Last month, the Fayetteville City Council decided who would be on the Community Police Advisory Board. The board function is to hear about concerns and complaints about potential police misconduct involving the

Fayetteville Police Department. In addition, they will help review and recommend ways to improve police department policies and practices.

According to the board charter, the nine board members and one alternate will meet monthly. However, their first meeting has not yet been scheduled.

The board is composed of six men and four women — many with previous police experience or who have worked/volunteered with police departments in the past. The majority of the board is also African-American with one Hispanic member and three Caucasian members.

Here is an introduction to who will serve on the board, their personal history, and how long each person will be on the commission.

Debra Slaughter

Slaughter, who will be serving a one-year term, is an Office Administrator for the non-profit Operation Inasmuch.

“I want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem,” Slaughter said on her application. “The best way I see to do that is to become a member of a committee that will impact the relationship between the citizens of Fayetteville and our police department.”

She says her primary concern is that many citizens view police officers as the enemy so, officers need to have relationships with the communities they serve, according to Slaughter.

She would like the board to address the issue of equity in police stops, an expansion of the Police Activity League program, and reach out to elementary schools to educate students about police.

Gregory Perkins

Perkins, who will be serving a one-year term, is a contributing faculty member at Walden University and is a volunteer chaplain for FPD. He also previously served as a Juvenile Probation Officer.

“I believe that through assessing specific community profiles within the city, I can potentially assist the Police Department in developing citizen-based action forum to serve as a positive commitment to serve all citizens within the city,” Perkins wrote on his application.

He says that the media has portrayed police officers as insensitive and power-hungry, and citizens need to obey the law to promote healthy relationships with the police department.

Perkins would like the board to ask FPD leadership what the top five most pressing issues are for FPD and how the city can help support them.

Jacqueline Clay

Clay, who will be serving for a two-year term, is a former Fayetteville police officer. She worked as a patrol officer in Zone 1. After six years, she joined the Fayetteville State University Police Department where she later became Acting Chief and then retired.

“As a retired police officer with 21 years experience on the street, and as an administrator I am familiar with steps on how to achieve best practices, and as an experienced officer in the field, I know the importance of community policing and gaining the confidence of the community,” Clay said on her application.

She believes trust is needed from both citizens and the police. Clay says that citizens have to have confidence in those they rely on to serve and protect the community. At the same time, police need to treat the community as they want to be treated and be held to a greater standard of professionalism.

Jim Bove

Bove, who will be serving for a three-year term, is a Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Air Force. He previously worked as a Point Information Officer and Community Outreach Facilitator for the Redmond Police Department in Washington state.

“Any opportunity to create conversations and answer questions. This allows both police and residents to understand one another and it gives officers the opportunity to be seen as humans,” Bove wrote on his application.

He believes citizens need to communicate with the police department and ask questions, while officers need to interact with the community and create relationships.

He would like to see the board address community and media relations and how best to navigate a public reputation.

Juana Magnum

Magnum, who will serve as the alternate, is a victim services coordinator for the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. She has been working in victim services and victim advocacy for over thirteen years. She also served as a corrections officer for the North Carolina Department of Corrections in the late 1990s.

“As a victim of a burglary, I know how it feels to be victimized, but on the flip side of that, as a victim advocate, I know how important it is to empathize with and assist the victim,” Magnum said on her application.

She believes officers need to be sympathetic with people who call 911 and ask for their assistance. She says that even though some calls may seem or sound outlandish, officers need to remember that what that person is experiencing at that moment is real to them. Citizens, she says, need to be cooperative when officers come out to canvas neighborhoods and are willing to be open to them.

She would like the board to address how elderly citizens are more fearful now because of COVID-19 and rising crime rates.

Julie Alul

Alul, who will be serving for a three-year term, is a retired Cumberland County School District employee. She was the Executive Director of Exceptional Children Services and worked with the Mental Health Consortium to start mental health services in the school system.

“The pipeline to prison is a real thing in young adolescents and adults in our community that needs addressing in a more compassionate and knowledgeable way instead of just providing School Resource Officers in the schools,” Alul said on her application.

She believes that police officers need to promote interactions that encourage understanding of citizens’ concerns, needs and promote conversation outside of crises. Citizens also need to have knowledge of current prevention programs and work with police to prevent further incidents and problem-solve.

She would like the board to address the current status of police activities, identify priorities and areas of most significant impact and needs, research and design programs that can be implemented and implement active engagement and relationship-building activities.

Lionel Cartwright

Cartwright, who will be serving for a three-year term, is a retired Army chief warrant officer and reverend. He also served as a chaplain for the Chadbourn Police Department. He currently serves as a volunteer judge on the Teen Court at the Cumberland County Dispute Resolution Center.

“I commend the Mayor and the City Council, on the merits of implementing the Community Police Advisory Board,” Cartwright said on his application. “I believe the board, coupled with the necessary resources and support will prove to be an extremely valuable resource in improving Fayetteville citizen and waw enforcement relationships.”

Cartwright believes that citizens need to be proactive in ascertaining the facts and aware of law enforcement’s roles and responsibilities. Police Officers, on the other hand, need to listen, trust and have social interaction with citizens.

He would like the board to showcase healthy relationships and positive interactions between citizens and police officers.

Pablo Arroyo

Arroyo, who will be serving for a two-year term, is an Army veteran who currently works as a probation and parole officer for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. He also previously worked at the Harnett Correctional Institution as a corrections officer.

“I care for my community and I have seen the great changes that the City of Fayetteville has accomplished in this last 30 years and I believe that it can accomplish more and that it is going on an excellent direction to accomplish better things for the community,” Arroyo said in his application.

He believes that citizens need to get to know their local police officers, and officers need to be more available to learn about community resources and behavioral issues. He would like the board to address issues like gangs, drugs, community involvement, social resources, social disparities, bias, racial discrimination and community needs.

Sidney King

King, who will be serving for a two-year term, is a retired security manager and is currently the President of the United Methodist Men of Hay Street United Methodist Church. He has previously served on the Fayetteville Police Foundation Board of Directors.

“Having extra eye and experiences to help their effort is a very worthwhile commitment," King said on his application.

He would like police and citizens to encourage two-way dialogue by having civic organizations host talk sessions and for police representatives to participate in these talks. He would also want police officers to learn more about mental health and how best to interact with individuals during mental health crises.

He would like the board to check with Police Chief Gina Hawkins and FPD to ensure educational opportunities are available to officers.

Tony Haire

Haire, serving a one-year term, is a behavioral therapist at Community Re-Entry Program and an Army Veteran. In the early 90s’, Haire was appointed to the Durham County Youth Advisory Criminal Justice Board. In addition, he has been appointed and is currently serving on the Governor’s Commission for the Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services Board.

“I would be willing, with the help of the city, promoting and providing space, to offer training to those in the community who are interested in getting to know who we are, understanding why we do what we do and how to capture and redirect the thoughts that we have that aren’t consistent with the goal of being a community that desires to look out for the wellbeing of one another," Haire said on his application.

He believes police officers need to promote healthy relationships with people in the community and for citizens to understand the role of a police officer fully.

Haire would like the board to address community policing, ways the community can help support police and their families and assign a community liaison within each zone.