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Joaquin Murrieta, Chairman
Joaquin Murrieta was born in a small town in Sonora Mexico and has resided on and off in Tucson since 1973.  He graduated from University High School and from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.  Joaquin currently is a member of the Westside Coalition Weed and Seed and a member of the Barrio Hollywood neighborhood association.  Previously, Joaquin has done volunteer work with Rebuilding Tucson Together.  Joaquin currently works for the State of Arizona’s Department of Economic Security in various duties that have included case management, disability determinations and contractor monitoring/auditing. 

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Jennifer Lopez, Vice Chairperson
Jennifer is a native of Tucson and has lived here all her life. She is retired from her long career at Tucson Electric Power and currently enjoys her hobby; singing and playing guitar in her rock and roll band. Jennifer was a commissioner for the City of Tucson's GLBT Commission. This commission heard complaints on discrimination and other issues and made recommendations for the Mayor and Council. She was also a board member of Wingspan and the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA). She is a graduate of the Citizens Police Academy and continues her quest of public service as a board member for CPARB.

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Suzanne Elefante
I have lived in the City of Tucson since 1973, I have served on the City of Tucson Budget Advisory Comm., the Bond Oversight Comm., and the Citizen Police Advisory Comm. I served on the Citizen Police Advisory Review Board for 8 years and was it's first chairperson. I belong to Optimist Service Clubs and am a member of the DM 50 and the Arizona Restuarant and Hospitality Assoc.

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Stephen G. Nekolek
Steve Nekolek grew up in Yonkers, NY receiving his high school diploma from Saunders Trades and Technical H.S. in 1978. In 1983 he earned a B.A. degree in Political Science and Law from SUNY New Paltz, NY. After working in publishing for several years in Appleton, WI, Steve and his wife Laura relocated to Page, Arizona where he started several businesses including Western Graphics and Publishing which he ran for more than seven years. While living in Page, Steve was active in both the Page-Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce, and the Page Main Street downtown re-development program. In 2000, Steve moved to Flagstaff and began attending Northern Arizona University^Òs teacher education program. After receiving his teaching certification, Steve moved his family to Tucson where he currently teaches social studies at ACE Charter High School. Steve, his wife Laura, and their two children Emily and Erin love Tucson and hope to live, and serve this community, for many years to come.

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Cynthia Schiesel
During her over 32-year tenure at Palo Verde High School, Ms. Schiesel created a scholarship program, honors night program, and anti-gang program which are still in use there and at some other area high schools. She was on the Tucson Unified School District committee which created the high school GATE program, sponsored National Honor Society, and built that group’s relationship with service organizations across the state. She also served as chairperson for several groups including the faculty council and North Central Association evaluation team. After retiring, she joined CPARB because she wanted to strengthen the positive relationship between the Tucson Police Department and the community and, in particular, to help build a better understanding and level of respect between TPD and area youngsters. Ms. Schiesel was selected to be a non-voting, advisory member to the Board in May 2002. She served in that capacity until May 2003 at which time she was appointed to represent Ward IV on the Board.

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Susan Thornton
Ms. Thornton is a long-time resident of Tucson. She graduated from Rincon High School and is a registered nurse with a Master of Science Degree from the University of Arizona College of Nursing. She is semi-retired, although she has three part time jobs involving quality improvement efforts for two insurance companies and one hospital. She has a great respect for law enforcement and was interested in joining the Board as a way to assure a continued positive relationship between police officers and the public. She was selected by the Board to be an advisory member in 2003 and was appointed by the Mayor as a voting member in April, 2005.

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Advisory, Non-Voting Members

Karen Brandel
Barbara Richards

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Karen Brandel
I came to Tucson from Rochester, New York in 1975. In Rochester, I did neighborhood surveys about public perception of police officers just before the Rochester Police Department reintroduced neighborhood walking beats. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in Psychology and a BSN in Nursing. In 2007 I was one of 10 registered nurses throughout the nation selected by the American Nurses’ Association to serve on a standard-setting panel for national certification in Pediatrics. I am an active board member of the Palo Verde Neighborhood Association. Having worked in health issues with children and their families for nearly 25 years at University Medical Center, my interests have evolved into the health and vitality of the Tucson community. I applied for CPARB because this board helps community members to realize that the workings of the Tucson Police Department are reviewed and sometimes revised in response to community input.

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Barbara Richards
Barbara Richards is originally from Philadelphia, PA, and has resided in Tucson since June of 1974. Ms. Richards retired from Tucson Electric Power Co. in 2007 after 27 years of service as a Customer and Financial Contract Coordinator. She has been active in her community ever since her arrival in Tucson, most recently as an officer of her homeowners association and currently as the newly elected President of the Board for the Udall Eastside Senior Club, 2009—2010 term. She is a graduate of the Citizen's Police Academy, class 2008–2, and her interest in serving on CPARB was initiated while attending the Academy. Barbara has three daughters and four grandchildren.

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Ex-officio, Non-Voting Members

City Manager’s Office
Tucson Police Officers Association
Tucson Police Department

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City Manager’s Office
Liana Perez was selected as the City of Tucson's first Independent Police Auditor in 1997. She was entrusted with the tasks of developing, implementing and maintaining a credible, fair and equitable review process of citizen complaints of police misconduct. She meets regularly with the Chief of Police and City Manager to address concerns and to provide recommendations for improvements to the review process. She conducts community outreach in order to promote public awareness of the review process and to enhance the relationship between the community and the police department. Ms. Perez is a board member of the National Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement and the Hispanic Professional Action Committee. Ms. Perez also serves as the Director of the City of Tucson's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs. She is a fifth generation Tucsonan and has worked in the field of civil rights for over ten years with the City of Tucson and with the Arizona Attorney General's Civil Rights Division. She has a degree in Business Administration from Pima Community College and attended the University of Arizona. Ms. Perez has worked closely with the Citizen Police Advisory Review Board since its inception and was appointed the City Manager's representative to the Board in April, 2005.

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Tucson Police Officers Association
(this position is currently vacant)

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Tucson Police Department
Lieutenant Rick Hovden is the current commander of the Office of Internal Affairs. Lt. Hovden is a 32-year veteran of law enforcement serving in both the U.S. Army and county and municipal law enforcement agencies. He has been a commissioned member of the Tucson Police Department for nearly 23-years serving the agency in a variety of ways. Lt. Hovden’s past assignments include patrol commander as well as the commander of the Community Relations Section, Family and Sex Crimes Section and Executive Officer to the Chief of Police. Lt. Hovden is also the police department’s Legislative Liaison to the Arizona State Legislature. Lt. Hovden attended Pima Community College majoring in Law Enforcement and Northern Arizona University majoring in Public Agency Service.

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