ABOUT THE COMMISSION
The Commission on Racial Equity in Policing examines the current policies, programs, culture and budget of the Salt Lake City Police Department. The Commission is composed of individuals who represent a broad and diverse range of communities of color, expertise, and viewpoints in Salt Lake City. The Commission’s core committee members were selected by the Mayor and City Council to lead in the structure of the Commission, invite others to participate (supported by the selected facilitator) and to create the space for productive and inclusive discourse with the broad group of Commissioners and the diversity of opinions therein.
The City seeks an independent facilitator to assist this Commission in its work, coordinate with City staff on commission-requested research and information, help produce a final work product, and advise the City communications team on how to convey information in a transparent and accountable way to the public throughout the process.
The Commission, led by the six core members and assisted by the selected facilitator, will be asked to:
- Hold community listening sessions
- Create a community charter with advocates and community members that sets out the expectations and “ground rules” for the Commission’s process and desired work product
- Explore existing SLCPD policies, budget and community programs with the assistance of City staff
- Evaluate national best-practice policies for alignment with SLCPD policies, potentially consider new policy approaches
- Make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on SLC Police Department policy, programs and budget
The Commission may also determine other objectives and priorities, including but not limited to:
- Recommending ways to more meaningfully work with the Community Advocates Group and other community members
- Reviewing the Civilian Review Board’s role, processes, and policies and compare with recognized best practices for civilian review and oversight within the context of existing state statute
- Identify and recommend ways to increase diversity in the police department
The Commission will be asked to provide monthly reports, either verbally or in writing, to the Mayor and City Council. It will also be asked to produce a final report by July 1, 2021 that includes the following elements:
- Policy recommendations
- Programmatic and budget recommendations
- A recommendation on next steps to ensure that the work of the Commission continues. Those next steps may include, for example, a recommendation that the Commission become a recognized, permanent body under City ordinance; a recommendation that a current City entity such as the Human Rights Commission or the Police Civilian Review Board create a division to address racial equity in policing; or a different structure or mechanism entirely
The Commission and the selected facilitator will be assisted by City staff who equipped to perform research, obtain documents, set up meetings, and provide other administrative and logistical support as needed.
Facilitator expectations:
The selected facilitator will assist the Commission to:
- Build commission membership and staff and facilitate the logistics of all meetings
- Structure and hold a series of listening sessions with the community to provide a forum for people to share and discuss their experiences with the SLPD
- Draft a community charter or compact that identifies the objectives of the Commission
- Prepare monthly verbal or written reports to the Mayor and City Council
- Facilitate consensus in the creation of the work product recommendations
- Draft a final work product, with assistance from City staff
- Advise and assist the City’s communications team on how to publicly communicate the goals, work, process, and products of the Commission to the general public throughout the process
MEETING INFORMATION
Every Wednesday at 5pm via Webex
The commission is currently working to select a facilitator and sort out meeting logistics. Once meetings are made public, the meeting code and information will be posted to this site.
CORE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
| Aden Batar, Director of Migration and Refugee Services, Catholic Community Services |
| Reverend France Davis, Pastor Emeritus, Calvary Baptist Church |
| Nicole Salazar-Hall, Attorney and Current Human Rights Commissioner |
| Darlene McDonald, Chair, Utah Black Roundtable |
| Dr. Moises Prospero, iChamps; Researcher in the area of criminal, juvenile, & social justice |
| Verona Sagato-Mauga, Executive Director, Renew Wellness & Recovery |
Following diligent work to select additional members who would best provide a varied and diverse set of voices independent of any government agency, Core Council of the Racial Equity in Policing Commission today announced the addition of 13 members to its body.
A review of RFP applications is currently underway to select a facilitator that will help guide the commission in its work, and the Commission is currently working on the formation of a youth subcommittee to provide feedback to the greater commission.
