The city is looking for people to help monitor and report on a new movement toward community policing in Oakland.

Positions on the Oakland Community Policing Board last for three years. Meetings take place once a month (first Wednesdays).

Each City Council member appoints one person to the board, so reach out to your councilmember if you're interested.

In addition to keeping an eye on how community policing is going, board members provide recommendations on steps to improve community policing; serve as advisors to police chief and command staff; and keep the lines of communication open between the police and the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils.

Other duties include...

* Represent groups in the district from which you are appointed, and the community as a whole, in providing input that reflects local concerns, visions and ideas
* Report back to your district stakeholder groups, and the community as a whole, with information on board activities, and gather input from groups to share with the board
* Participate in board activities and functions
* Suggest issues to be brought before the board
* Be an active community advocate for the implementation of community policing in Oakland

Meetings will take place the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., Hearing Room 2 (City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza). The Board reports recommendations at least twice yearly to the mayor and City Council.