The city has appointed three new members to serve on the Police Accountability Board following the joint resignation of two former board members in January.
According to Mayor Adena Ishii, the mayor’s office interviewed several candidates before appointing Jasmina Viteskic and Anay Sharma as members and Dwayne Phillips as the alternate member of the PAB.
“Earlier this year, the Council and I affirmed our support and commitment to transparent citizen and police oversight by ensuring the Police Accountability Board filled all its vacant seats as soon as possible,” Ishii said in a statement. “I looked for people who are deeply engaged with the City of Berkeley, committed to police oversight, and are open-minded and thoughtful.”
The appointments follow months of instability for the PAB, starting with longtime members Juliet Leftwich and Kitty Calavita’s resignations in late January. The two cited concerns over the reversal of policy recommendations and difficulties in accessing essential records.
Less than two weeks later, the city council dismissed the board’s previous director, Hansel Aguilar.
In recent months, community members and city officials have participated in public meetings to identify qualities the next permanent director should have, yet the search remains ongoing.
Appointed member Viteskic is a Berkeley High School Title IX coordinator and compliance officer, meaning that her office investigates “claims of discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, and claims of noncompliance in the District’s programs, activities, and services,” according to Berkeley High School’s Title IX Office website.
Ishii noted that she recommended Viteskic because of her experience in investigations and policy analysis.
Appointed member Sharma is a former legislative aide to the City Council in District 2.
Phillips, appointed as alternate member, serves as chair of Berkeley’s Peace and Justice Commission and is a pastor.
“I recommended Pastor Dwayne Phillips as the PAB Alternate Appointee because of his deep ties to Berkeley and his commitment to serving his community,” Ishii said in the statement.
With the board’s vacancies now filled, attention turns to the city’s ongoing search for a permanent director of police accountability.