New Rochelle Civilian Oversight Board Still Lacks Bylaws Two Years After Launch
A publisher's new report details ongoing delays and training gaps at the Civilian Complaint Review Board, prompting a formal records appeal.
By David Almasi ·
Robert Cox, publisher of Talk of the Sound, filed a formal Freedom of Information Law appeal on October 26. The legal action targets the City of New Rochelle for missing deadlines to release records regarding the Civilian Complaint Review Board. The documents in question cover board member qualifications and mandatory training progress.
Cox argues that the board has failed to provide meaningful oversight of the Police Department since its creation nearly two years ago. His investigation found that the panel had not adopted bylaws and remained stuck in the training phase. These delays have prevented the board from reviewing many high-profile misconduct cases that originally called for independent review.
The appeal also includes a renewed objection to Dawn Warren, the city's Corporation Counsel. Cox contends that Warren should not handle his FOIL appeals because she is a plaintiff in pending federal litigation against him. He questions whether Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert, City Manager Wilfredo Melendez, and police leadership truly want a functioning civilian board.
New meeting minutes from October 1 confirm that additional mandatory training is still scheduled. The board's bylaws remain unfinished even as members prepare to examine completed Internal Affairs investigations. Cox stated that these delays highlight the gap between the board's mandate and its current operational capacity.
The City must determine Cox's appeal within the statutory ten-business-day period. If they fail to do so, Cox intends to initiate an Article 78 proceeding. This legal step would force the court to review the city's administrative decisions regarding the oversight board's records.
