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Sharply Different Reviews for Police Oversight Report Aired at City Council Meeting

Published on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 | 5:09 am
 

A consultant firm’s study of police oversight which recommended the creation of a police auditor and commission for Pasadena met with decidedly mixed and at times hostile responses at a Monday night joint City Council and Public Safety Committee meeting at City Hall.

The report was discussed in packed Council Chambers in a meeting which ran until 1:15 am.

Change Integration Consulting (CIC), led by  police oversight specialists Kathryn Olson and Barbara Attard, was hired late last year by the City of Pasadena to examine and recommend police oversight models. Their report was released online last Thursday and was officially received and discussed at last night’s meeting.

In the report, CIC recommended the benefits of a two-part system for police oversight in Pasadena comprised of an Independent Police Auditor, who would provide professional oversight, and a Police Accountability Commission, made up of local citizens, which would “positively influence police matters and enhance communication with the public.”

CIC reported it uncovered a wide range of attitudes toward the police in Pasadena. Communities of color, such as those in Northwest Pasadena, hold a negative impression of the police while a deep level of support for the police exists in other Pasadena neighborhoods, the report said.

Indeed, Attard began her presentation to the Council by saying that the report was “a tale of two cities,” in terms of residents’ perception of the police.

According to CIC’s report presented Monday night, “many stakeholders expressed their support of the Pasadena Police Department (PPD) and their belief that PPD is doing an effective job of policing, while other stakeholders related negative personal experiences with the PPD, or expressed their opinion that PPD officers do not treat communities of color fairly,” said Attard, who also added that many residents who were against oversight said that “Oversight is a solution in search of a problem.”

The consultants developed their conclusions after holding a series of community meetings last December and January, as well as interviews with the Mayor and members of the City Council, the former and interim City Managers, Police Chief Phillip Sanchez and his command, and members of the Pasadena Police Officers Association.

Olson told the Council that Latino and African-American residents, particularly in Northwest Pasadena, feel that the system is biased and have a distrust of the police in their neighborhoods.

“They have been asking for oversight for 20 years,” said Olson.

Councilmember Victor Gordo set the tone for his opinion as he questioned Olson as to the number of persons actually surveyed for the report. Gordo also brought up the issue of shootings in Pasadena, the rates of which have risen since 2015, a subject he returned to constantly throughout the evening.

Councilmember Andy Wilson asked Attard how results would be measured if an independent auditor were hired. Attard replied that the matter was not a question of measurement, and that she had visited neighborhoods in Northwest Pasadena and “heard serious stories of heartbreak and mistrust” among residents.

“People want a voice,” she said, but added, “any oversight should be done by professionals.”

Vice Mayor Gene Masuda was clearly supportive of the police department as he described Pasadena’s as “one of the best police departments in the nation.”

“Our residents have a good view of the department,” Masuda said, adding, “I know there are issues with Northwest Pasadena with shootings and gangs and drugs, but the police are doing their job. We don’t have a problem.”

Masuda went on to criticize his interview with Attard last December, recalling that she asked him, “Don’t you think Pasadena would be better off with an oversight committee?” much to his consternation.

“She was so biased,” said Masuda.

Councilmembers John Kennedy and Tyron Hampton both immediately challenged Masuda for his characterization of Northwest Pasadena. Kennedy, hours later, went so far as to ask Masuda for a formal apology, which he received.

“I would like you to recognize,” Kennedy said pointedly to Masuda, “that there are problems of the type you described throughout this city,” Hampton also criticized Madusa’s characterization of Northwest Pasadena, which encompasses his district.

Councilmember Steve Madison, in the first round of discussions, told Olson “I thought you would just present models for us to consider, not make recommendations. We have very high standards here in Pasadena.”

Olson responded that, in fact, her group was responsible for making a recommendation. “We were asked to recommend an approach for police oversight, she said, “But it was not our role to audit or investigate police misconduct. We were asked to survey the community.”

Madison questioned the number of people surveyed in the report, characterizing the information as “anecdotal,” and concluded “This is not a random sample, this was skewed.”

Councilmember Gordo cited the fact that Pasadena scores higher in national surveys than most in U.S. cities in terms of citizens’ perception of the police department, as he continued to downplay the need for oversight.

The public response to the report was also mixed, with the 30 or speakers seemingly split down the middle on the need for formal police oversight in Pasadena.

“I am greatly encouraged by this report,” said Kris Okershauser of the Pasadena ACLU. “An independent auditor would provide a professional and ongoing analysis of the police department.”

Orange Heights resident Sandra Hayward agreed, saying, “I support the police, but support and transparency is not an either/or issue.” She added that her neighborhood gets good policing, “but it is an affluent area.”

“Oversight is simply good government practice,” added Pasadena-Foothills ACLU representative Joanne Amador.

Opposition speakers cited not only what they felt was the bias of the report, but its cost, both to create the study and to eventually implement its recommendations.

“You wasted your money,” attorney Bob Bruge told the Council. “You could have paid for another officer on the street.”

Sergeant Robert Roldan of the Pasadena Police Officers’ Association said there were a number of concern with the report. First, he criticized the manner of input gathering, and said that the department already has a mechanism for investigating police misconduct. Roldan also criticized the small number of stakeholders actually interviewed for the report, and said that the money spent on the report could have been better used.

Roldan also said that the presence of an auditor on the force would have a direct impact on officer morale. Finally, he questioned the background and experience of the investigators.

For his part, when asked, Police Chief Phillip Sanchez told the Council that a number of officers were leaving the force and that a large percentage were going to Anaheim for “financial reasons.” Anaheim is actually the city chosen by Olson and Attard as the best model for Pasadena, and as Councilmember Kennedy pointed out to the Chief, “They have a independent auditor and a commission.”

Pasadena resident and Black Lives Matter member Jasmin Abdullah stressed the need for “integrity” in the city and in its police force, and once again criticized the department for its actions in the 2012 shooting of Kedric McDade.

“You’re saying to us, ‘F—- you,’ and then murdering policemen are just let go,” she said.

“Mayor Tornek,” she continued, “this is on you.”

Abdullah also said that should the recommendations not be implemented, she would work toward the election of Tyron Hampton for mayor.

In the final discussion, Mayor Tornek said, “This report is not a criticism or a threat to the police department, but a feeling … we could do better. We can strengthen the department and enhance the trust of the department in this community.”

Tornek said the Public Safety Committee should move quickly to move the recommendations “to fruition.”

Not all Councilmembers agreed.

Gordo concluded, “I can’t support this,” and Wilson said that the Council should consider the costs of implementing the recommendations.”

Councilmember Margaret McAustin said of the report, “I don’t think we need that model,” and Masuda concluded, “Our priorities are upside down.”

The Public Safety Committee, chaired by Councilmember Kennedy, is now scheduled to consider the report and make a formal recommendation at its next meeting on May 16.

 

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