Kennedy to Present Report on Civilian Oversight at City Council

The Pasadena City Council is scheduled to receive an oral report from the council’s Public Safety Committee Chair John Kennedy on civilian oversight of the police department and call to reform and review use of force policies by the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.

The MBK alliance is calling on mayors across the country to review, engage, report and reform use of force policies.

“The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the loss of far too many Black lives to list, have left our nation anguished and outraged,” the group’s website states.

“More than 1,000 people are killed by police every year in America, and Black people are three times more likely to be killed than White people. We can take steps and make reforms to combat police violence and systemic racism within law enforcement. Together, we can work to redefine public safety so that it recognizes the humanity and dignity of every person.”

Last week, the Public Safety Committee unanimously called on staff to bring back a report on civilian oversight models in 60 days.

Floyd was killed by police on Memorial Day by police in Minnesota. His death has sparked riots and forced the nation to once again, have difficult, but needed, conversations about racism.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. and will be live streamed at Pasadenamedia.org.

According to the Website, “President Barack Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper in February 2014 to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color and to ensure all youth can reach their full potential.

In 2015 the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance) was launched, inspired by My Brother’s Keeper, to scale and sustain this mission. In late 2017, MBK Alliance became an initiative of the Obama Foundation. Within the Obama Foundation, MBK Alliance focuses on building safe and supportive communities for boys and young men of color where they feel valued and have clear pathways to opportunity.”