PRESS RELEASE: Wilmington’s Community Police Accountability Board to Hold Upcoming Meetings
Friday, September 12, 2025
Wilmington’s Community Police Accountability Board to Hold Upcoming Meetings
The meetings are open to the public and will be held in the 3rd Floor Conference Room at the Louis L. Redding City/County Building.
Wilmington, DE – The City of Wilmington is taking a historic step toward strengthening trust, accountability, and collaboration between residents and law enforcement. The newly formed Wilmington Community Police Accountability Board (WCPAB) will hold its second meeting this month, marking the beginning of a community-driven effort to ensure transparency, fairness, and mutual respect between the Wilmington Police Department (WPD) and the people it serves.
The WCPAB, formerly known as the Citizens Complaint Review Board, was created to give residents a stronger voice in shaping the policies, training, and practices of local policing. This initiative represents years of advocacy from community members, faith leaders, and elected officials, all united by the belief that true public safety begins with trust.
On July 17, 2025, Wilmington City Council passed Resolution 25-047, officially appointing seven community leaders to serve two-year terms on the Board:
The members selected by Mayor John Carney include:
- Albert Mills (Community member impacted by the juvenile and/or adult criminal justice system)
- Bishop Thomas Weeks (Faith-based community)
- Jennifer Thompkins (Civil rights community)
- Hanifa Shabazz (Community member)
Members selected by Council President Ernest “Trippi” Congo, II include:
- Darryl L. Chambers (Education community)
- Andrea Hale-Nichols (Mental health community)
- Nicholas X. Brock (Community member)
In addition, Mayor John Carney, represented by Dwight Holden, and Police Chief Wilfredo Campos, or his designee, will serve as non-voting ex-officio members, ensuring communication remains open while centering community voices.
This transformation was made possible through Ordinance 24-063, passed in December 2024, which restructured the original Citizens Complaint Review Board into the WCPAB. The ordinance built upon earlier efforts, including legislation introduced in 2020 by Council Member Chris Johnson, who envisioned a stronger bridge between the community and law enforcement.
“When I first sponsored legislation to create a citizen review board in 2020, my hope was to give our community a seat at the table in shaping public safety,” said 7th District Council Member Chris Johnson. “The launch of this Board is a victory for transparency, but more importantly, it’s a victory for the people of Wilmington who deserve to be heard and respected. This is not the end of the work. It’s the beginning of deeper conversations, accountability, and trust-building between residents and law enforcement.”
Council President Trippi Congo emphasized the urgency of this work after the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols, stating: “I cannot ask the people that I represent to trust a process and a system which closes its doors to outside review and is shrouded in such secrecy.”
At its upcoming meetings, the Board will introduce members, receive updates from the City Solicitor’s Office, and begin developing the framework to ensure long-term impact. Board members will undergo 20 hours of community training and receive guidance from the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC) and the Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), both statewide bodies dedicated to strengthening accountability and integrity in policing.
Council Member Yolanda McCoy (6th District) underscored the importance of this work: “Accountability and justice go hand in hand. The establishment of the Community Police Accountability Board means we are moving forward as a city where voices that were once silenced are now centered. This is about protecting our neighbors, healing old wounds, and making sure every Wilmington resident feels safe, valued, and represented.”
Council Member Shané Darby (2nd District) added: “For years, our community has been calling for change, for transparency, and for equity in how policing is done in Wilmington. This Board represents the power of people coming together to demand something better. As someone deeply committed to social justice, I believe this is a step toward breaking down walls of distrust and building a system where accountability is not optional, but essential.”
The meetings are open to the public and will be held at the Louis L. Redding City/County Building (3rd Floor Conference Room, 800 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE) on the following dates:
- September 15 at 1PM
- October 20 at 1PM
- November 17 at 1PM
The Wilmington Community Police Accountability Board is more than a policy change. It is a promise to the people of Wilmington. It reflects the city’s commitment to building safer neighborhoods through transparency, accountability, and shared responsibility.
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MEDIA CONTACT:Yesenia TaverasDirector of Communications, Wilmington City CouncilOffice: (302)576-2585
Mobile: (302)757-5748Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.govCity Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com