Police Chief Supports Proposed Oversight Model

Pasadena Police Chief John Perez told Pasadena Now late Tuesday afternoon that he supports a model for civilian oversight that will be discussed at Wednesday’s Public Safety Committee.

Mayor Terry Tornek and Councilman John Kennedy are proposing a Police Commission paired with an independent police auditor that would not require amending the City Charter or approval by Pasadena voters.

“When I set up my chief’s advisory board two years ago it was intended to get people used to some type of oversight,” Perez told Pasadena Now. “I knew the discussion would be here. I support it, and the police association is supportive of the police commission approach.”

In 2018, Perez created a community advisory committee comprised of Pasadena residents to work with the department on issues important to the community, including the use of body worn cameras, use of force and neighborhood policing.

“It is my sincere hope that now that Chief of Police John Perez is apparently embracing the recommended additional civilian oversight of the Pasadena Police Department, I am hopeful that all of my colleagues on the Pasadena City Council will unanimously support this new effort,” Kennedy said.

According to Kennedy, Chief Perez sits on a civilian oversight body in the community where he resides and he gives the experience high marks.

“The proposed commission is in keeping with the finest tradition of community involvement and good government in Pasadena. Of course it will require a minimum of five votes for adoption, but it would again send a powerful message to receive unanimous support!”

Kennedy, a former president of the Pasadena NAACP, has been a vocal proponent of civilian oversight since he first ran for office in 2012.

According to a report, the Community Police Oversight Commission proposed in the staff’s recommendation would consist of 13 members appointed by the City Council, and nominated as follows: one by each member of the City Council, including the Mayor; one by the City Manager; one by the Chief of Police; three by community groups with specific qualifications.

It is not known how the community groups would be chosen.

The purpose of the Commission would be to review and make recommendations to the Chief of Police, City Manager and City Council regarding the ongoing operations of the police department.

The commission would also receive community feedback and complaints and refer them for further review; monitor and receive reports on hiring and training; monitor and publish statistics on uses of force, complaints and outcomes; provide input on policy recommendations prior to adoption; receive reports from the Independent Police Auditor regarding critical incidents, policies, and other matters; and produce a publicly available annual report.

Each member of the commission would be required to complete at least 30 hours of training in relevant subject matter.

If approved by the Public Safety Committee, the plan would be sent to the City Council for passage.

“[This plan] does not alter the fundamental relationship between the City Council, the City Manager, the Chief of Police and Police Department staff in the manner some have suggested,” said the report.

“A more comprehensive formulation would require an amendment to the City Charter,” the report added, “and would have to be fully developed and acted upon by City Council no later than August 7th in order to be considered by voters this November.”

Locally, the conversation over police reform goes back to the early 90s when local barber Michael Bryant was killed after a pursuit. The subject resurfaced a decade later after the deaths of Maurice Clark and LaMont Robinson in 2004, and again in 2012 after the death of Kendrec McDade.

But none of those local cases were enough to move the needle on oversight amongst a majority of City Council members.

Instead it took a non-local event to move a majority of the Council towards supporting some form of oversight.

After protests swept the nation in response to the May 25 death of Minnesotan George Floyd, who died during an encounter with police, the majority of the Council said they supported oversight, although the exact model so far has not been discussed by council.

According to Perez enacting the commission could lead to the elimination of the Chief’s Advisory Board and he would no longer report to Public Safety.

“It is a fair and balanced way of policing,” he said.

Perez did caution that there was still work to be done.

“Let’s hope it continues to go in the right direction.”

That discussion will take place at 3 p.m. on Wednesday when the Public Safety Committee considers the recommendation. The meeting can be viewed at pasadenamedia.org and pasadena.granicus.com/mediaplayer.php?camera_id=2&publish_id=9