Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the appointment of Ernest F. Hart to the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board and designated him to serve as Board Chair. The Civilian Complaint Review Board is an independent agency created in 1993 to investigate allegations of excessive force and abuse of authority by members of the Police Department.  The Board is comprised of five members designated by the Mayor, five members designated by the City Council, with one representing each of the boroughs, and three members designated by the Police Commissioner. Chairman Hart replaces Franklin H. Stone, who has served as a Board member since 1998 and as Chair since 2006.

"Ernie Hart has ably served our City in a number of capacities in the public and private sector and we are lucky to have him serve on the CCRB," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "He has a broad range of experience and has proven to be an effective executive throughout his career.  I want to thank Franklin Stone for more than a decade of dedicated service as a Board member and for her leadership as Chair."

"I look forward to taking on this challenge and will continue to ensure that the CCRB operates with integrity and independence," said Ernest F. Hart.  "I would like to thank Mayor Bloomberg for giving me the opportunity to serve."

"It has been a pleasure to serve the people of New York as a member and Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board," said Ms. Stone.  "I am happy to see that I will be succeeded by Ernie Hart, who I know will provide confident and capable leadership going forward."

Mr. Hart currently serves as Associate Dean/Chief Operating Officer for the Columbia University Medical Center's Affiliation with Harlem Hospital Center, where he is responsible for the overall management of a $70 million academic and clinical service organization.  Mr. Hart previously served as Chief of Staff and Counsel to the New York City Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott from 2002 to 2004, as an Adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School, and as an executive for the City of Yonkers, the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, New York City Department of Personnel, the New York State Public Employment Relations Board, New York City Department of Sanitation, and the New York Stock Exchange.  He began his professional career as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office.

Before accepting this position on the CCRB, Mr. Hart served as the Chair of the New York City Equal Employment Practices Commission and on the New York City Board of Collective Bargaining. He currently serves on the Supreme Court Appellate Division, 1st Department's Committee on Character and Fitness, on the Queens Borough Public Library Board of Trustees and as a Trustee of the Local 1199 SEIU Pension Fund.

Mr. Hart holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University and a Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University. He lives in Little Neck, Queens.