PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) of Philadelphia is proud to announce the appointment of Ewuare Osayande, Esq. as its new Deputy Executive Director. A civil rights attorney, Osayande brings more than three decades of experience in racial justice advocacy, public policy reform, and community engagement to the role.
“Ewuare Osayande has dedicated his life to challenging systemic injustice and advocating for transformative change,” said Tonya McClary, Executive Director of CPOC. “His deep commitment to racial equity, combined with his policy expertise and community focus, will strengthen our work as we fight for meaningful accountability and a justice system that truly serves the people of Philadelphia.”
Osayande’s commitment to police accountability began in 1990 while an undergraduate student at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Following the police killing of 16-year-old Phillip Pannell, Jr., Osayande—then president of the Association of Black and Hispanic Collegians—led a 100-mile march from Teaneck to Trenton, New Jersey, demanding justice. The march, featured in MSNBC’s Model America documentary, sparked national attention and launched a lifelong pursuit of racial equity.
“In this role, I’m honored to stand with the people of Philadelphia and continue the work that has defined my life,” said Osayande. “Police accountability must be rooted in truth, justice, and a deep belief in the humanity of all people. I look forward to working with the CPOC team and community partners to advance a vision of public safety grounded in equity and respect.”
In the years since that early activism, Osayande has served at the forefront of racial justice efforts, from helping form Newark’s early police oversight efforts in the 1990s to lecturing at institutions such as Harvard, Howard, Emory, UPenn, Drexel, and Temple on systemic racism and police reform.
From 2016 to 2021, Osayande served as Chief Diversity Officer at the American Friends Service Committee, where he led a comprehensive racial justice audit that reshaped the organization’s internal equity policies. A former professor of African American Studies at Rutgers University–Camden, he is also the author of several books examining the intersections of race, class, and gender.
Osayande has held fellowships with the California Lawyers Association and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, where he advanced policy initiatives to confront race discrimination, including enforcement of the federal executive order on police reform and early litigation under California’s CROWN Act. Most recently, he served as a staff attorney with New Jersey Legal Services, representing clients in housing and eviction cases.
He holds a law degree from the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law and is the 2024 recipient of the Richard H. Semker Prize in Civil Rights Law.
As Deputy Executive Director, Osayande will support CPOC’s expanding efforts to strengthen police oversight, guide policy reform, and center the voices of communities most impacted by policing practices.
Media Inquiries:
For more information please contact Jodie Eichel at (215) 685-0891, Jodie.Eichel@phila.gov
About the Citizens Police Oversight Commission: The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) is an independent oversight agency designed to ensure the just, transparent, and efficient administration of criminal justice in Philadelphia. CPOC is committed to conducting fair and timely investigations into police conduct, enhancing the quality of internal investigations, and fostering community engagement and trust