Evanston aldermen on Monday are scheduled to approve the mayor’s appointments to the new Citizen Police Review Commission.
The commission was created under an ordinance adopted by the City Council last fall.
The commission is intended to review citizen complaints about the police and “to provide a systematic means to achieve continuous improvement in citizen and police interactions.”
Here are the members named by the mayor and their biographies provided by city staff:
Appointed to a one-year term:
Jamal Graham, a lifelong Evanston resident and aspiring teacher. He attends the University of Illinois in Chicago and is an employee at Westminster Place in the 6th Ward. He also volunteers at Beth Emet’s Soup Kitchen, tutors students and fundraises for charities.
Blanca Lule, a 25-year resident. She works as a paralegal and manager and previously worked at the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois, where she helped investigate misconduct.
Rick Marsh, a 36-year resident. After a career as a professional athlete in the NBA, he spent his professional career in corporate America. In Evanston, he has been involved as a coach and a mentor in Fellowship of Afro-American Men, has been board president of Curt’s Café and served on the Evanston Park & Recreation Board. He is a graduate of Evanston Community Foundation’s Leadership Evanston.
Appointed to a two-year term:
Shahna Richman, a 40-year resident. She formerly was a police officer and detective with the New Haven, Connecticut, police department, and was a special agent for the FBI. She is a volunteer educator for civil rights, forensic science and criminal justice. She has volunteered with the YWCA-North Shore, St. Leonard’s House Ministries, Connections for the Homeless, the Innocence Project and Girls on the Run.
Nikko Ross, a lifelong Evanston resident. He is currently working towards his bachelor’s degree at Northwestern University and is employed at Rice Education Center located in the 9th Ward. He is the founder of Brother to Brother, a minority male mentoring program.
Juneitha Shambee, a 13-year resident. She is a practicing attorney who specializes in criminal and civil defense, with her office located in the 4th Ward. She is a board member of the Organization for Positive Action and Leadership and of the Democratic Party of Evanston.
Appointed to a three-year term:
Nyika Strickland, a 21-year resident. She is a partner with Kirkland & Ellis, with a practice specializing in intellectual property law. She has served on the executive board of the School for Little Children, provided pro-bono immigration law services and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the Ronald McDonald House.
Clarence Weaver, a 34-year resident. He and his wife, Wendy, own C&W Market in the 5th Ward. He is an active member of Second Baptist Church, is a board member of Y.O.U. and supports community efforts to address food insecurities in Evanston.
Douglas Whitmore, a lifelong Evanston resident. He is a retired Illinois State Police officer and owns American Defensive Driving School in downtown Evanston in the 1st Ward. Early in his career, he was a teacher at Nichols Middle School.