Here’s What’s On Wednesday’s Public Safety Committee Agenda

The Public Safety Committee will hear a presentation on local use of force policies and discuss civilian oversight at Wednesday’s Public Safety Committee.

The committee will “consider civilian oversight” according to the agenda and conduct a review of prior analysis (2016) of police oversight models and a poll of community perceptions of policing in Pasadena.

The meeting begins at 1 p.m. on Wednesday and can be viewed at http://pasadena.granicus.com/mediaplayer.php?camera_id=2&publish_id=9

According to the poll “Community Perceptions of Policing in Pasadena,” released in April 2016, African Americans had negative perceptions of local police.

The poll of 1,200 people was conducted at that time by USC criminalist Lisa Graziano, who also pointed out that by an overwhelming majority, Pasadena residents expressed support for the police, but minorities said they still believed they were being unfairly targeted by law enforcement.

• 70 of those polled said they believed police engaged in racial profiling.

• 60 percent of black respondents said they believed police stopped people without a good reason.

• 53 percent found verbal and physical abuse to be a problem.

• 37 percent said they found offensive language to be an issue during encounters with local officers.

• On the opposite end of the spectrum, only 29 percent of white residents found racial profiling to be a problem.

• 39 percent of all respondents ranked racial profiling as their biggest concern when dealing with police,

• 37 percent overall said stopping people without a good reason and use of force was among their second biggest concern.
Physical and verbal abuse came in third with 32 percent, and just 22 percent said they were concerned about offensive language.

• 78 percent majority of residents believe in the PPD, expressing confidence in the department’s ability to do its job well.

The committee will also see a presentation by Chief of Police John Perez regarding Pasadena Police Department’s use of force policies and an oral report on the department’s response to local demonstrations as well as threats to persons and property.

Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton, who sits on the committee, called for a discussion of police oversight after the officer involved death of George Floyd. Floyd’s death set off a number of riots and protests across the country.

That situation has forced the country to once again delve into conversations about race and how Black people, mostly men, are treated by the police.

But it has also forced White Americans to see racism differently as young white progressives have taken to the streets alongside African Americans calling for change.

The inclusion of White Americans may have prompted more people in the media to discuss the matter.

And it may be having an impact.

Several police officers across the country have been arrested for assault during the protests.

The four police officers in the George Floyd incident have been arrested and charged with crimes.

In several communities, there is talk of defunding the police and using funds for more social services.

This past weekend, Pasadena’s powerful local police union denounced the actions of the officers in Minnesota.

“We are not Minneapolis and proud of the work we do day in and day out to support our community and all who live, work and visit here,” said David Llanes, a decorated 27-year police veteran, 24 years with the Pasadena Police Department, “who is a proud Officer of Asian Pacific Islander (API) descent.”

On Sunday, the department announced the suspension of the carotid sleeper hold, which cuts off blood supply to the brain. The hold has not been used by officers this year, a Pasadena police department spokesman told Pasadena Now.

Local residents have called for oversight of the police department for years to no avail.

Last week, a majority of the members of the City Council told Pasadena Now, they were open to having the conversation about police oversight.

In a comment to the committee, former Mayor Bill Paparian, who led the push to form the committee and served as its first chairman said civilian oversight will not be easy, but it must be done.

“Fortuna Favet Fortibus” in Latin means “Fortune favors the brave,” Paparian said. “If there was ever a time in your political careers to rise to the occasion and be brave, this is that time. This will not be easy for you to do. But when the history of the current era in our City’s political history and indeed our nation is recorded you will be remembered for what you do today, tomorrow, and next week on the question of finally establishing civilian oversight of the Pasadena Police Department.”