Over 70 people applied to Lexington’s police disciplinary board. Here’s who was picked
A lawyer who has prior experience serving on city boards and a state personnel cabinet employee who has co-chaired minority business expos were selected by Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton to serve on an internal police disciplinary board.
This is the first time civilians have been placed on the board, which can make decisions on punishment for police officers.
The city received 74 applications, according to a written release. The two new civilian members are Allison Connelly and Darlene Barber.
Connelly is a lawyer who has served on the city’s Ethics Commission and the Lexington Human Rights Commission.
“I believe I have a responsibility to serve the community where I live and work and the community that I love,” Connelly said. “Serving on this commission would make use of my legal knowledge and skills in an area in which I am deeply interested.”
Darlene Barber works for the state Personnel Cabinet and has served as co-chair of the Minority Business Expo.
“I am passionate about this community I grew up in, raised my children in, and am now watching my grandchildren grow up in,” Barber said. “I want better for the citizens of Lexington. I want to help provide change and make this a better place to work, play and live. We need peace in this place.”
Father Jim Sichko, a papal missionary of mercy, was selected as an alternate.
“As a Papal Missionary; as a priest; as a human being/citizen, I value the work of our first responders,” Sichko said. “I also value the belief that all people, regardless of position, power or authority, must act justly and not abuse the gift given to them.”
Connelly and Sichko are white. Barber is Black.
The Fraternal Order of Police Bluegrass Lodge agreed to add the two civilians as part of its collective bargaining agreement, which was approved in November. Groups who want more police accountability and transparency have long pushed the city to add more civilians to police disciplinary boards. It was also a recommendation of Gorton’s Commission on Racial Justice and Equality, which released its findings in October 2020.
Gorton said she tried to find applicants who were fair minded, objective and ethical.
“I made this a priority as we worked out a collective bargaining contract with our police. Now the police and administration are taking a big step forward to improve police accountability and transparency,” Gorton said.
The appointments must be confirmed by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council.
The internal disciplinary board does not hear all police disciplinary actions.
The board hears disciplinary actions if the police chief declines to make a recommendation and then forwards it to the board for review, or if an officer challenges the police chief’s recommended punishment.
The board consists of two civilians, five members of the command staff and two members of the FOP.
