(Washington, DC) – The Police Complaints Board (PCB), governing body of the Office of Police Complaints (OPC), announced today its selection of Michael G. Tobin as the executive director of the Office of Police Complaints.

Since 2007, Tobin has served as the executive director of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, where he oversees the Commission’s work in a range of functions, including overseeing the initiation and implementation of police policies and procedures, conducting independent investigations of misconduct allegations, ensuring internal investigations are conducted appropriately, providing mediation between citizens and fire or police department employees, and managing citizen oversight of all aspects of police department operations such as setting employment standards, approving promotions and appointments, and selecting the police and fire department chiefs.

“After a thorough national search that provided many highly qualified and exciting candidates, the Police Complaints Board is pleased to announce that Michael G. Tobin will lead the District’s police oversight agency,” said Iris Maria Chavez, PCB chair.  “Michael has decades of experience in civilian oversight, police reform, and law enforcement.  We look forward to the strong leadership and passion for justice he will bring to OPC.”

Tobin began his career with the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a police officer.  Upon graduation from law school he joined the Milwaukee City Attorney’s Office as an assistant city attorney where he was a police legal advisor, guided internal affairs investigations, prosecuted police employees for misconduct, and represented the city's interests in police department matters for almost twenty years in state courts and administrative agencies.  Tobin is also a former Army National Guard Colonel and combat veteran.  In 2005 he was appointed Rule of Law Officer to manage the U.S. military program to reconstruct the civilian justice system nation-wide for the country of Afghanistan.

"I am grateful and enthusiastic for the opportunity to serve the District of Columbia as the executive director of the Office of Police Complaints,” said Tobin.  “I have devoted my career to ensuring the safety of the public and to ensuring that those who are charged with providing that safety are held to the highest standards.  I look forward to working together with the community, police departments, elected officials, and all stakeholders to continue OPC’s work ensuring that policing in the District exemplifies the values residents expect and deserve."  

"Michael Tobin has been a long-time member of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE).  He's attended our annual conference for many years and has achieved a high level of professional oversight training,” said NACOLE President Brian Buchner.  “He's an experienced oversight executive who will now have the important responsibility of leading one of the preeminent oversight agencies in the country."

Tobin fills the vacancy left by former Executive Director Philip K. Eure, who was selected to be the first Inspector General for the New York City Police Department.

Please visit our website at www.policecomplaints.dc.gov for more information about PCB or OPC.