Union Theological Seminary executive vice president to chair NYC’s Civilian Complaint Review Board

The Rev. Fred Davie is the first to be appointed by both the mayor and city council speaker

by New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board | Special to Presbyterian News Service

The Rev. Fred Davie

LOUISVILLE — The Rev. Fred Davie, executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, has been appointed chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board by both Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

According to a news release, Davie is the first chair to be jointly selected by the mayor and speaker under the terms of a recent amendment to the New York City charter. Previously, the mayor had sole discretion over appointments for the role.

The New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) is the largest police oversight entity in the nation and is empowered to investigate, mediate, prosecute, and recommend disciplinary action for complaints alleging misconduct by New York Police Department officers.

de Blasio appointed Davie as chair of the CCRB in April 2018. Davie is also a member of the Mayor’s Clergy Advisory Council and is co-convener of the council’s public safety committee. He’s been executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary since August 2011.

Prior to his role at UTS, Davie was interim executive director and senior director of the social justice and LGBT programs at the Arcus Foundation. Davie also served on President Barack Obama’s transition team, and later accepted an appointment by Obama to the White House Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

His prior leadership roles in public administration for the City of New York include: deputy borough president of Manhattan, chief of staff to the deputy mayor for Community and Public Affairs, and chief of staff to the president of the New York City Board of Education. He is a graduate of Greensboro College and Yale Divinity School.

“Serving as chair of the CCRB has been a great honor, and I am pleased to have the confidence of both the mayor and the speaker in my capabilities as head of the board,” Davie said, according to the news release. “I look forward to continued cooperation with my colleagues at the CCRB and leaders throughout the city as we work together in the pursuit of accountability in law enforcement.”

In the same statement, Johnson said Davie “has dedicated his life to public service. As chair of the CCRB, he has strengthened civilian oversight of the NYPD, including the investigation of allegations of sexual misconduct by police officers … Under his leadership, the CCRB played a critical role in the investigation that led to the firing of officer Daniel Pantaleo in the tragic death of Eric Garner. Rev. Davie is deeply committed to social justice and making our city a more fair place.”