Police Chief Announces Officer Involved Shootings Will Be Investigated by Sheriff’s Department

Police Chief Phillip Sanchez announced two new efforts by the Pasadena Police Department to increase transparency in communication with the public and in investigations of officers at a City meeting on Monday.

After many months of requests by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) representatives and a small group of Pasadena residents to create a different process for reviewing Officer Involved Shootings (OIS), all officer involved shootings, including cases where a shot is fired without hitting a mark, will be investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department.

“I have great faith in the Sheriff’s Department with respect to their officer involved shooting roll-out teams. They currently provide that independent and analysis review for at least 30 other municipalities in LA County,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was the natural go-to entity as it provides independent review services for any of the 48 independent municipalities as well as the 44 townships they provide primary policing services for.

The previous process of officer involved shootings in Pasadena included three primary investigative entities, a criminal review that could include the PPD, FBI and the Office of Independent Review, an administrative review by the Police Department, the City Manger and City Council, and a review by the District Attorney’s office, according to a report previously given by Chief Sanchez on Dec 16, 2013.

The Sheriff’s Department will provide a full investigative team including forensics analysis, retaining the entire investigation and conducting all the criminal aspects. However, the Pasadena Police Department will retain administrative review on the Sherriff’s investigation.

“I believe that will add an additional level of transparency. It will also remove the theory that the fox is watching the hen house,” Sanchez said.

Even though an Office of Independent Review is often called upon in the case of a person being shot by an officer, a third party review outside of the District Attorney’s Office is not mandated in these cases.

While the most recent officer involved shooting that injured Paris Holloway did not warrant an independent review, the prior officer involved shooting resulting in the death of Kendrec McDade in 2012 had two bodies independently review the case.

Sanchez gave an update of the officer involved shooting of Kendrec McDade in response to a question asked by ACLU member Michelle White. Sanchez reported that he has received a drafted document from an Office of Independent Review group, but is waiting for a final submission.

As for increased communication with the public, Chief Sanchez announced that as of March 17, the Pasadena Police Department Website now has a Frequently Asked Questions page.

Generated by dialogue at a recent Public Safety Committee Meeting, the new Frequently Asked Questions link will allow community members to interact with links that provide information about how to request police services, how to make a complaint, what to do as a victim of a crime, obtaining permits, protocol on issues like officer involved shootings, the emergency notification system and more.

“We’re hopeful that the Frequently Asked Questions on the website will increase communication with our public and further deepen our relationship with them and create a greater level of transparency,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez also hoped to engage and stimulate dialogue in the community with the new tool.

Visit http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/Police/ and click on the Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of the right sidebar to access the FAQ.

Councilmember John Kennedy said, “I think this is a positive step forward in terms of another tool to provide information to the community.”