Nicolle Barton has been selected as the first commissioner of St. Louis city’s Civilian Oversight Board, after a four-month search process.
The board is responsible for independently reviewing concerns or complaints about the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Barton served as a probation and parole officer for Missouri for six years. She also spent 10 years as a unit supervisor who managed the investigative and administration staff of the Department of Corrections; Board of Probation and Parole.
Barton assumes her duties on February 8 and will report to the city’s public safety director.
Board member Ciera Simril said there were initially 50 candidates. The board members interviewed the top six candidates and selected Barton. Although many of the other candidates were highly qualified, she said Barton was the best fit for them and the city.
“She is a very detailed oriented,” Simril said. “She was a great selection for the position. She is prepared for what lies ahead.”
Board member Jane Abbott-Morris said she was also pleased with Barton’s selection.
“Ms. Barton was my first choice after interviewing the finalists,” she said. “I was very impressed with her professional background, in addition to her community involvements. Ms. Barton is very personable and energetic. I am confident that she will be well received by the community and the police department.”
The board members include Simril, Abbott-Morris, Bradley T. Arteaga, David Bell, Heather Highland, Lawrence C. Johnson and Stephen Rovak.
Simril said selecting their executive director was their first task as a board. Now Barton will select two investigators to assist her. The board members must go through the police department’s civilian academy, she said, which will finish at the end of March. Simril said she doesn’t know when the board will be ready to take on cases, but it will depend on when the staff is fully in place.
“I’m really enjoying the beginning process,” she said. “We are still getting to know each other and how we are going to work as a unit. It’s the fun part before we get into the depth of what we are going to.”
Follow this reporter on Twitter @RebeccaRivas.
