Police Commission
CITY (,)l- OAK1.AND
Application for Position of Commissioner
The purpose of the Police Commission is to oversee the Oakland Police Department in order to make sure that its policies, practices and customs meet national standards of constitutional policing.
A Selection Panel of volunteer community members will select Oakland residents to serve on the Police Commission. Seated Commissioners are volunteers and will not be compensated.
Applicant information
Thomas- Williams Shane Date: 9/5/24Full Name;
FirstLast M.l.
Home
Address;
Apartment/Unit #Street Address
94605Oakland CA
ZIP CodeCity State
EmailPhone:
Supplemental Questionnaire
The purpose of this supplemental questionnaire is to evaluate your qualifications to serve on the Police Commission. This application, along with your answers to these questions, will be used by the Selection Panel to select the most suitably qualified candidates (Question 1,2,3 and 4 below.) ● Applications submitted without a completed supplemental questionnaire will not be considered. ● Please limit your response to each question to one 8.5” x 11” sheet of paper (single or double spaced).
Please respond (in writing) to the following questions; Please describe any life work and significant community volunteer experiences that prepare you to contribute to the work of the Commission.
1. Please describe your contacts or experiences with the Oakland Police Department.2.
Please describe, if applicable, if you or an immediate family member has had significant volunteer or employment experience:
3. 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.
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?
4. 2
Application Considerations
Check all that apply:
X YESI would like to be considered as a Selection Panel appointee? NO X YES NOI would like to be considered as a Mayoral Appointee? References
Please list three professional or personal references who are familiar with your background, experience and qualifications, and who can answer questions about your ability to serve as a Commissioner.
Full Name: Relationship:
Phone:
Courtney Jones Sister
E-Mail
Full Name: Shelia Foster Relationship:
Phone:
Mentor
E-Mail
Jessica FortFull Name: Relationship:
Phone:
Previous Supervisor
E-Mail
Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire
1. With which race and/or ethnicity do you identify? (Check all that apply.) White
Black or African American
Latino
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
Asian
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Other:
I do not wish to Self-ldentify
2. What is your gender?
female I do not wish to self-identify
3. You are considered to have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity, or if you have a history of such an impairment or medical conditions.
Rease check one of the boxes below:
_ Yes, I have a disability (or previously had a disability) No, I do not have a disability
I do not wish to answer
3 Required Questionnaire
4. How long have you lived in Oakland?
45v
5. How many meetings of the Police Commission have you attended, on Zoom or in person? {You can find a link to the next meeting on the agenda for that meeting, which can be found at vww.oaklandca.Qov/Dolicecommission, You can also find video recordings of past meetings there.) 0 K 1-2
3 or more
6. How did you hear about applying to be on the Police Commission? / ^oh luifh / n/liils
Disclaimer and Signature
The City Charter requires background checks for all Police Commission members and alternates. Prior convictions w/// not eliminate you from consideration. The Selection Panel strongly encourages formerly incarcerated individuals to apply.
I certify that I am over eighteen years of age and that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge.
My signature below also indicates my acknowledgement that, by applying for the position of Commissioner, I will be subject to a background check.
Once submitted, your application form, along with all attachments, becomes a public record. (7
Signature; Date:/
Completed applications must be received by May 31, 2023. by mail, hand-delivery, or email as follows:
Mail or Selection Panel for Police Commission
c/o City Administrator’s Office
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 3"^ Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Hand-Delivery
(Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm)
Email Address; [email protected]
Subject: Police Commission Application
For assistance or additional information
contact
City Administrator’s Office
[email protected]
(510) 238-3301
4 Supplemental QuestionsPolice CommissionShane Thomas-Williams Please describe any life work and significant community volunteer experiences that prepare you to contribute to the work of the Commission.
1. I have volunteered at various school sites, contributing as part of the PTA by organizing events, planning and supporting fundraising activities, and recruiting volunteers for the annual carnival at Chabot Elementary. My efforts also included categorizing books for the library, reviewing budgets, and allocating funds for positions and additional resources through the advisory committee.
Additionally, I helped host, organize, and volunteer for the annual gala.
Please describe your contacts or experiences with the Oakland Police Department. 1 have been a citizen of Oakland, Ca for over 45 years and have interacted with OPD on occasion. Filing a report for a stolen car, making a call for a disturbance. Speaking while out in the community.
For 24 years I worked in Alameda Probation Department and interfaced with OPD in a collaborative capacity. In my last assignments at Camp Sweeney and Director of Adult Field Services I interacted with officers often in reviewing clients on probation or approving joint operations with probation.
Please describe, if applicable, if you or an immediate family member has had significant volunteer or employment experience:
2. 3.
as a police officer, NO.a.
as a criminal prosecutor or defense attorney, NO
with a public agency or nonprofit community group serving or advocating for crime victims or persons charged or convicted of crimes. Yes. As mentioned above I worked with the Alameda County Probation Department.
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?
b.
c.
4. Yes, I have served on the board for the Oral Lee Brown College Scholarship nonprofit. During my tenure, 1 contributed to establishing the strategic direction of the organization, developing a new logo, fundraising, overseeing the financial health of the organization, and approving the budget. I was also involved in recruiting youth and hiring teachers and tutors for the organization.
My time on the board began shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the pandemic hit, it became challenging to maintain participation from other board members. The virtual meetings were difficult, and it was hard to sustain the momentum we had established before the pandemic, leading to significant turnover in board members.