PALM BEACH COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION
FULL COMMISSION MEETING
CareerSource, 3400 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Monday, May 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM
MEETING MINUTES
Members Present:
Alexcia Cox, State Attorney, 15th Judicial Circuit
Antonio Araujo, Chief, West Palm Beach Police Department
Cesar Daniel Arbolaez, Pastor, Passion Church
Daniel Eisinger, Public Defender, 15th Judicial Circuit
Darcy Davis, Chief Executive Officer, HealthCare District
Demetrios Thomas, Special Agent Supervisor at Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Derek Gibson, Circuit Administrator, Florida Department of Corrections
Eric Coleman for Ric Bradshaw, Palm Beach County Sheriff, PBSO
Erica Whitfield, PBC School District 4
Gina Fraga, Economic Council
Glenn Kelley, Chief Judge, 15th Judicial Circuit
Gregory Starling, Chief Probation Officer, Circuit 15, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Joel G. Flores, Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 3
Jorge Garrido, CJC Treasurer
Julia Dattolo, President/CEO, CareerSource PBC
Karen Hansen, CJC Secretary
Lawrence Gordon, Palm Beach County League of Cities
Maria S. Antuña, CJC Vice Chair
Michael Coleman, President, Palm Beach County Association of Chiefs of Police
Michelle Suskauer, CJC Chair
Mike Caruso, Clerk of the PBC Circuit Court & Comptroller
Nellie L. King, Attorney, the Law Offices of Nellie L. King, P.A.
Oswald Newbold, Reentry Coordinator, the Reentry Center of Riviera Beach
Shania Grant, Student, Florida Atlantic University
Sherri Resnick, Economic Council
Vanessa Klein, Director of Reentry Services, The Lord's Place
Members Absent:
Anthony LaCosta, Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of Florida
Jervonte Edmonds, Florida State Representative, District 88 and PBC Legislative Delegate
Kathleen Kroll, Administrative Judge, Juvenile Division
Guests Present:
Barbara Gerlock, C15 JJAB/PBCCAC
Deputy Chief Shearer, WPB PD
Jean Williams, Assistant County Attorney, Palm Beach County
Jessica Hidalgo, Reentry Services, Palm Beach County Public Safety Department
Joana Reid-Enoise, Community Services Department
Weesam A. Khoury, Health Care District PBC
CJC Staff Present:
Taruna Malhotra Executive Director
Akil Taylor, Data Analyst
Christopher Slydell, Criminal Justice Analyst
Dawn Caveness-Davenport, Senior Criminal Justice Analyst
Jean Williams, Assistant County Attorney, Palm Beach County
Katherine Hatos, Criminal Justice Systems Manager
Margo Smith, Administrative Assistant III
Stephanie Molière, Senior Criminal Justice Analyst
Stephanie Sejnoha, Director, Palm Beach County Public Safety Department
Tomer Nadler, Deputy County Administrator
I. Call to Order
- Chair, Michelle Suskauer called the meeting to order.
II. Roll Call
· Stephanie Moliere, CJC Staff completed roll call of the members and determined there was quorum.
III. Approval and/or corrections to the Agenda
· Chief Judge Kelley made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Jorge Garrido, and passed unanimously.
IV. Approval and/or Corrections to the April 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes
· Darcy Davis of Health Care District recommended the correction to the minutes as Dr. Anders from HCD presented not Dr. Phillips.
· Darcy Davis made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Jorge Garrido and passed unanimously.
V. Chair Comments
A. Chair Michelle Suskauer welcomed the new CJC members from the Economic Council that include Gerald Richman, Gina Fraga, Heather Destefano, and Sheri Resnick.
B. Chair Suskauer and the committee members recognized Shania Grant service on the CJC Board and presented her with a plaque for her years of service.
C. There is now a student seat vacancy as Shania is leaving. The information will be provided to the members to nominate a new student for the seat.
VI. Executive Director Updates
A. Executive Director Taruna Malhotra (Executive Director Malhotra) informed the members of the Black Chamber of Commerce Nominee -Deeawn Roundtree
B. Executive Director Malhotra announced the names of the Economic Council Nominees for the remaining seats that include Cyrus Toufanian and Jerry C. Leakey
Sheri Resnick made a motion for approval, seconded by Jorge Garrido, approved unanimously.
C. The CJC Ordinance Revision is pending the approval of the BCC.
D. The new CJC member onboarding orientation is scheduled for the week of May 12 and May 22.
E. Executive Director Malhotra announced the new Research and Planning Manager Jennifer Sellars to the members.
F. Executive Director Malhotra discussed the 2026 CJC Work Plan Priorities Survey and Strategic Plan on page 25 of the agenda packet. The strategic plan will serve as a blueprint for the CJC
· Erica Whitfield made a motion to approve, seconded by Pastor Daniel Arbolaez, approved unanimously.
VII. Presentations
A. Law Enforcement Spotlight
· Chief Antonio Araujo, City of WPB PD discussed their strategic plan to the members. He explained that the strategic plan is a living breathing document that guides the department's operation and future direction. The key components include Core foundation, strategic analysis and assessment, and staff and resource planning.
· The WPBPD also has returned to sector coverage instead of regional policing, which has resulted in 6,000 more calls for service and reduction in crime.
B. Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission Member Report Outs
1. Erica Whitfield, Palm Beach County School Board District 4 reported out on School District safety and threats. There were 26 expulsions last year for students making threats as the school board implemented a zero-tolerance policy after the Marjory Stone Douglas incident in 2018. The members discussed the need for community education on the zero-tolerance policy and strategies for outreach.
2. Darcy Davis, HCD presented the opening of her new facility “Two Waters Mental Health Center" which is scheduled to open in 2029. The facility will serve as a Baker Act receiving facility for law enforcement in addition to other mental health services.
VIII. Old Business
A. County wide E-Bike Regulations
- The members discussed the E-bike initiative and shared their recent experiences with E-bikes and the need for education and regulations. The E-bikes ordinance is tentatively scheduled for the BCC's consideration in July/August.
IX. New Business
X. Discussion Items/Updates
A. An analysis of Vaping Sites within School zones is currently being conducted by the CJC in collaboration with representatives from Riviera Beach PD, PBC School board, and the Department of Health.
· Chief Coleman expressed the importance of this initiative as kids are dying. There have been cases where fentanyl and opioids were found in vapes that caused recent deaths.
XI. Task Force Reports
A. The CJC task force reports were provided to the members in the agenda packet. The report provides the upcoming task force meeting dates and current initiatives.
- Announcement/Discussion/Action Item/Motion
XII. Member Comments
XIII. Guest Comments
XIV. Adjournment – Meeting Adjourned at 1:30pm.
Next Meeting: Monday, August 24, 2026 at 12:00 PM
CareerSource, 3400 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406