DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Citizen Advisory Action Board
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance authorizing the following appointments to the Citizen Advisory Action Board for a two year term to expire on March 1, 2020. The recommended list of appointees includes three females and four males and is comprised of three Hispanics, two Caucasians and two African Americans.
Jessica Todd Dr. Lawrence Schoenfeld
Dr. Esther Gergen Johnny Arredondo
Fred Williams Leslie Bramlett
Lauren Lefton
A total of 16 applicants were considered by a four-person panel, which consisted of Deputy City Manager Erik Walsh, Chief of Police William McManus, Deputy City Attorney Elizabeth Provencio and Captain Brian Reyes. The selected applicants will serve with the current civilian board members whose terms are scheduled to expire on November 9, 2019.
A priority of the City’s during the 2009 collective bargaining negotiations and included within the final agreement was an increase in citizen participation within the citizen complaint process and internal police investigations. Additionally, how citizens were selected was amended to remove the SAPOA ability to strike candidates for consideration prior to City Council selection.
The Citizen Advisory Action Board (CAAB), which is comprised of seven uniformed officers and seven civilians, meets bi-weekly to hear investigations on complaints made against police officers for misconduct, use of force and violations of the SAPD general manual and makes recommendations of discipline to the Police Chief. The Police Chief selects a Deputy Chief to serve as the Chairman of the CAAB for a six month term. The remaining six uniform positions, which consist of one Captain, one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, one Detective-Investigator and two patrol officers, are selected to serve a six month term by the Police Chief from a list of officers that respond to a department-wide advertisement. Including a diverse group of citizens in the review of complaints against police officers enhances the transparency of the disciplinary process and allows for the shared discussion of an incident which results in a thorough review.
During these hearings, the Board is presented details of the Internal Affairs investigation, question the officers and/or the complainants and recommend whether or not the complaint is founded or unfounded. The uniform officers and citizens take separate votes on whether a complaint is founded or unfounded. In the cases where a complaint is founded, both groups (uniform and citizen) make separate recommendations of discipline to the Police Chief. The Police Chief makes all final determinations on discipline.
The process outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement requires the City Manager’s Office to solicit and review applicants and to recommend appointment of individuals to City Council for consideration. Additionally, the Police Chief reviews and determines whether or not to recommend candidates for appointment. Further, and also in accordance with the CBA, these recommended individuals are provided to SAPOA for their review.
Each applicant must pass a background check and cannot have been indicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude or officially charged with a Class A or B misdemeanor. Additionally, selected applicants must complete training with Internal Affairs which includes an overview of CAAB procedures, case review orientation and an officer ride-along. Terms on the CAAB will be for a two-year period and citizens are rotated every 180 days to afford every member the opportunity to participate on the Board.
ISSUE:
This Ordinance will appoint citizens to serve on the Citizen Advisory Action Board and participate in the citizen complaint process, internal police investigations and the SAPD disciplinary process.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Office of the City Clerk will continue to advertise the vacancies, which would delay the appointments.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval by the City Council for the Citizen Advisory Action Board (CAAB) appointments.