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POLICE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
The Police Advisory Board (PAB) Meeting was held on November 21, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Dover Police
Department in the James L. Hutchison Public Assembly Room with Chairperson Dr. Chanda Jackson presiding.
Members of the PAB in attendance were, Rev. Dr. Carol Boggerty Mr. Waverly Debraux, Dr. Charlisa Edelin-
Holloway, Mr. Victor Giangrant, & Mr. Robby Sheehan. Mrs. Courtney Ford, Mr. Horacio Garcia-Korosec Mr. Arqum
Rashid Ms. SuNora Lewis & Ms. Felicia Toppin were absent.
Ex-Officio Members in attendance Captain Randy Robbins (on behalf of Chief Thomas A. Johnson, Jr), & Sgt. Ian
Thompson (Dover Police Department) & Chief Donald Baynard (Delaware State University).
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
The Public Comment Period was held at 7:00 PM prior to the commencement of the Police Advisory Board
Meeting. Mr. Christopher Asay read from a prepared statement (Attachment #1). Dr. Jackson thanked Mr. Asay for
his comments and recommendations and stated some of what he shared in his statements would be addressed in
the upcoming subcommittees that are being formed.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Mr. Sheehan moved for adoption of the agenda, seconded by Mr. DeBraux and unanimously carried (Mrs. Courtney
Ford, Mr. Horacio Garcia-Korosec Mr. Arqum Rashid Ms. SuNora Lewis & Ms. Felicia Toppin were absent).
ADOPTION OF MINUTES – SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 POLICE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
Dr. Edelin-Holloway moved to approve the minutes of the September 19, 2024 Police Advisory Board Meeting,
seconded by Mr. Sheehan and unanimously carried (Mrs. Courtney Ford, Mr. Horacio Garcia-Korosec Mr. Arqum Rashid Ms. SuNora Lewis
& Ms. Felicia Toppin were absent).
DISCUSSION ON POTENTIAL NEW BOARD MEMBER – COLLEGIATE VOICE – JASON WILLIAMS
Dr. Edelin-Holloway stated that Mr. Williams is a phenomenal student and has aspirations to become a law
enforcement officer. Dr. Charlisa Edelin-Holloway moved to appoint Jason Williams as the Collegiate Voice for
the Police Advisory Board at January 16, 2025 Police Advisory Board Meeting, seconded by Mr. Debraux and
unanimously carried (Mrs. Courtney Ford, Mr. Horacio Garcia-Korosec Mr. Arqum Rashid Ms. SuNora Lewis & Ms. Felicia Toppin were absent).
DISCUSSION OF THE FORMATION OF SUB-COMMITTEES
After a lengthy discussion, it was determined that the Police Advisory Board would form the following
subcommittees with three members that would meet on the opposite months of the regular Police Advisory
Board (subcommittees would meet on the third Thursday of even months at 6:00 p.m.). Each Committee Chair (Committee
Chairs will be nominated at the first meeting) will be responsible for contacting Rebecca McNamara with their Agenda
items and Minutes to post on both the City of Dover and Dover Police Department Websites.
Citizen Complaint Sub-Committee
Police Chief Donald Baynard
Dr. Charlisa Edelin-Holloway
Mr. Rob Sheehan
Mr. Arqum Rashid
Community Engagement/Research Sub-Committee
Mrs. Courtney Ford
Rev. Dr. Carol Boggerty
Dr. Chanda Jackson
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Police Advisory Board Minutes
November 21, 2024
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Membership Sub-Committee
Mr. Waverly DeBraux
Dr. Chanda Jackson
Ms. Felicia Toppin
Rev. Dr. Carol Boggerty
Youth Sub-Committee – (Will need further discussion as to meeting times/locations due to this subcommittee being chaired by a high school
student).
SuNora Lewis
Waverly DeBraux
Dr. Chanda Jackson
Rev. Dr. Carol Boggerty
Mr. Sheehan moved to accept the formation of sub-committees, seconded by Mr. Debraux and unanimously
carried (Mrs. Courtney Ford, Mr. Horacio Garcia-Korosec Mr. Arqum Rashid Ms. SuNora Lewis & Ms. Felicia Toppin were absent).
