The murder of George Floyd last Memorial Day reinvigorated the public outcry for increased accountability of police. (Port City Daily photo/file)
WILMINGTON ââ A year from the death of George Floyd, the development of a citizens review board to oversee police actions and check for potential misconduct is making slow progress.
Community members have demanded the city form a police oversight committee for years, since 2013 when Brandon Smith was killed in a controversial police-involved shooting in Castle Hayne. The murder of Floyd last Memorial Day reinvigorated the public outcry for the issue.
Citizen review boards are set up to hear appeals of complaints against law enforcement officers which otherwise would only be investigated by the department itself. At least five other North Carolina metropolitan cities have such committees.