NEW ROCHELLE, NY (May 20, 2026) — New Rochelle City Manager Wilfredo Melendez acknowledged in writing on April 13, 2026 that the city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board could meet, hold public sessions, and conduct other business before members completed their required training — a direct contradiction of the city’s public justification for why the board has never convened in nearly a year since members were appointed.
“Members do need to finish the training before they can review cases, but the Board can still meet, hold public sessions, and take care of other responsibilities in the meantime,” Melendez wrote in an April 13 email to Chairperson Natasha Fapohunda, Deputy City Manager Todd Castaldo, Council Member Shane Osinloye, Police Commissioner Neil Reynolds, and Council Member David Peters.
The board did not meet after that email. It has never met.
The records were produced in response to a Freedom of Information Law request submitted by Talk of the Sound on May 17, 2026, as part of a continuing investigation into the CCRB. The production covered all communications between Castaldo and CCRB members, and ran to more than 261 documents.
The city’s consistent public explanation for the board’s failure to convene has been that members must complete required training before the board can begin its work. That explanation was given to Talk of the Sound as recently as May 14, 2026, when a city staff member wrote: “The committee has not met as of yet as they are still going through the required training per the legislation.”
Melendez’s April 13 email contradicts that explanation. The city code itself supports his position — Section 9-118C of the city code states explicitly that in the absence of complaints to review, CCRB meetings shall be used for training and continuing education purposes, contemplating that meetings can occur before training is complete.
The records also show the board had substantial internal support for becoming operational. Council Member Shane Osinloye wrote in July 2025 — within weeks of members being appointed — “We need this board activated asap.” Council Member David Peters wrote on April 10, 2026 that “the year long delay regardless of the reasons does not warrant this action,” calling for an abbreviated training program and proposing to meet the following week to set a date. Peters’ email was copied to Fapohunda, Castaldo, Melendez, Osinloye, Reynolds, and Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert.
Despite that internal pressure, and despite Melendez’s written acknowledgment that the board could meet, the CCRB has never convened. It has never reviewed a complaint, adopted rules of procedure, held a public session, or issued a semi-annual report as required by city code.
Talk of the Sound submitted media inquiries to Mayor Ramos-Herbert, Commissioner Reynolds, City Manager Melendez, Deputy City Manager Castaldo, and Chairperson Fapohunda on May 17, 2026. No responses have been received as of publication.
This story is part of a continuing investigation into the New Rochelle Civilian Complaint Review Board. The full research report is available to paid subscribers at Words in Edgewise.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
Have information about this story? Email robertcox@talkofthesound.com (preferred) or contact via WhatsApp: +353 089 972 0669.