Council Selects New Civilian Police Oversight Agency Executive Director
ALBUQUERQUE - The Albuquerque City Council selected Dianne McDermott as the new Director of the Civilian Police Oversight Agency (CPOA). Three candidates were under consideration for the position that has been officially vacant for a year.
In January of 2023, the City Council amended the Police Oversight Ordinance requiring a Contract Compliance officer to assemble a team to accept and review applications from candidates for the CPOA Executive Director position and to make recommendations to the Council.
The selection team completed reviews and interviews of 11 candidates for the CPOA Executive Director vacancy. In his report last month to the City Council, Dr. Omotayo Olubiyi, contract compliance officer for the CPOA and the CPOA Board, wrote that the selection team had narrowed the search to three candidates, Ms. Diane McDermott, Mr. Garrett Schaaf and Ms. Mariana Borunda.
The candidates were required to have a master's degree or professional law degree and a track record of effective management experience along with other preferred knowledge and investigative skills.
Ms. McDermott has a bachelor’s degree in psychology/criminology, and a master’s degree in security management. She has been working with the City of Albuquerque since 2006. Her experience includes investigator, lead investigator, and interim director which uniquely provides an opportunity for a seamless transition to the director’s position.
The Civilian Police Oversight Agency is a critical component of police reform and oversight in Albuquerque. The CPOA is an independent agency of city government, not part of either the city administration or City Council and consists of the Civilian Police
Oversight Advisory Board and an Administrative Office led by the CPOA Executive Director. In 2023, the City Council amended the Police Oversight Ordinance to ensure CPOA and CPOAB remained in compliance with the requirements of the Ordinance. The CPOA Board meets on the second Thursday of each month.