Vice Mayor Robinson Underscores She Didn’t Advocate for Additional Police Oversight

On Monday Vice Mayor Jacque Robinson changed her position that the Council’s Public Safety Committee provided all the oversight and insight that the Police Dept. requires, saying she now believes “there is a place for a citizen advisory commission.”

On Tuesday, Robinson sought to clarify that she is not calling for a civilian oversight board to monitor the police and that she does not support Councilmember John Kennedy’s efforts to explore that arrangement.

In an email to Pasadena Now and the Pasadena Star-News, Robinson wrote “clearly there is a disconnect between the information that has flowed from the Police Department and Public Safety Committee/City Council. A citizen advisory committee, for lack of a better term, could provide an avenue for effective communication between the city and the Chief and Police Department on an ongoing basis, not just when there is an officer involved shooting.”

While Councilmember John Kennedy has previously asked for the study of an oversight committee, Robinson clarifies that she does not seek oversight but an advisory board that would work together with the police on certain matters.

Oversight committees, however, often exercise varying amounts of control and influence over police departments.

Robinson first made her observation on Monday during the Public Safety Committee meeting after Kennedy voiced concern about not having enough time to ask Chief Sanchez all his questions. Kennedy again raised the issue of oversight.

“Particularly because we do not have a Public Safety Committee subpoena power, nor am I suggesting that we need it for the chief to answer questions, but I can’t demand that the Chief answers a question even though some other jurisdictions have more robust oversight,” Kennedy said. “As you know publicly the Council and the Public Safety Committee has said that in terms of public oversight this is the body that is reposed with that responsibility,”

In an earlier interview Kennedy said, “The City of Pasadena does not have civilian oversight. The Public Safety Committee has no intrinsic authority to be that oversight.”

Councilmember Steve Madison said he was confused about Kennedy’s comments.

“I didn’t really understand the point about subpoena power, I’ve served on this committee the longest at this point, I have never known a single witness that did not answer questions, and I guarantee this Chief will because this Chief works for this City Manager and this City Manager works for us,” Madison said.

Robinson’s comments had been prior to this conversation. On Tuesday Robinson made a further statement about what she is hoping will happen on the topic.

“At this point in time, it [advisory board] is just an idea that I am open to. I have not fully vetted nor suggested guidelines for membership or duties. It is an ongoing discussion for the coming weeks and months,” Robinson said.