Applicants should have their resumes in to be considered to head the newly formed Civilian Oversight Board.
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay signed legislation creating the board back in May. Its seven civilian members will oversee the internal affairs investigations of complaints made about the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and can in certain circumstances launch its own investigation.
Applications to be commissioner of the new board were due Friday. The newly created position will coordinate the activities of the board’s volunteer members. The commissioner will also be the go-between for the board and city officials. He or she will make at least $63,000 a year. A spokeswoman for Slay said the applicant pool was diverse, including candidates from out of state.
By Monday, Mayor Slay must send the aldermen a new nominee for the oversight board’s Third District, in north-central and northwest St. Louis. The original nominee, DeBorah Ahmed, dropped out due to questions about her impartiality. She works for Better Family Life, a social service agency that has received thousands of dollars in grants from the city.
The new nominee will first be questioned by the city's Public Safety committee, and will also have to be confirmed by the full Board of Aldermen.
Follow Rachel Lippmann on Twitter: @rlippmann