| The Core Council is pleased to announce the addition of the following members to its body: |
| Steve Anjewierden Steve Anjewierden, Deputy Chief of Police Services; Unified Police Department (Retired). 25 years of law enforcement experience: Captain of Professional Standards and Training Division; Commander of the Salt Lake Area Gang Project; Member of Utah Board of Juvenile Justice, Governor’s Utah Gang Task Force and Juvenile Justice Reform Committee; Committee Chair of School Resource Officer and School Administrator training development Committee; Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement Administration. |
| Luna Banuri Luna is a seasoned consultant with 25 years of experience in nonprofit and for-profit sectors in strategy, community and organizational development An articulate communicator, recognized for advocating and fostering social justice policies based on diversity and inclusion. In her current role as Founding Board member and Executive Director for Utah Muslim Civic League, she has established a network to amplify Muslim voices across the state at multiple forums, including the Human Rights Commission and the MLK Commission. |
| Samantha Eldridge Samantha Eldridge is Diné, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. Samantha holds a MA in Public Administration from the University of Utah. After spending several years working as a senior advisor to the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. and as a policy analyst for the Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President, Samantha returned to Salt Lake City to pursue a PhD in political science. Samantha previously served as a Board of Director for Racially Just Utah and the National Indian Education Association. She is a past recipient of the University of Utah Equity and Diversity Award, presented on the basis of excellence in fostering leadership and continuing commitment to enhance diversity. |
| Anthony Guzman Anthony Guzman is an enrolled Uintah Band member of the Northern Ute Tribe. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has over a decade of administration and direct service experience working with the American Indian population in rural and urban communities. Anthony became a social worker to stay connected to the community and engage issues stemming from poverty and marginalization. |
| Tanya Hawkins Tanya Hawkins is a native of the Salt Lake Valley. Tanya enjoys being active in the community and is a patron of the arts, sciences, and outdoors. She invests in her community by being on the Board of Directors for the Utah Pride Center and the Citizens Advisory Board for Chief Mike Brown of the Salt Lake Police Department. |
| Steven Johnson As the CEO of Luke, Johnson & Lewis, Steven oversees all aspects of business development, client relations and impact strategy. In his previous role, he served as the President and COO of Luke, Johnson & Lewis, where he was responsible for all function and operational aspects of finance. Steven has also served his community for the last six years as a board member of several non-profits. He currently serves as the Chairman of The Utah Black Chamber of Commerce and the Director of The Debt Initiative for The Good Deed Law Project, a non-profit organization that centers on innovative debt reform and charitable restitution. |
| Anapesi Ka’ili Anapesi Ka’ili is the Executive Director and Principal of Mana Academy Charter School in West Valley City, Utah, a K-12 public charter school. Mana Academy is the only Culture-Based Education institution in the state of Utah serving underrepresented student populations. |
| Abdullah Mberwa Abdullah Mberwa has lived in Salt Lake City, Utah for 16 years. He graduated from high school and is working to continue his education. He is working towards becoming a part of the law enforcement. He is passionate about serving his community and being a resource to people. Besides serving his community, he enjoys playing soccer, going to the gym and hanging out with his family. He is married and has a daughter. He has always been very dedicated and hardworking when it comes to achieving his goals. He does not let any obstacle get in his way. He hopes one day to become a change in the world. |
| Carol Jean Matthews-Shifflett Carol Jean Matthews-Shifflett is the CEO of The Sojourner Group. She earned a Master of Arts in Community Leadership from Westminster College, SLC after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Utah. Reared in Maryland, just outside of Washington DC., Carol is the eldest of parents who believe in being actively engaged in the Civil Rights Movement. Her studies and example of her parents played a key role in pursuing a career that focuses on service. She concentrates on the well-being of women and children, particularly those who are identified as Black, and those who have lived the African American experience(s). |
| Davina Smith Davina Smith is a member of the Dine’ (Navajo) tribe. Davina has lived most of her professional life away from the Navajo Nation in Salt Lake City with her four children. Davina Smith’s personal mission is advocating for Native families, in both her rural and urban communities, in addition to preserving and protecting the cultural and natural resources of ancestral Native American lands to benefit and bring healing to people and the Earth.” Davina has had a plethora of work experience in Salt Lake City such as, the former Director of Operations for Utah Dine Bikeyah (UDB), American Indian Education Coordinator for Salt Lake School District, Project Director for the American Indian Teacher Training, Fourth Street Clinic, and Program Director for the American Indian Teacher Training Program (AITTP) at the University of Utah and Arizona State University. She is currently the Community Engagement and Training Specialist with Restoring Ancestral Winds and CEO of Haseya Native Initiatives LLC. |
| Olosaa Jr. Solovi Olosaa Solovi, known among his peers as “Junior,” is currently the Head Football Coach at West High School located in the heart of Salt Lake City, Utah. Junior was born in Western Samoa but spent the majority of his childhood growing up in the Rose Park area, a suburb of Salt Lake City. He is absolutely passionate about his “neighborhood” having vested many years of voluntary service in various community groups, recreational programs, and educational platforms. He has been a strong advocate for the youth in his community, consistently pushing for programs that would enhance the potential for young people to become contributing members within their community. A proud husband and father, he is married to his beautiful wife, Audra Solovi and they are the parents to 4 wonderful children, Malakai, Aloma, Uiva, and Malosi. |
| Mariana Suarez Mariana has lived in Salt Lake City’s Sugarhouse area for 30 years. She’s a retired lieutenant who spent 25 years working with Unified Police Dept. She’s also proud to be a person of color, a lesbian and a woman! |
CONTACT INFORMATION
Kaletta Lynch, Special Projects Manager
801-535-6006
REPcommission@slcgov.com
For media inquiries, please email REPcommission@slcgov.com or call 801-535-6006.