By Jarret Liotta

WESTPORT — Somewhere around 35 candidates have submitted resumes to serve on the town’s soon-to-be-rejuvenated Civilian Review Panel, but only two will be recommended to the full Representative Town Meeting for a vote on appointment.

A subcommittee of the RTM’s Public Protection Committee met virtually Tuesday night to discuss the process of weeding out candidates to streamline the interview process by the full committee, which will meet in executive session on Thursday evening.

The four-person group, aided by several other RTM members, discussed ideas for finding the right candidates to serve on the panel, including a set of questions to administer.

More Than 32 Candidates

“We have well-over 30 resumes we’ve received,” said member Stephen Shackelford, District 8, subcommittee chair.

Committee members are each being asked to choose their top-five picks from among the names, and the clear five that get the most votes will be interviewed. Prior, however, Shackelford said the committee members will be given a chance to add any additional candidates they feel particularly strong about if they were not included.

“I think the key thing that we want is objectivity,” Jimmy Izzo, District 3, who chairs the Public Protection Committee, said of best candidates.

“We want to have transparency within our community and we want a fair objective board that does have some teeth,” he said, noting that the right people should be able to ask tough questions of both the town employees and the people who lodge complaints through the panel.

Rejuvenating the CRP

The Civilian Review Panel, which has lied somewhat dormant since its creation by former First Selectman Jim Marpe about three years ago, is charged with reviewing complaints and various issues relating to the Emergency Medical Services, Fire and Police Departments.

The five-person panel, which includes the second and third selectpersons and a member of TEAM Westport — currently its chair, Harold Bailey — was never fully staffed and has only met intermittently over the past two years.

Last month, following a second petition to the RTM for an ordinance that would create a Civilian Police Review Board by resident Tom Prince, First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker made an official request to the RTM that it take over responsibility for appointing two new members to the existing panel.

While Prince did not apply for an appointment to the panel, he offered mix praise for the process after witnessing Tuesday’s meeting.

Ordinance Petitioner Responds

“I thought Stephen Shackelford led a great meeting with a lot of consideration about transparency,” he said, also acknowledging RTM Moderator Jeff Wieser’s concern that people who are not chosen to serve are also acknowledged and applauded for taking the time to volunteer in the first place.

“I’m grateful for their work, but I fundamentally disagree with a police panel,” Prince said, noting it’s a case of the police policing themselves.

“It’s really difficult to believe that Westport is so far behind the other towns in Fairfield County,” he said. “And it’s really difficult to believe that the police are still investigating complaints against themselves in 2022.”

Subcommittee members, including Claudia Shaum, District 8, pointed out the multiple skills that will be required of panel members.

“You’re sort of the HR person … (You) listen to complaints with an open mind … then advising on policy,” she said.

“You don’t necessarily find all of these same skills sets in the same person,” she said.

Member Andrew Colabella, District 4, suggested the candidates be asked “scenario-based” questions, in part to show if they’re application is politically motivated.

Full RTM Likely to Take Committee Recommendation

“That’s where you’re really, really going to get to the nitty gritty,” he said, recommending that the subcommittee generate some questions through a police-recruitment professional who offers scenarios online.

Shackelford said they would have to come up with those offline, so as not to alert candidates in advance.

Member Louis Mall, District 2, pointed out that anyone serving on the panel should have a clean record, particularly in relation to their occupations.

“I wouldn’t want someone sitting in judgment of my professionalism when they’re own professionalism has been called into account,” he said.

Mall also noted that “99.9 percent of the time” the recommendations made by the Public Protection Committee will be adopted by the RTM as a whole, noting the importance of who they choose.

“I wouldn’t expect to be turned down,” he said.