Mayor Eric Adams is reportedly attempting to oust Arva Rice, the interim chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), according to sources. Adams’ close advisor, Philips Banks, approached Rice last week and requested her resignation. Rice was appointed to the CCRB by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, and was initially considered a potential permanent appointee by Adams.
However, recent outspoken remarks by Rice on the impact of budget cuts on the CCRB’s operations and her criticism of the NYPD’s handling of the Kawaski Trawick shooting have apparently strained her relationship with the current administration. Rice has emphasized the need for additional funding to maintain the CCRB’s ability to investigate complaints, a request that has not been fully met.
The budget cuts have forced the CCRB to suspend investigations of certain types of complaints, prompting Rice to request an additional $15 million from the City Council. She has highlighted the risks of continued underfunding, including the inability to investigate complaints, unchecked police misconduct, and a loss of public trust in the city’s public safety system.
In March 2023 testimony, Rice criticized the NYPD’s handling of the Trawick case, alleging that the department withheld evidence from the CCRB and obstructed its investigation. She also questioned the NYPD judge’s decision to clear the involved officers of wrongdoing and the police commissioner’s subsequent endorsement of that decision.
Last week, during the CCRB’s monthly meeting, Rice once again denounced the NYPD’s actions in the Trawick case. Following this meeting, Banks approached Rice with a resignation request. Rice subsequently reached out to an ally in City Hall to arrange a meeting with Mayor Adams’ chief advisor, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, in an attempt to secure a direct meeting with the mayor.
The exact outcome of these discussions remains uncertain. Rice has not publicly commented on the situation, while a City Hall spokesperson has characterized her as a holdover appointment from the previous administration. It is unclear whether Rice will voluntarily step down or if Adams will proceed with a replacement. The New York Times has reported that Rice is expected to comply with the administration’s request and depart from the CCRB in the coming weeks.
