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Who We Are

Who we are

In its November 1, 2016 action, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors appointed nine commissioners to serve on the panel and approved hiring an executive director. Five members are nominated from each Supervisorial District, and four additional members are appointed by the entire Board. Commissioners' diverse backgrounds include community & faith leaders, a retired Sheriff's Department Lieutenant, a former federal judge & attorneys with a broad range of experiences—from former prosecutors & public defenders to professors & executives from nonprofit organizations. They are:

  • Sean Kennedy - Commission Chair, executive director of Center for Juvenile Law & Policy at Loyola Law School and former federal public defender, appointed 11-1-2016 by the Board of Supervisors
  • Jamon R. Hicks - Vice Chair, Partner at Douglas / Hicks Law, APC in Los Angeles, California, appointed 2-15-2022 by Supervisor Mitchell
  • Robert C. Bonner - attorney and former U.S. Attorney and DEA Administrator, appointed 11-1-2016 by Supervisor Antonovich, reappointed 7-24-2018 by Supervisor Barger
  • Irma Hagans Cooper - Retired Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve, Army Nurse Corp, appointed 5-3-2022 by the Board of Supervisors
  • Luis S. Garcia - Senior Program Manager at Advocates for Human Potential and a registered associate clinical social worker, appointed 5-3-2022 by the Board of Supervisors
  • Patti Giggans - Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, appointed 11-24-2016 by Supervisor Kuehl, reappointed 7-24-2018
  • James P. Harris - former LASD lieutenant, appointed 11-1-2016 by Supervisor Knabe, reappointed 7-1-2017 by Supervisor Hahn
  • Hans Johnson - President of Progressive Victory, appointed 9-27-2022 by Supervisor Solis
  • Lael Rubin - former Deputy District Attorney, appointed 11-1-2016 by the Board of Supervisors, reappointed 7-24-2018

The Commission is under the leadership of Interim Executive Director, Danielle Butler Vappie, Esq. who was appointed March 2023.

See Commissioner biographies here.

Former Commissioners & Executive Directors:

  • Brian K. Williams, Esq. - inaugural Executive Director, appointed 11-1-2016 by the Board of Supervisors, last day with the Commission was 2-28-2023
  • Priscilla Ocen - Commission Chair, Loyola Law School Associate Professor, appointed 11-1-2016 by the Board of Supervisors, end of term 1-21-2022
  • Xavier Thompson - President of Baptist Ministers’ Conference and Senior Pastor of the Southern Saint Paul Church, appointed 11-1-2016 by Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, end of term 12-10-2021
  • Casimiro U. Tolentino - former Administrative Law Judge for the State of California, appointed 7-24-2018 by the Board of Supervisors, end of term 11-30-2021
  • Hernán Vera - attorney and former president and CEO of Public Counsel, appointed 11-1-2016 by Supervisor Solis, end of term 11-21-2020
  • Heather Miller - Rabbi, Beth Chayim Chadashim, appointed 11-1-2016 by the Board of Supervisors, end of term 6-28-2018