FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2023
City of Charlottesville Announces Appointment of PCOB Executive Director
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Charlottesville Interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers announces the appointment of Inez M. Gonzales as the new Executive Director of the Police Civilian Oversight Board.
The City of Charlottesville is proud to announce the hiring of Ms. Inez M. Gonzalez as its next Executive Director for the Police Civilian Oversight Board after the approval of the appointment by the Charlottesville City Council on Monday, April 17, 2023.
“Ms. Gonzales brings to the Office of Oversight over twenty-eight years of experience in law enforcement, including in Internal Affairs,” said Rogers. “We are excited to both welcome Inez to the City and to ensure that our Police Civilian Oversight Board has proper staffing to engage in their work as outlined by our City Council. Thank you to Chair William Mendez and Board Member James Watson of the Police Civilian Oversight Board for participating in all areas of this important hiring process.”
Inez M. Gonzalez brings to the City of Charlottesville her deep bench of experience, having spent over twenty-five years with the City of Newark, New Jersey’s police department. Gonzalez served in a variety of roles during that time, including as a community services officer serving as a liaison between the police department and community groups within an assigned area; as a Sergeant and Internal Affairs Investigator and Domestic Violence Coordinator; as a Lieutenant and Integrity Control Officer, and finally as a Commander in the Office of Internal Affairs. Most recently, Ms. Gonzalez worked as a Regulatory Enforcement Inspector for the Department of State in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation’s office.
Gonzalez holds a B.A. from Grantham University, where she majored in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security. She is also bilingual in both English and Spanish and is the first Hispanic Female Lieutenant and Captain in the history of the Newark Police Department. She has extensive training and certifications, including from Northwestern University in Community and Problem-Oriented Policing.
“I am genuinely excited to start my new role with the PCOB. I look forward to working with the board and other stakeholders to make meaningful changes that will positively impact the citizens of Charlottesville,” says Gonzalez. “We are delighted that Ms. Gonzales has agreed to come and work for the Board. All of us who interviewed her were greatly impressed by her qualifications, experience, and demeanor. Her presence will greatly aid us in going forward with our important work,” said Chair of the Police Civilian Oversight Board William “Bill” Mendez.
Ms. Gonzalez will report to Deputy City Manager Ashley Reynolds Marshall and will start her service in the City of Charlottesville on May 1, 2023.
Media Contact
David Dillehunt
Deputy Director of Communications & Public Engagement
City of Charlottesville
434-970-3114
dillehunt@charlottesville.gov
