Five Months’ Pay After Resigning: Alexandria Police Auditor Leaves With Questions Unanswered

ALEXANDRIA, VA— Alexandria’s independent policing auditor resigned Friday—and City Council agreed to give her five months of her current salary as severance, plus payment for unused annual leave.

The combination leaves an immediate public question: why is an official who resigned receiving five months of severance?

For now, the City has not publicly explained the reason for the payment or for Ameratu Kamara’s departure.

Council voted 6-0 Friday morning to accept Kamara’s resignation, effective Saturday, Oct. 3. The Alexandria Brief reported that the special session lasted about two minutes and that the agreement provides five months of salary plus payment for accrued leave.

The fact that the action was characterized as a resignation does not by itself rule out severance. The independent policing auditor is a Council-appointed official who serves under terms established by the City. But the public discussion Friday did not explain the provision that produced the five-month payment.

Council also did not state Kamara’s current annual salary during the meeting. According to the City’s official Alexandria Legistar record for her December 2025 permanent appointment, her compensation was to be “consistent with the City’s pay philosophy,” but the record does not state the figure. Without her current salary, the total taxpayer cost of the five-month severance cannot yet be calculated from the public records reviewed by Zebra.

What was the police auditor supposed to do?

Alexandria created the Office of the Independent Policing Auditor to provide civilian oversight and accountability of the Alexandria Police Department. The office is independent of APD.

Its responsibilities include receiving complaints and feedback, conducting or monitoring administrative misconduct investigations, reviewing APD policies and practices, making recommendations, supporting the Independent Community Policing Review Board and reporting to the public.

The City describes the office as its designated civilian-oversight agency, charged with acting fairly and impartially while strengthening accountability and public trust in APD.

How long had Kamara led the office?

Kamara, an Alexandria native and 2014 graduate of Alexandria City High School, was serving as the office’s investigative and policy analyst when Alexandria’s first independent policing auditor, Kim D. Neal, died in December 2024.

City Council appointed Kamara acting independent policing auditor effective Jan. 28, 2025. Council later selected her for the permanent position, effective Dec. 22, 2025.

That means Kamara led the office for roughly 20 months, although she held the permanent title for less than 10 months.

Major work remains pending

Kamara’s departure comes while Alexandria’s civilian police-oversight system still has active work before it. The City’s own Office of the Independent Policing Auditor page now says the Independent Community Policing Review Board will resume meetings “when appropriate City staff is appointed to facilitate its work” and that Council is working to appoint an interim auditor.

The office previously investigated the in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II. The civilian review board later found additional investigation was needed, and Council authorized further work. The auditor’s office was also involved in independent review connected with the May officer-involved shooting at Canterbury Square.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins offered no public criticism of Kamara at Friday’s meeting. “We appreciate her stepping in and stepping up to lead the office,” Gaskins said, according to ALXnow.

The City has not yet publicly answered several questions: Why did Kamara resign? What provision resulted in five months of severance? What is the dollar value of that agreement? Who will oversee unfinished investigations? And when will an interim auditor be named?

This is a developing story. The Zebra Press will update it as additional City records or statements become available.