The Rev. Diane Lewis, a member of Akron’s Citizens’ Police Oversight Board, has resigned from the nine-person panel, citing personal reasons.
In a letter to the board dated Jan. 10, Lewis wrote, “Due to a most recent set of unforeseen events, I can no longer devote the time and attention needed as a member of the board and chair of the Community Engagement subcommittee.”
Akron City Council is responsible for appointing her replacement. Lewis was one of six people nominated to the board by the council; former Mayor Daniel Horrigan selected the remaining three.
Lewis is the first member of the recently created board to exit. The board was created with the passage of Issue 10, a citizen referendum, in November 2022. It was not fully assembled until the end of March 2023 because of a disagreement among council members over a nomination that was eventually scrapped.