The Seattle Community Police Commission (CPC) is nearing the end of an extensive search for our next permanent executive director. Before we decide, we want to give community a chance to hear from the candidates, ask questions, and give feedback. Event details and the Zoom link for the meeting can be found here.
While the CPC is led by our commissioners, the executive director plays a crucial role in commission leadership, staff management, and implementation of the community’s police accountability priorities. Under the landmark 2017 Accountability Ordinance, CPC executive directors are appointed for six-year terms. The appointments are also subject to Council confirmation.
After an extensive search, a few terrific candidates have emerged as finalists. They are Brandy Grant, Eddie Aubrey, and Ed Harness. Learn more about them below.
Brandy Grant
Brandy Grant was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoman; she holds a Master’s from the University of Oklahoma and an undergraduate degree from the University of Tulsa. A former Masters’ level therapist has also worked as a non-profit management professional for close to twenty years. Brandy and her family moved to Seattle to bring 20 years of mental health and community programming to Washington. She was sworn in, in April 2019 for the Seattle Community Police Commission (CPC) and recently became the Interim Executive Director of the Commission.
Brandy has spent the last 7 years in Seattle applying her mental health analysis to policy and programming through co-drafting, co-sponsoring legislation and successfully led a coalition and budget strategy for the following bills SB 6628 and SB 6188, which through the use of legislative contacts and community engagement, organizing, and advisement, was submitted for consideration a pair of bills to the WA State House of Representatives for the 2020 session. And developing public health programming that led to learning with community leaders, people with lived experience, representatives from public health, the legal and justice system, health care, and others, we can work to prevent more lives being affected by and lost to gun violence. Working closely with Law Enforcement entities, King County DV Unit, and others to build, examine, and implement the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Basic Law Enforcement Academy Domestic Violence Student Handbook for Training purposes. Brandy continues to work for and with the community on issues like police reform and gun violence prevention.
Eddie Aubrey
Eddie Aubrey has passionately served the community for more than 40 years in various executive leadership roles in Washington and California. His background provides a unique 360-degree view of civilian oversight, Constitutional Policing, cultural diversity, law, justice, executive management, and justice reform issues. His lifelong mission is to make a difference and add value in the community, regardless of internal or external forces, or political pressure.
He grew up in the culturally diverse inner city of south-central Los Angeles and became a police officer in L.A hoping to make a difference. However, he found himself wearing riot gear looking out a bus window at his childhood neighborhood in flames triggered by the riots following the Rodney King incident. Because of the social injustice he felt, he enrolled in law school; became a Prosecuting Attorney for King County and later Chief Prosecuting Attorney for Renton; a Judge, (pro tem); and then Director at Tacoma Community College. He established the Office of Independent Review (Police Auditor) overseeing the Fresno Police Department and is currently the Civilian Manager of the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) overseeing the Richmond Police Department in California.
He has spoken on behalf of NACOLE, volunteered on several committees, and is a NACOLE Certified Practitioner of Oversight. He has experience on Boards as Vice-President and Treasurer.
Lastly, Mr. Aubrey is an active Attorney in Washington who graduated from Seattle University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.
Ed Harness
Edward Harness is the Executive Director of Albuquerque’s Civilian Police Oversight Agency (CPOA). The City Council of Albuquerque appointed him to his position in September 2015. The CPOA is an independent agency that investigates complaints against Albuquerque Police Department (APD) personnel, reviews all Officer Involved Shootings, Serious Uses of Force, Internal Affairs Findings, and advises on APD policy.
A graduate of Marquette University Law School, Mr. Harness had a private law practice for fifteen years (15). His practice was a Federal Debt Relief Agency and focused on consumer rights. He graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Management of Criminal Justice Operations. Prior to attending law school Edward was a City of Milwaukee Police Officer, and a U.S. Army Military Policeman.
Mr. Harness has a total of twelve (12) years’ experience in civilian oversight of police. He served seven (7) years as a volunteer Police Commissioner in Wisconsin prior to his appointment to the CPOA. Mr. Harness is a Certified Practitioner of Oversight by NACOLE, the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement.
Mr. Harness is Father to two grown daughters and two rescued Pitties. He is an avid sports fan, plays golf and baseball. His brother retired out of Ft. Lewis and raised his family in Seattle; retiring again from SeaTac. Mr. Harness looks forward to serving the Seattle community.
The CPC was created by community to stand for community, so before any decisions are made, we want to make sure you, your organization, and any other community members have a chance to meet the candidates and ask them questions. Our hope is to create a space for your feedback and wisdom to guide the CPC’s selection.
