Barbara Greenspun remembers 1969: Police review board isn’t a new concept

Friday, Nov. 17, 2000 | 2:08 a.m.

A police review board is not a new concept for Las Vegas. Thirty-one years ago the idea was presented by attorney Charles Kellar, then president of the local NAACP chapter, after a 17-year-old boy was gunned down by a North Las Vegas policeman.

I recall the days when Kellar would come to the Sun in his role as NAACP president. He was a ferocious defender of his constituents and never missed an opportunity to close the gap between white citizens and black. Kellar, now in his 90s, was a driving force in early civil rights movements. Thinking back to those days one cannot forget the contributions of black leaders such as Dr. Charles West, Dr. James McMillan, David Hoggard, Woodrow Wilson, Bob Bailey, Joe Neal, Marion Bennett and many others.

While Hank agreed with Kellar on the need for a police review board, he went a step further in recommending that such a board would offer a balanced approach to all sides in any controversy that might come before the board. His thoughts on the subject could well be considered by the present board.