(AP) - The head of the Sacramento Community Police Commission has resigned, saying the board is not relevant because it can't meet the community's expectations.
The Sacramento Bee reports Les Simmons announced his resignation Tuesday during a press conference that included members of Black Lives Matter, the Law Enforcement Accountability Directive (LEAD) and Sacramento Area Congregations Together.
A local pastor, Simmons says that increased calls for police reform and a commission with greater powers made him feel that he was "not being relevant and true to my community" by continuing to serve on a board that can only make recommendations to the City Council.
He says the city is in a "defining moment" as the result of the July 11 fatal shooting of Joseph Mann and that he will focus instead on "building bridges" between law enforcement and communities.
Simmons had headed the commission since it formed last year.
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