Police Oversight Commission to Discuss Administrative Review in McClain Case

The Police Oversight Commission will discuss the Police Department’s administrative review of the officer-involved fatal shooting of Anthony McClain when the commission meets Thursday.

McClain was shot and killed in Aug. 2020 by Pasadena police officers during a traffic stop on Raymond Avenue.

Last week, the City released the administrative review which found the police officers acted in compliance with department policy.

One officer will be disciplined for not turning on his body-worn camera in a timely fashion.

Neither the City Manager or the City Council can impose disciplinary action or override the ruling made in the administrative review by interim Police Chief Jason Clawson. 

Police claim McClain was armed and his possession of a firearm prompted the shooting, but many local residents say they do not see a gun in the footage.

According to police, McClain’s DNA was on an unserialized ghost gun recovered at the scene.

In the district attorney’s report which cleared the officers of breaking the law, one photo shows McClain gripping what appears to be a gun in waistband. Some dispute that.

McClain left his cell phone in the car according to the report. 

According to the report, Officer Edwin Dumaguindin saw McClain’s gun and believed McClain was ready to fire the weapon.

“Officer Dumaguindin told investigators that, as they began running in the street, Dumaguindin saw McClain holding a black gun in his left hand. Dumaguindin said McClain was holding the handgun with a ‘master grip’ as if he was preparing to fire it,” according to the report. 

A master grip describes the technique that best controls a handgun and manages the recoil when a gun is fired. Managing the recoil can be difficult without proper grip control and can diminish accuracy. A true master grip is completed when both hands are on the weapon. 

The administrative review does not determine if officers violated the law during the shooting. The probe only determines adherence to local police policy.

The Office of Independent Review will examine and recommend possible changes to police policy as part of an additional probe. 

The oversight commission meets at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. To access the meeting, visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83714629907