Two new members and one reappointment join the board
Brandon E. Brown
Billy Sharp
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced yesterday that Brandon E. Brown and Billy Sharp have been sworn in as new members of the Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB).
Brown and a current member, Kenneth Mountcastle, were appointed to four-year terms ending in August 2026. Sharp’s appointment fills a vacancy on the CPRB for a term that runs through December 20, 2025.
The CPRB can receive, cause investigation of, review, and recommend resolutions for non-criminal administrative complainants against Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) personnel.
Investigations of alleged police misconduct are conducted by the Office of Professional Standards (OPS). The OPS reports directly to the CPRB, and the CPRB reviews the investigations completed by the OPS. Following an OPS investigation, the CPRB holds a public hearing and recommends an administrative resolution for each of the complaints per City of Cleveland Charter Section 115.
This new procedure follows passage of the citizen's initiative known as Issue 24, passed resoundingly by Cleveland voters last November. Bibb supported the measure and made it a part of his campaign, unlike all of his principal opponents.
A list of the current board members, excluding the new appointees, can be found here. One appointee, Ashley Mostella, has resigned. The new appointments bring the CPRB to its full complement of nine members. Five are appointed by the mayor and four appointed by Cleveland City Council.
About the new appointees:
Brandon E. Brown, Esq. is currently an Associate at Calfee, Halter, & Griswold LLP. Born and raised in Cleveland, Brown lives in the North Collinwood neighborhood of Ward 8. He is a trial attorney and former City of Cleveland Law Department employee, with experience understanding and evaluating officer-involved complaints.
Prior to his work in the law department, Brandon served as a clerk in the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.
Brown is a board member of the May Dugan Center, a 3Rs volunteer instructor, chair of the Louis Stokes Scholars Program and a coach for both the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Moot Court Team and the John Hay Early College Mock Trial Team. He is also 1st Vice President of the Norman S. Minor Bar Association.
Billy Sharp is human resources manager for Ledwidge GP Management DBA McDonald's. He is also the founder of Billy Sharp OmniMedia, which provides consulting services and markets books, documentaries and educational materials.
A former candidate for Ohio House District 10, Sharp previously served as executive director of The Straightway Project, where he worked to bring resources to the Glenville community.
An active volunteer, Sharp has held leadership positions for many community-based organizations, including the Urban League of Greater Cleveland GUILD, Ohio Young Black Democrats Northeast Ohio Chapter, Cleveland Stonewall Democrats and Organizing for Action - Cleveland Chapter.
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Revised October 20, 2022 to include the correct number of board members and reflect the CPRB's current composition.
