Public Safety Committee recommends confirmation of four Community Police Commission nominees

The Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee voted 4-0 to recommend confirmation of four nominees to the Community Police Commission, sending appointments 3066–3069 to the full City Council meeting on Feb. 4.

The committee’s action covers the appointment and reappointment of David Benchlouch and Joel C. Merkel for terms to Dec. 31, 2027; the appointment of Arlicia West for a term to Dec. 31, 2026; and the reappointment of Joseph Saia for a term to Dec. 31, 2025. Chair Kettle moved the recommendation; a second was recorded before the committee approved the measure by roll call (Moore Aye; Nelson Aye; Saka Aye; Kettle Aye). Councilmember Hollingsworth was excused.

Committee members and CPC leaders told the committee the confirmations are intended to fill seats essential to the commission’s work as one of the city’s accountability partners for policing. Joel Merkel, co‑chair of the Community Police Commission and an assistant attorney general, described the commission as an active, working body and said, “The CPC has always been a working commission. Commissioners are generally expected to contribute at least 10 hours per month of their time.”

Isiah May, interim executive director of the Office of the Community Police Commission, reviewed a gap analysis the commission used during recruitment. May said the analysis identified underrepresentation of several groups — including Black men, people who are formerly incarcerated, Pacific Islanders, South Asian and East Asian communities, people with disabilities — and noted expertise gaps in housing, K–12 education, public defense, behavioral health and disparate‑impact analysis. May also said geographic representation was missing from Council districts 2, 4 and 5.

Arlicia West, one of the nominees and identified in the presentation as a senior human resources business partner with King County Council central staff, told the committee she was motivated by her experience in education and human resources and by serving community members who often lack a voice. Rabbi Ben Schlausch, introduced as a community leader and clinician, also addressed the committee about representing the Jewish community and said he was motivated to “be the voice of that community with the many needs that arise.” Joseph Saia, listed in the appointment notice as executive director of Oceania Northwest, could not attend but was included among the nominees.

Officials also placed the CPC’s current work in the context of the city’s consent decree and later accountability ordinance (the commission was created under a consent‑decree memorandum of understanding in 2012 and made a permanent accountability entity by ordinance in 2017). Merkel told the committee the CPC has been involved in consent‑decree litigation and has taken positions supporting a transition of certain policing policy authority back to local city leaders.

Before the appointments were read, a single remote public commenter identified as Mr. Haines urged stronger enforcement against low‑level drug dealers and criticized police training and policies, asserting that leadership decisions sometimes prioritized demographic factors over qualifications; the committee muted the commenter at the end of his two‑minute period.

Chair Kettle noted the committee will forward its recommendation to the Feb. 4 City Council meeting and said staff and council offices will follow up, including an upcoming council amendment package on a crowd management and less‑lethal weapons measure that will incorporate CPC input.

The committee recessed after adopting the agenda and completing the four items of business; there were no other votes recorded on the committee agenda.