Mayor, Councilman Pen Open Letter on McDade Shooting

Following is an open letter penned by City Councilmember Chris Holden and Mayor Bill Bogaard regarding the shooting of Kendrec McDade. In it the duo expresses their condolences to the family and requests patience on the part of all Pasadenans while investigations into the shootings return their findings.

The officer-involved shooting death of Kendrec McDade on March 24 is tragic for all involved, and we extend its sincere condolences to his family.

Currently, four investigations are in motion: by the Los Angeles County District Attorney, the Office of Independent Review Group, the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Program and the Pasadena Police Department. We believe the four separate investigations will ensure thoroughness, impartiality and fairness.

City Manager Michael Beck and Police Chief Phillip Sanchez have promised the full cooperation of its city and its police department to whatever extent necessary to allow the investigating agencies to conduct complete and fair investigations. We support the city manager and police chief, promising full cooperation and transparency to its community. It is its hope that the community will be patient, as these investigations cannot be rushed. Findings are expected within several months and will be made public through the City Council’s Public Safety Committee for all to review.

Many questions have been raised about the shooting from city staff and members of the community. It is its expectation that questions will be answered clearly through the independent investigative process, regardless of the outcome. Its entire community needs to know the truth as part of the healing process as we move forward together. And, of course, the McDade family deserves the information necessary to help them understand how and why they lost their son.

As elected representatives of its community, we urge all Pasadenans to be patient and to allow the investigations to run their respective courses and return their findings. Following the investigations, there will be ample opportunity for the community and the news media to thoroughly review and discuss the results.

In the meantime, and for the long term, it is its hope that this tragedy will lead to dialogue and actions that will ultimately draw its community closer.