A day after a massive rally, the city of Troy has announced who will be on the newly reformed Police Objective Review Board.

The group is included in the city’s charter, but hasn’t been consistent. Mayor Patrick Madden announced several months ago the city would be bringing the board back.

What You Need To Know


  • Police review board is in the city's charter, but hasn't been consistent

  • Eight people named to new board

  • Calls for board initially came in wake of Edson Thevenin shooting

“It’s important to us this endures over time. That this not just be a bunch of names and they meet a couple times a year and that we check that box off,” said Madden.

The group will be made up of:

  • Jeff Anderson: Sage College criminal justice lecturer
  • Taneisha Harris: JCOPE filings examiner
  • Stacey Howard: NYSED conduct investigator
  • Elijah Scott: Office of Child and Family Services analyst
  • Marcus Nix: Substitute teacher, previous NYS Inspector General Supervising Investigator
  • Columbus Buish: Morgan Linen plant manager, previous Army JAG
  • Michael Tuttman: Civil engineer
  • Starletta Smith: YWCA-GCR executive director 

Madden says he hopes the review board will increase transparency.

“I think the community needs to know more about how the police department in this city operates and the efforts they try to make to serve the public,” the mayor said.

Smith says she felt it was her duty to be part of it. She says this will increase relations between the community and police.

“They are here to protect and serve and because that is their oath," she said. "We need them to stand firm in that oath and protect all communities."

Calls for the independent review board came after an internal report of Officer Randall French and the killing of Edson Thevenin became public.

The report concluded French lied during the investigation. He was cleared by a grand jury and never charged. French recently died after contracting COVID-19.

Renee Powell, the NAACP Troy Chapter president, was among those who have long called for the return of the review board.

“We’re going to be there to provide any assistance, council, any pressure that might be needed to get things done, to keep this on track,” says Powell.

The city has not revealed when the review board will begin meeting, although Smith says it may convene as early as next month. The board’s meetings are expected to be public.