Police Oversight in Eugene
Time: Noon to 1:15 pm
Venue: WOW Hall
291 West 8th
Eugene, Oregon
97401
- Join the Livestream
- YouTube
- Podcast
We will meet at the WOW Hall, 291 W 8th. Learn more: https://wowhall.org/about-us/. Walk, ride a bike or take the bus. You may park on the street or in the parking lot of FOOD for Lane County's Dining Room, across 8th from the WOW Hall. A freewill donation acknowledging the Dining Room's generosity may be made at the meeting.
Lunch will be available for $15.
Topic:
Join the City Club of Eugene for a community forum dedicated to exploring the city’s current police oversight system. The intent of this program is to explain the oversight process for the community, providing valuable insight into how complaints are investigated, how residents can get involved, and how the system ultimately impacts local law enforcement. Is the existing oversight system enough to help the community trust its local law enforcement agency?
The forum will feature perspectives from three key figures in the oversight process. The Independent Police Auditor, Craig Renetsky, will explain the inner workings of his office including their investigative processes and case dispositions. Elise Josephson, incoming Chair of the Civilian Review Board, will discuss community involvement in the oversight process. Chief Chris Skinner will outline how this civilian oversight system directly impacts the Eugene Police Department (EPD). Panelists will participate in a Q&A session.
Speakers
Title: Incoming Chair
Organization: Civilian Review Board
Website: https://www.eugene-or.gov/88/Civilian-Review-Boardhttps://www.eugene-or.gov/88/Civilian-Review-Board
Biography:
Biographies are provided by the speakers and edited for length/proofreading
Elise Josephson is an attorney working in criminal litigation. Born in southern Oregon, she later moved to Eugene to pursue both her bachelor’s degree (2021) and law degree (2024) at the University of Oregon, where she deepened her interest in legal systems and public service. Before entering the legal field, Elise served in the U.S. Air Force and worked at the Oregon State Legislature, gaining first-hand insight into policy development and the intersection of law and government. Elise is passionate about strengthening a justice system that upholds accountability while ensuring equitable treatment and meaningful support for all individuals it impacts.
Title: Independent Police Auditor
Organization: Civilian Review Board
Website: https://www.eugene-or.gov/88/Civilian-Review-Board
Biography:
Biographies are provided by the speakers and edited for length/proofreading
Craig Renetzky was appointed Independent Police Auditor for the City of Eugene in August 2026. Craig is a native of Los Angeles and a graduate of the USC Law School. He served nearly 16 years as a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, completing more than 100 jury trials. As a prosecutor he handled cases including homicide and other felonies. He prosecuted a number of cases involving police misconduct. In 2006 he opened his own practice focused on criminal defense and immigration law. He also served as a hearing examiner for both the City and County of Los Angeles, overseeing discipline cases involving peace officers from agencies such as the Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, LAX Airport Police, Los Angeles Port Police, and Los Angeles County Probation. For nearly two decades he has also taught courses including Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, and Constitutional Law as an adjunct professor at California State University Northridge.
Title: Chief of Police
Organization: City of Eugene
Website:
Biography:
Biographies are provided by the speakers and edited for length/proofreading
Chris Skinner became Eugene’s police chief on April 30, 2018, after serving as Richland, Washington’s police chief since 2011. His career began in Oregon with roles in Monmouth, Philomath and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, where he rose to sergeant, followed by a decade with the Hillsboro Police Department advancing from lieutenant to deputy chief and launching a Domestic Violence Response Team. In Richland, he expanded community policing, implemented data‑driven crime‑reduction strategies, co‑chaired anti‑trafficking initiatives, and created an Internet Crimes Against Children taskforce. He also helped found the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs’ Public Trust Committee, later represented the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police on the Board of Public Safety Standards & Training, and served as its 2022 president. Chief Skinner holds an MBA from George Fox University, a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and psychology from Western Oregon University, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
