Today is the Last Day to Apply for Civilian Police Commission

Today is the last day local residents can turn in an application to serve on the city’s newly formed Civilian Police Oversight Commission (CPOC).

The city is accepting applications until 5 p.m. Eligible applicants will be considered for one of the 11 available positions.

City officials would not provide Pasadena Now with a list of applicants that have applied for the commission so far, but said 87 applications have been received.

The commission will consist of 11 members, with each councilmember nominating one (for a total of eight), and three members nominated from community-based organizations. No later than 90 days after appointment to the commission, commissioners must participate in a ride-along with the Pasadena Police Department and receive 30 hours of training in relevant subject matters. 

According to the rules and regulations, commissioners would be required to sign a confidentiality agreement and take an oath of office before being sworn in.

The rules could also prohibit matters from being placed on the commission’s agenda if they would compromise pending criminal and personnel investigations.

That provision could prevent the commission from agendizing officer-involved shootings for several months or even longer as criminal and personnel investigations often take a long time to wend their way through the city’s processes.

In January, Councilman Steve Madison expressed concerns over confidentiality. 

The minimal [for the] job would be to safeguard everyone’s rights. That would be the bare minimum,” said Madison, after expressing concerns about commissioners and the independent auditor possibly accessing confidential information.

“I can see all sorts of unintended consequences,” Madison said.

The City Council established the CPOC by ordinance in October. The purpose of the commission is to enhance, develop and strengthen community-police relations, and review and make recommendations regarding ongoing operations of the Police Department to the chief of police, the city manager, and/or the City Council. 

City Council members from each of the city’s seven districts will nominate a commissioner, and the mayor will nominate another.

In addition, three at-large commissioners from community-based groups will be nominated. The council will have final approval on all the commissioners and an auditor.

Nominees are required to live in the city, though they are not required to be residents of the district represented by the nominating councilmember. Another goal is for at least 50% of the commission’s appointees to be women.

Further information about the qualifications and duties of commissioners can be found in the Pasadena Municipal Code, Chapter 2.60 (https://bit.ly/2N2405v).

Applications for those interested in serving as a commission member are now available online at www.cityofpasadena.net/wp-content/uploads/Community-Police-Oversight-Commission-Application.doc. 

For questions, additional information, or to be sent an application by mail, contact the Mayor’s Office at (626) 744-4333.