To the extent certain department practices became the subject of an audit - for example, whether Latino motorists are disproportionately targeted for traffic stops - that too could become grist for the commission’s mill. The commissioners will not have access, however, to the contents of those internal investigations, nor will they render recommendations on the level of discipline to be administered. The commission would also discuss individual investigations and officer-involved shootings with the chief once those investigations are disclosable. It would also review the number of officers disciplined and the level of discipline imposed. The new commission would review the number and type of complaints - both internal and from outside the police department - and whatever action was subsequently taken.
These would be picked by the council based on the new mission. If and when this ordinance is approved by the whole council, members of the existing Fire and Police Commission would have to resign and new appointees would be selected. In addition, those meetings would be televised. This is one of the issues, Andersen stated, that falls into the category of “issues of robust discussion” still to be resolved.Īs proposed, the new ordinance would transform the DNA of the city’s existing five-member Fire and Police Commission - typically where dance permits are issued and towing franchises are awarded - and remake it as a police oversight body that would meet in City Council Chambers. Most of the proposed changes are relatively minor but one - which would effectively exclude any law enforcement officer who served in Santa Barbara County in the past seven years - is decidedly not. But both also urged the Ordinance Committee to endorse a handful of changes they said would make the ordinance more faithful to their committee’s initial recommendations. | Credit: CourtesyĪlthough the ordinance is decidedly not what members of the Community Formation Commission - created in the wake of the George Floyd murder two years ago to investigate models of police oversight appropriate for Santa Barbara - had initially envisioned or hoped for, former chair Gabe Escobedo and Louisa Wood both gave the measure their blessings.
Civilian oversight full#
The City Council instead voted to direct staff to hold four public meetings, one in each of the four City Council districts, and bring back a report to the City Council by March 2021.Assistant City Administrator Barbara Andersen will function as the city’s de facto independent oversight officer assuming the measure wins the support of the full City Council. 20, 2020, city staff presented the overview of the different options for citizen oversight of police departments and the following recommendation: to obtain input from the community regarding law enforcement concerns and desired aspects of police oversight and hire an expert consultant to design a police oversight and review program that is tailored to the needs of the City of Carlsbad. At this meeting the City Council voted to request that staff return with a report providing greater detail on three models of civilian oversight of police departments and a staff recommendation. 18, 2020, city staff presented this information to the City Council. On June 23, 2020, the City Council voted to place on a future agenda a presentation on police use of force, the Police Officers Bill of Rights and citizen-review committees on police practices and procedures.
If you would like to watch the meeting video, you can find it here. At that time, the City Council approved a motion to:ĭirect staff through work with a consultant to return to Council with a plan/template to form a committee or commission with citizen representation from each district selected by the respective council member and a member of the Carlsbad Police Officers Association that would meet quarterly or monthly (as needed) and identify issues to bring to the Police Chief and Assistant Police Chief for consideration with final decision to be made by the Police Chief. This input was presented to the City Council on March 23, 2021. With incidents throughout the nation prompting new interest in the issue of police oversight, the City of Carlsbad sought community feedback in early 2021 on the topic of civilian oversight of the Police Department.
0 kommentar(er)
