Meet San Rafael’s new police accountability committee

On Oct. 23, 2023, the City Council approved appointments of seven San Rafael residents to the Police Advisory and Accountability Committee (PAAC). The purpose of the PAAC is to improve public transparency and accountability with respect to the San Rafael Police Department and provide greater community participation in making recommendations on police department policies, practices, and procedures to the City Council. 

The PAAC’s first meeting is scheduled for Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. at 1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, Room 203.

The new members are: 

Fatai Tokolahi has lived in San Rafael for nearly 15 years. He leads the homeless outreach team at Community Action Marin, serves on the Marin Interfaith Council’s Board of Directors as the representative of the Baha’i Faith community of Marin, and serves as an advisor to the Homeless Street Chaplaincy. Fatai has hosted a National Night Out event in his neighborhood, slept in an emergency weather shelter to experience a night in the shoes of his clients, cleaned up San Rafael parks with his faith community, and removed fire-prone plants on several Family Volunteer Days in San Rafael. Fatai is also a father, a spouse, a pretty good cook, and an avid rugby player. He has always wanted to get involved, participate, and contribute in various ways to his community, the City with A Mission. He is willing and committed to bring anything to the table, with consultation and learn from other’s opinions, values, and experiences, all in the betterment of San Rafael.

Marilyn Alvarez was born and raised in San Rafael and is currently a junior in high school. She believes that the Police Accountability and Advisory Committee (PAAC) will allow the police department to have a better understanding of the community’s needs and focus on the areas in need of improvement. It will allow the community of San Rafael to voice out and have a better connection with the San Rafael Police Department. She acknowledges that younger generations’ input and opinions should be heard by the Police Department and the community of San Rafael. Excited to be a part of PAAC, she is motivated to see the community have a better connection with the police department and is excited to help younger generations, Hispanics, and the community of San Rafael.

Darlin Ruiz originates from Mexico and comes from the city of Oaxaca. She came to the U.S in February 2002, and has lived in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael. She is a Christian Baptist, and was invited to participate in a community group as a volunteer in 2010, and loved the noble task of helping her community. The dedication of the people that help her neighborhood has been an inspiration for her because they do it with much love and gratitude. She has engaged her community through door-to-door outreach and having her neighbors submit surveys. She does this so her neighbors have a place to come together and express their challenges and the needs the community face.

Daryoush Davidi earned his Ph.D with an emphasis in MultiCultural Community Clinical Psychology (MCCP) and completed his fellowship at inpatient Psych hospital with 51/50 and homeless demographic. He transitioned from a career in psychology and started his own company in 2007, which is now located in the Canal neighborhood. He serves as a Member of the Board of Directors: San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, San Rafael Peacock Gap Homeowner Association: Event planning and Community building. Member of Board of Directors, Kol Shofar Synagogue: Membership / Executive Committee. Recent Graduate of San Rafael Leadership Institute. Daryoush immigrated to the USA at the age of 13 and has been a continuous resident of California for over 35 years. He believes San Rafael has so much potential and is passionate about building communities and bringing diverse groups of people closer together. He is invested in building trust, creating transparency and ownership.

Karla Valdez immigrated to the United States seventeen years ago along with her husband and her two children and has lived in the Canal area ever since. Karla began helping her community two years after she immigrated to the United States because she knew it was important to give back. Karla realized the importance and impact of helping her community and hopes that with the Police Accountability and Advisory Committee she can help to create a safe space for everyone in San Rafael.