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Pasadena’s New Independent Police Auditor Says Next Police Chief Should be Open to Civilian Oversight

Published on Friday, July 8, 2022 | 5:40 am
 

Independent Police Auditor Richard Rosenthal shared his thoughts about the ideal head of the Pasadena Police Department as the city searches for its next police chief.

At a meeting of the Community Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) on Thursday, July 7, Rosenthal said he told interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz about the importance of having a police chief who is open to civilian oversight.

“I did have the opportunity to speak with the interim city manager, an opportunity to speak with the recruiter for the police chief position.”

“I just want to pass along that I re-emphasized the importance of a new chief of police who is open and accessible to civilian oversight — to the program and the recommendations to be made,” Rosenthal told commissioners as he reported to the commission updates related to his work as IPA since he was hired last May 9.

He also said the next chief should be somebody who is going to be “more collaborative.”

As IPA, Rosenthal’s duties include reviewing categorical uses of force by Pasadena Police Department officers, reviewing investigations of personnel complaints of bias-based policing, and recommending changes to Pasadena police policies, procedures, or officer training.

“The recruiter seems very appreciative of the information I have provided,” Rosenthal added.

The city has been without a full-time police chief since early January when then Police Chief John Perez left the city. Last July 1, the period of filing of application for the position ended. Interviews commenced thereafter.

The ideal candidate will be “a seasoned professional with demonstrated success working through leadership transition in a diverse community while leading a law enforcement agency effectively in proactive community policing,” according to a brochure on https://koffassociates.com.

The police chief will be chosen not by Kurtz but by the newly selected incoming permanent city manager Miguel Márquez. According to the city website, Márquez will be formally introduced to the community during the City Council meeting this Monday, July 11, and his tenure will start this August.

At last month’s CPOC meeting, Rosenthal presented his work plan and priorities for this fiscal year 2022-23.

Among them is to assess PPD Internal Affairs Files & Categorical Use-of-Force Investigations from June 2021 to June 2022 and monitor monthly meetings of the police’s use-of-force board, among others.

At Thursday’s meeting, Rosenthal informed the commission that the Pasadena Police Department has already provided him with files that he had promised to review.

He also remarked that the Police Department and its leadership has so far been very receptive to working with him and meeting his requests for access to information.

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