NEW ROCHELLE, NY (March 1, 2025) — The City of New Rochelle has opened applications for its newly established Citizen Complaint Review Board (CCRB), a civilian oversight body tasked with reviewing complaints against the police department, officials announced Friday.
The seven-member board will include one appointee selected by the mayor from the city at large and six chosen by the City Council, one from each district. All appointments require City Council approval. To stagger terms, four members will serve three years, while three will serve two years initially. Members will receive an annual stipend of $1,500, with the chairperson—who will be selected by the mayor and City Council from the appointees—earning $2,500.
The CCRB’s primary duties include evaluating written civilian complaints and related investigations, followed by issuing public reports on each case after the Police Department’s internal review and the board’s assessment are complete. The board will meet at least monthly, with the schedule set by the chairperson, and will hold public meetings at City Hall at least quarterly, in addition to an annual meeting.
City officials emphasized that CCRB members must exhibit a commitment to impartiality, fairness, transparency, and public accountability. Applicants must meet strict eligibility criteria: they must be at least 18 years old, reside in New Rochelle, submit to a background check, and sign a confidentiality oath. Individuals with current or past law enforcement employment—or those with relatives in such roles—are ineligible, as are government officials, city employees, or anyone with a felony conviction or on parole or probation within the last five years.
Selected members will undergo mandatory training, including the 25-hour Citizens Police Academy, a 9.75-hour course from the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, and a 2-hour overview of New York State laws.
Detailed information and application forms are available on the City of New Rochelle’s website. Submissions can be made online or in person at the City Manager’s Office at City Hall, 515 North Avenue, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The deadline for applications is March 7, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.