Community members are encouraged to apply to serve on the city’s newly established Community Policing Advisory Board.
The board will provide recommendations to the Mayor and Council on how to support Rockville City Police Department programs, training, and professional development, and crime and safety initiatives. It will also meet with police to discuss issues as they arise, in the interest of making improvements and finding solutions.
The city hosted a virtual meeting Oct. 22 in which 45 attendees from Rockville neighborhoods, advocacy and nonprofit organizations, and faith groups discussed the purpose, mission and vision for the board.
The Mayor and Council voted unanimously Nov. 16 to approve the board’s mission “to enhance trust, respect, communication and collaboration between the community and the police department in order to increase knowledge, understanding, awareness and open dialogue, and to minimize systemic and individual biases.”
A Dec. 7 vote officially created the board, which will be comprised of nine members who live in Rockville. The city is seeking diversity in members’ ages, sex, gender, race, nationality, languages spoken and neighborhoods of residence. At least one board seat is reserved for a youth member, age 16-21. Initially, board members will serve staggered terms, with four members serving three-year terms and four others serving two-year terms. The youth member will serve a one-year term. Apply by 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25 using the expression of interest form at www.rockvillemd.gov/join-a-board-or-commission.
The board will meet a minimum of eight times a year. The city hopes to convene the board’s first meeting in mid-February, which could be held virtually, due to the pandemic.
For more information and video of the Mayor and Council discussions, find the Nov. 16 and Dec. 7 agendas at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter. Learn more about the RCPD at www.rockvillemd.gov/police.
This article has been updated.