Community Board for Police Accountability Meeting 08/12/26
Board voted 13-0 to lock in a three-round interview schedule for the police oversight director, with finalists facing the public September 29 and the full 21-member board deciding after a September 15 closed session. They also skipped adopting basic values first — a push to temporarily adopt six commission values got bumped off the agenda for time.
Summary
A three-round interview schedule and plan for hiring the OCPA director was approved by a 13-vote count, setting up virtual interviews starting August 19 and running through early September, with finalists presenting to the community at Matt Dishman Community Center on September 29. Board members pressed staff and the outside recruitment firm Modus at length on how candidates advance between rounds, clarifying that interview panels decide who moves forward while the Bureau of Human Resources only verifies scores and applies veterans preference points. The full board of 21 members will make the final hiring decision after an executive session on September 15. The board also voted to close the recruitment, meaning no new applicants will be accepted.
The board adopted a temporary chair and vice chair leadership structure for a three-month period, rejecting a three co-chair option over concerns it could trigger Oregon public meetings law requirements. Members emphasized the structure is temporary and limited in scope—mainly to allow a chair to call emergency meetings and set agendas—until permanent bylaws are written. Nominations for chair went to Teta, Meline, Pete, Justice, and Sarah, with a vote set for August 27; the top vote-getter becomes chair and the runner-up becomes vice chair. An earlier proposal to temporarily adopt the commission's six values (equity and inclusion, anti-racism, harm reduction, transparency, community-centered, and effectiveness) failed to be added to the agenda, with several members citing time constraints.
During public comment, speakers urged the board to slow down and establish clear procedures and values before hiring, with one questioning whether an executive session had complied with meeting laws and another—the chair of the citizen review committee—encouraging the board to embrace a minimal, short-term leadership setup and learn to trust one another. Staff also flagged that a board member with negotiation experience is needed to partner with the BHR director on the director's offer letter and salary; Kyle, Sarah, Pete, and Tisha volunteered, and that decision was deferred to a future meeting. The next meeting is August 27, when the board will vote on chair and vice chair.
Key Points
- A proposal to temporarily adopt the Police Accountability Commission's six values failed to be added to the agenda for discussion
- The board approved a three-round interview schedule and plan for recruiting the OCPA director
- The board adopted a temporary chair and vice chair leadership structure for a three-month period and set nominations for a vote at the next meeting
Votes (5)
Amend agenda to add discussion of temporarily adopting PACK values
Motion to modify the agenda to include discussion of temporarily adopting the six Police Accountability Commission values for three months
Approve OCPA Director Recruitment Interview Schedule and Plan
Approve the three-round interview schedule, panel assignments, and use of Modus scoring process for the OCPA director recruitment
Close the OCPA Director Recruitment
Close the recruitment (previously open until filled) so no additional applicants are accepted
Adopt Chair and Vice Chair Leadership Structure for Three Months
Adopt option one (chair and vice chair) as a temporary leadership structure for a three-month period
Vote for Chair and Vice Chair at August 27 Meeting
Hold a vote at the August 27 meeting where the person with the most votes becomes chair and the second most becomes vice chair, for a three-month term
Action Items
- Round one OCPA director interviews to be held August 19-21, 2026 (virtual)
- Round two interviews August 26-28, 2026; round three around September 9, 2026
- OCPA director top candidates to present at Matt Dishman Community Center on September 29, 2026
- Executive session to discuss top candidates scheduled for September 15, 2026, followed by public meeting to vote on hire
- Board members and Modus to hold training on the interview and scoring process
- Chair and vice chair vote to occur at August 27 meeting with candidates Teta, Meline, Pete, Justice, and Sarah
- Staff to reach out to schedule agenda setting team meeting for the August 27 meeting (Kyle, Attakus, Jesse volunteered)
- Board to determine representative to partner with BHR director on salary negotiations at a future meeting
Issues Discussed (12)
The Community Board for Police Accountability approved a three-round interview schedule for hiring the OCPA director (virtual interviews August 19 through early September, finalist presentations September 29, final vote after a September 15 executive session) and closed recruitment to new applicants. The board also adopted a temporary chair/vice chair structure pending permanent bylaws, while a proposal to temporarily adopt the Police Accountability Commission's six values failed to make the agenda.
Not addressed in this meeting; the session focused entirely on Community Board for Police Accountability matters, including OCPA director hiring and leadership structure decisions.
Not mentioned in this meeting; the summary focused on OCPA director hiring processes and board leadership structure, with no reference to Fire Rescue Unit Funding.
Not addressed in this meeting; the summary focuses entirely on the Community Board for Police Accountability's OCPA director hiring process and leadership structure, with no reference to the Moda Center renovation funding issue.
Not mentioned in this meeting; the summary covers only OCPA director hiring procedures and interim board leadership structure, with no reference to the Moda Center lease or labor peace agreement.
Not mentioned in this meeting; the summary covers OCPA director hiring and board leadership structure, with no reference to the Moda Center Bridge Agreement litigation dispute.
Not mentioned in this meeting summary, which focused entirely on the Community Board for Police Accountability's OCPA director hiring process and leadership structure.
Not mentioned in this meeting; the discussion focused entirely on the Community Board for Police Accountability's OCPA director hiring process and leadership structure.
Not mentioned in this meeting; the summary focuses entirely on the OCPA director hiring process and board leadership structure, with no reference to 311 service hours.
Not addressed in this meeting; the session focused on the OCPA director hiring process and board leadership structure, with no mention of Police Bureau staffing costs.
Not addressed in this meeting; the discussion focused on the Community Board for Police Accountability's process for hiring an OCPA director and establishing interim leadership structures, with no mention of Police Bureau staffing or cost plans.
Not directly addressed in this meeting; the discussion focused on the OCPA director hiring process and board leadership structure rather than police bureau staffing or budget framework.