Resignation of Alva Rice as NYC Civil Complaint Review Board Chair
Alva Rice, the Chair of the New York City Civil Complaint Review Board, has officially resigned from her position, citing Mayor Adams’ request as one of the reasons for her decision. Her resignation comes three months after Mayor Adams was called upon to address the police shooting of a mentally ill individual in the Bronx.
Reasons for Resignation
Rice, who has been serving as the interim chair of the Police Oversight Commission since February 2022, expressed in her resignation letter that her final day in office will be August 15. She stated, “It has been an honor to lead the entity he worked so hard to create to hold police officers accountable,” highlighting her commitment to fairness and balance in addressing all issues that came before her.
City sources revealed that a new interim chairman will be appointed soon, as Rice remained in an interim status due to the inability of the mayor and City Council to reach a consensus on making her permanent.
Mayor’s Response and Controversy
Amaris Cockfield, a spokesman for the mayor, praised Rice as a valuable public servant and stated that she is welcome to continue serving on the CCRB Board. However, reports indicate that Mayor Adams had asked Rice to step down in April following the handling of the police shooting case in the Bronx.
Despite denying any intention of ousting Rice, it was reported that Mayor Adams privately suggested she could remain on the board as long as she was not in the role of president. This led to speculation regarding the true reasons behind Rice’s resignation.
Public Response and Future Endeavors
Following Rice’s resignation, there was swift reaction from supporters, with organizations like the Legal Aid Society expressing concerns about the reduction of the CCRB’s role under the Adams administration. The statement highlighted a perceived undermining of police accountability efforts in the city.
Despite stepping down from her role as CCRB Chair, Rice will continue her work as president and CEO of the Urban League of New York, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting underserved communities. She also has a background in providing support to entrepreneurs through Project Enterprise.
Overall, Rice’s resignation underscores ongoing tensions surrounding police oversight and accountability in New York City, raising questions about the future direction of the Civil Complaint Review Board.
