launching an initiative on digital equity and partnering with other organizations to align investments as shareholders to promote social corporate responsibility, particularly in the realm of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Other Local Activities
Active member of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College – Bay Area Chapter, volunteer in Oakland Public School District, PICO California, and Faith in Action. As a youth, served as the Chair of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Commission for the City of Oakland and Chair of the Northern California chapter of A Better Chance.
Please see enclosed resume for full list of organization memberships and affiliations.
Encl.: Resume
Jackson-Castain 3| Page
• Served as primary author of key contract deliverables and products to inform the broader justice community on data-driven approaches to identifying and solving the most pressing crime-related challenges confronting justice systems.
U.S. Department of Defense, All-Source Intelligence Analyst, 2009–2012 • Worked within the functional areas of threat modeling and applied analytics to develop methods and approaches to intelligence problems; provided data collection, analysis, and policy recommendations to U.S. Government (USG) clients in support of their security and defense missions.
• Conducted Research & Development, as a model and methods developer, leveraging a variety of social science methodologies and analytical techniques to systematically dissect complex problems and provide empirically-based recommendations. • Conducted statistical, quantitative, and qualitative data coding and analysis, as well as social network analysis to research potential threats, terrorist and transnational crime networks. • Authored case studies on relevant international human security issues and civil-military relations for countries of interest for the U.S. Combatant Commands (COCOMs). • Provided geospatial analysis in support of U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) to enhance hazard assistance disaster relief knowledge management platforms and for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program to evaluate broadband and wireless capabilities for municipalities.
• Developed complex databases and methodology to analyze unstructured data on the global dispersion of populations of interest. In support of the same USG client, conducted in-depth interviews with key subject matter experts to develop a Best Practices Guide on Agent-Based Modeling.
2008–2009 &
2006–2007
Non-Profit
Financial
Consumer Credit Counseling Service Atlanta, GA
Bilingual Budget/Credit Counselor, Bilingual Bankruptcy Counselor • Provided financial counseling and high-quality customer care to English and Spanish- speaking clients faced with bankruptcy, budget, and credit issues. • Responsible for training new employees on the process of counseling clients and the creation of personalized Debt Management Plans, as well as managing compliance with law firm affiliates.
• Served as media spokesperson to relay current market trends and program offerings to news media personnel and other key stakeholders.
• Supported educational outreach projects to provide basic financial education and budget management strategies to local residents.
2008
Education
Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA
Graduate Teacher Assistant
• Served as sole teaching assistant for an Ethics in International Affairs course, serving approximately 200 undergraduate students.
• Managed and developed supplemental course material; developed and executed grading scheme for students’ assignments.
• Assisted students by reinforcing course content presented by the professor, answering questions, and leading pre-exam tutorial sessions.
2005
Government
Atlanta City Council – Post 3: At Large Atlanta, GA Policy Analyst and Advisor
• Addressed constituent concerns, researched legislation, and attended Neighborhood Planning Unit and council meetings.
• Served as Supervisory Office Manager and managed a staff of five; provided workforce training skills to staff members and facilitated community engagement activities.
Jackson-Castain 5| Page
Conferences &
Training Events
(continued)
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE): 41st Annual Training Conference and Exhibition, August 2017
Moderator
Topic: “Building Community Engagement and Reducing Violent Crime in Richmond, California”
• National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ): 80th Annual Conference, July 2017
Faculty, Panelist & Moderator
Topic: “Prioritizing Reform: Nevada Blue Ribbon for Kids Commission’s Strategic Reform of the Child Welfare System”
Topic: “Improving the City of Seattle and King County’s Capacity to improve Responses to Juvenile Domestic Violence”
• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), October 2015 Topic: “Addressing Police Misconduct and Accountability: Two Case Studies” • National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE): 39th Annual Training Conference and Exhibition, July 2015
• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), March 2015 • National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA): National Forum, August 2014 Panelist
Topic: “Offender Reentry: The Burden of Shifting Case Loads” • National Forum on Criminal Justice (NFCJ), 2014
• Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), May 2014
• Smart Policing Initiative (SPI) Conference: April 2013 • George Mason University, April 2013
• World-Wide Human Geography Data Working Group, March 2012 • Computational Social Science Society of the Americas (CSSSA) Conference, October 2011
Agent-Based Modeling Workshop
Professional
Affiliations &
Memberships
• Project Management Institute (PMI)
• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
• Computational Social Science Society of the Americas (CSSSA) • American Political Science Association
• Military Operations Research Society
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