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New Castle County Police Accountability Board reports progress but cites ordinance ambiguity, staffing and records problems
Summary
Kim Eppieheimer, chair of the New Castle County Police Accountability Board, told the county Public Safety Committee the board has met monthly since April, reviewed use‑of‑force and de‑escalation policies, and formed subcommittees — but said progress has been slowed by an administration transition, differing legal advice about training, lost files and the loss of a full‑time staff liaison.
Kim Eppieheimer, chair of the New Castle County Police Accountability Board, told the county Public Safety Committee that the board has met monthly since April (except for a missed January meeting) and has focused on community outreach, reviewing use-of-force policies and de‑escalation training, and creating subcommittees to handle research and education.
The board’s work, Eppieheimer said, has been slowed by an administration transition that interrupted staffing and access to records, differing legal advice about training requirements, and questions about what the ordinance allows. "We have 9 voting members and 2 nonvoting members that are part of the New Castle County Police," Eppieheimer said. "We have been assigned Art Lee as our new part time staff person, and that's been wonderful. ... We have worked on, but have yet been able to solidify, a citizen feedback form ... halted due to concerns that officer names might be put in that written form, which could violate FOIA."
The board said it has been working to clarify whether required training must be delivered by county police or may be completed through other providers; Eppieheimer said the current legal advice is that the 20‑hour minimum training will be provided in conjunction with New Castle County Police and that the board is arranging ride‑alongs and citizen-focused training opportunities.
Council members pushed the board for specifics. Council President Williams Johns asked how much time board members spend with officers; Eppieheimer said meetings, ride‑alongs and the 20‑hour training provide the formal opportunities. Councilman Street and other members urged the council to avoid treating volunteers as if under oath and to help remove hurdles volunteers face. Several council members, including Councilman Koneko and Councilman Toole (the committee co‑chairs), said they had met with the administration to resolve notice and minute‑posting problems and asked for clearer administrative support.
Tanya Whittle, chair of the board’s research committee, told the committee that some of the PAB’s early work appears to be inaccessible after the staff transition: "All of the work that we have done in the last year...we're having to redo, including redoing and revising that public feedback form ... we have no access to any of our prior files." She said the board would ask county IT and legal staff to attempt recovery of public records and confirmed the board would seek a legal opinion about preserved public records.
Board counsel Colleen Norris was identified in the meeting as the board’s legal adviser. Committee members asked whether Norris would provide consistent interpretations of the ordinance; Eppieheimer said Norris is the board’s counsel and provides legal guidance, and some disagreements about interpretation have arisen because past legal advice differed from current advice.
Eppieheimer said the board has a draft annual report and expects to deliver the annual report to the council and county law and public safety offices "probably closer to April 30," and noted the board has an extension until July to complete certain required items. The board plans a public town hall April 11 at the Route 9 Library, 6–8 p.m., to solicit community input on transparency, accountability and public safety.
Committee members offered to help the board re‑establish a strategic plan, improve outreach, and clarify the board’s scope. Several members expressed appreciation for the volunteers’ service and urged the administration to ensure the board has dedicated resources and timely legal interpretation so the PAB can operate effectively.
Ending: The committee asked administration staff to provide a legal opinion after the meeting about access to prior PAB files and to clarify whether the liaison position supporting the board should be full time per the ordinance; the meeting record shows the council expects administration follow‑up but does not record a formal vote on those requests.
