Syracuse’s Citizen Review Board faces uncertainty yet again after two board members resigned. The police oversight agency is still struggling to get back on track after a tumultuous several months.
The CRB’s April meeting began the usual way, with Board Chair Bryn LoveJoy-Grinnell gaveling in.
“I’d like to get started, so I’ll call the meeting to order. It’s 5:30," she said.
But a little more than a week later, Lovejoy-Grinnell abruptly resigned after only two months in the role, along with newly appointed board member Josh Carroll. In a resignation letter sent to the city clerk, Lovejoy-Grinnell says the city administration and common council don’t provide the CRB with the support and independence it needs to succeed. Council Public Safety Committee Chair Chol Majok said they’re not interfering, only assisting as needed.
“We have asked them to hire an administrator, which we have nothing to do with as a council," Majok said. "When the CRB had had no staff, the Council stepped in and hired a temp person to hold it together. I don't know where the interpretation that we are inserting ourselves came from. It makes no sense.”
The CRB administrator abruptly resigned last fall, along with support staff.
In her letter, Lovejoy-Grinnell also expressed concern about further over-reach through a proposed council measure creating a temporary legislative advisory committee. Majok said it’s “crazy” to suggest another body would oversee the CRB.
“The whole point of the legislative committee is they are temporary, which is to research the legislation," Majok said. "The CRB legislation is not the work of the board. It is work of the council. It is a legislative item.”
The council has not acted on the measure. However, councilors will have to appoint two new board members to replace those who resigned. Lovejoy-Grinnell was not available for comment.
