City Manager Calls for an Additional Investigation into Police Custody Death of Reginald “JR” Thomas

City Manager Steve Mermell announced Monday evening that the city will be hiring an independent investigator to conduct a review of the recent death of Reginald “JR” Thomas, a 35-year old African-American Pasadena resident who died in police custody after being tasered  and struggling with officers early on the morning of September 30.

The death is already being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office as well as the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office. The incident roiled the city with protests at the scene of the Orange Grove Boulevard incident and in both the Civic Center and Old Pasadena in the days immediately following Thomas’ death.

Mermell’s announcement followed a boisterous Public Safety Committee meeting earlier in the evening, in which at least a dozen city residents continued to question the police tactics involved in Thomas’ death.

“This case demands a full and through investigation,” Mermell told the City Council as more local residents protested during the public hearing portion of the full council meeting.

“I believe the Pasadena community wants a fair and impartial review that can be shared with our citizens. I am committed to the maximum amount of disclosure that is legally allowed.” Mermell added. “I am currently working with the City Attorney and her team to develop the scope of services for the independent review, and we expect to engage the services of a consultant soon,” said Mermell.

Continued Mermell, “Because of privacy laws, there will be elements of the process that cannot be shared, but I am committed to the maximum amount of disclosure that is legally allowed.

“It is my hope that this review will shed light on the passing of Mr. Thomas, enable us to enhance our procedures, if warranted, and further a community healing process.” Mermell concluded.

During the Public Safety Committee meeting, Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez said he originally instituted “criminal investigations only” of local police shootings by the Sheriff’s Department, following the 2012 shooting of Kedrec McDade. As Sanchez explained, The Sheriff’s Department is the “highest law enforcement agency in the region,” and they currently conduct police investigations for 39 cities in LA County.

“They are the only local law enforcement agency with the means to conduct such investigations,” Sanchez explained.

A number of residents at the meeting voiced concerns about the Sheriff’s Department being involved in shooting investigations since they have recently been the subject of investigation themselves. Those investigations resulted in the conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice convictions of Assistant Sheriff Paul Tanaka, and the current trial of former Sheriff Lee Baca on similar charges, as well as charges of obstructing FBI investigations into the LA County Jail system.

“I also question the involvement of the Sheriff’s Department,” said Councilmember John Kennedy, chair of the Public Safety Committee.

The Public Safety Committee also sent a recommendation to City Council for an internal staffing analysis of the Police Department, which the full council approved.

Because of the large number of comments during the public hearing portion of the Public Safety Committee Meeting, two agenda items— the mid-year 2016 Discipline Overview and the 2016 Mid-Year Overview of Use of Force — were tabled until the next committee meeting.