Phoenix selects first director for new police oversight office
After a nationwide search, the Phoenix City Manager selected Roger Smith to be the first Director of the city's new Office of Accountability and Transparency.
The OAT was recently formed to monitor the Phoenix Police Department and conduct investigations of potential misconduct by its sworn personnel. It was approved by a narrow City Council vote in May.
"The Office of Accountability and Transparency is a first for Phoenix, and it is an important milestone," said Mayor Kate Gallego in a statement. "Our goal is to use data, mediation, and transparency to rebuild trust between the police department and the community.
"We are very fortunate to have found a person who has deep experience in this work. I look forward to working with OAT Director Roger Smith as we forge a transparent, inclusive path forward," she continued.
The salary range for the Director position is $97,011 to $164,902. A spokesperson for the City said Smith's actual salary will be finalized as his onboarding is completed.
Smith has worked as the administrator of the Office of Professional Standards for the City of Cleveland since 2018, conducting investigations into acts of misconduct by the Cleveland police.
At a community forum in October, Smith said serving as director of the Office of Accountability and Transparency in Phoenix would be the culmination of all of his professional experience.
“I was introduced to this issue of civilian oversight as a teenager,” he said, “when I began to get stopped multiple times in Northern New Jersey.”
Smith said the frequent contacts with police as a young man would help him relate with Phoenix community members who feel they too are being unfairly targeted for the color of their skin.
City Manager Jeff Barton said community feedback during the selection process stressed the need to choose an OAT Director who is “trustworthy, honest, independent and objective. Roger has proven himself as someone with these important attributes.”
“We are confident he has the right education, experience and character to build trust in our community and build a foundation for success with this new office,” Barton said.
Smith said leading the Phoenix OAT would be a “unique challenge” but his history of working with other oversight efforts had prepared him for it.
“I am confident as we lay the foundation for this new office with feedback from all stakeholders throughout the community, we can create a stronger city for everyone,” he said.
Smith begins in the new role on December 6.
Have a news tip on criminal justice issues? Reach the reporter at jjenkins@arizonarepublic.com or at 812-243-5582. Follow him on Twitter @JimmyJenkins.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix selects Roger Smith as first director for new police oversight office
