Mayor Names 12 People To Newton Police Task Force

NEWTON, MA — It was supposed to be a nine member civilian task force, but in the end there are 12 members of the community serving on the Police Reform Task Force – including a former Newton police sergeant, a criminal defense lawyer, a historian, a pastor and a 2019 graduate of Newton North.

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller appointed the task force after residents called on the city to rethink the city's police department and funding. The push in Newton comes amid a national civil rights movement following the May 25 death of George Floyd while he was handcuffed by Minneapolis police.

"I’m grateful to the 104 people who responded, offering their personal and professional experiences, insights, and passion for social, racial and criminal justice to this critical effort," Fuller, who personally reviewed the applicants, said.

Fuller said the advisory group is made up of people with diverse backgrounds, professions and life experiences and will make recommendations "that will impact the NPD’s strategic direction for the coming years and decades."

On Friday, Fuller also announced that retired Police Chief Howard Mintz would be interim chief while the city looked to replace Chief David MacDonald, who stepped down abruptly amid calls to rethink the department.

Fuller selected Sonja Spears, an attorney and former elected judge in the First City Court of New Orleans, chief equity and inclusion officer at the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and former civil rights investigator for the MBTA, to chair the task force. The task force is set to hold its first meeting this week, where they will discuss goals and objectives.

It's not immediately clear how long the task force will take to review and make recommendations to the mayor.

The full list of Police Reform Task Force members:

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Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, a column, event or opinion piece.