DISCUSSION OF RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Homelessness, mental health and relationships between citizens (including youth) and police were discussed as
possible research priorities to be addressed by the newly formed subcommittees. It was further mentioned that
the Community Engagement/Research Subcommittee information would be sent to the Dover Police
Department’s PIO for submission on the Dover Police Departments Facebook Account for dissemination.
UPDATES FROM AGENCY CHIEFS
Chief Donald Baynard, (DSU) mentioned that it has been fairly quiet on campus but they have noticed a slight
hike in same sex domestic violence among the students. Following up to Chief Baynard’s comments, Dr. Edelin-
Holloway stated that DSU did a massive campaign throughout the campus as well as individual campaigns to
address domestic violence. Dr. Edelin-Holloway asked members of the board to reach out to her with any
programs or speakers that they could suggest for a series that were planning in the month of February to address
what healthy, loving relationships should look like. It was suggested to reach out to Ms. Lewis to see if there are
issues occurring at Dover High School as well.
Captain Randy Robbins stated that the Dover Police Department would be handing out turkeys to residents of
Manchester Square on November 23, 2024 from 11 am until they run out. He further mentioned that December
4, 2024 would be shop with a cop at the Dover Target.
BOARD MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Responding to Rev. Dr. Boggerty, Sgt. Thompson stated that the Dover Police Department is not currently
disposing of bicycles used by Officers and Cadets, but would accept information from her regarding a program
that the hospital uses to refurbish bikes back to brand new to disperse to children.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:57
Exhibits
Exhibit #1 Comments from Mr. Christopher Asay
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Police Advisory Board
November 21, 2024
Exhibit #1
For Dover Police Advisory Board
at the November 21, 2024 meeting
by Chris Asay
I‘m speaking to you as a citizen of Dover, and as an advocate for improved
relations between the Dover PD and the public at large.
While it is true that a significant part of the public doesn't trust the police,
it is also true that a significant part of the police doesn’t trust the public.
I
believe that the primary purpose of Dover’s Police Advisory Board is to
improve relations and trust between the public at large and the Dover PD.
This begins with the PAB making itself accessible to the public, and
actively cultivating the participation of members of the public in
communicating with the PAB.
When the public is made aware of the PAH, and it finds that
communicating with the PAB is easy and welcome, and that public is
listened to by the PAB, and the PAD is responsive to what the public has
to say. public confidence in the PAB and in the Dover Police Department
will be enhanced.
The purpose of the PAD is to be a spokesman for the citizen who has a
concern. This means facilitating that a concern is aired publicly at a PAB
meeting, and then turning that concern into FAB-member questions about
Police Department policy and procedures in a public dialogue,
While the PAB is not permitted to investigate the details of a specific
complaint, it istasked with making recommendations for changes in policy
and procedure. An open airing of public comments and concerns, and an
open deliberation by the Board will go a long way in fostering public trust.
I
have a few recommendations for actions to be taken by the City to
support the effective working of the Board:
The PAB has a limited presence online. As of today. there is now a PAB
banner on the Dover PD home page. Click on it. and it links to the page for
the PAS.
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Currently, the PAB page is blank, and I’m hopeful that more information
will be posted there, but currently an interested person has to go to a
different website to find information on the meeting date and time, and
access the meeting agenda. Ml» mat- p.344} 7. wake arr.
The Police Advisory Board needs to have meeting announcements and
agendas posted on their web page. And they need to be posted at least
two months in advance.
That web page should also have information about the Board. Each Board
member represents a particular group of stakeholders. Provide a current
photo and biographical information for each Board member. Provide the
contact information of Board members so people who have a concern can
easily make contact.
Having a good website, however. is simply not enough. Outreach is
required.
What local stakeholder organizations could the PAB visit to provide
information and an invitation to participate? What news media could the
PAB contact? What other steps could be taken to bring up public
awareness of the service that the PAB offers? Physical paper posters can
be printed and displayed in public spaces.
Does the Dover PD provide a staffer to support the work and outreach of
the PAS? This is a necessity to make the PAB function effectively.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you.