A see-through force
Activists say an independent police commission will increase police transparency
By André Coleman 08/12/2010
Several local leaders on Tuesday called for the formation of an independent police commission to examine incidents involving the use of force by local officers.
“I believe the City Council needs to review that idea since there appears to be a lack of trust regarding some of the findings involving some of our police officers as of late,” said Joe Brown, president of the NAACP Pasadena Branch. “It may be time for a police commission. No damage can be done since there is openness and transparency, or is there?”
Not according to some people, who are already criticizing newly hired Police Chief Phillip Sanchez for not revealing the names of the three civilian members of the department’s Use of Force Review Board. On Monday, Sanchez told the City Council that the board did not meet over the latest officer-involved shooting death involving 38-year-old Leroy Barnes in February 2009 because of a pending lawsuit. Sanchez, who took over the department last month, did not return phone calls seeking comment for this story.
Barnes was shot 11 times — seven times in the back — by two officers who said Barnes pointed a gun at one of them from the backseat of a car during a traffic stop. Police have not revealed the names of the two officers and have refused to release a videotape of the incident shot from their squad car.
“Absolutely, it’s time to get independent,” said Gary Moody of the Black Males Forum. “Not from a council perspective, but from a community perspective. We don’t need the council to appoint this. The community needs to come together.”
Civilian members of the department’s three review boards are required to graduate from the Citizens’ Police Academy, which was started in 1993 by then-Police Chief Jerry Oliver shortly after the LA riots. Oliver opted for the academy over a police commission, a decision later supported by former Police Chief Bernard Melekian.
“I believe the City Council needs to review that idea since there appears to be a lack of trust regarding some of the findings involving some of our police officers as of late,” said Joe Brown, president of the NAACP Pasadena Branch. “It may be time for a police commission. No damage can be done since there is openness and transparency, or is there?”
Not according to some people, who are already criticizing newly hired Police Chief Phillip Sanchez for not revealing the names of the three civilian members of the department’s Use of Force Review Board. On Monday, Sanchez told the City Council that the board did not meet over the latest officer-involved shooting death involving 38-year-old Leroy Barnes in February 2009 because of a pending lawsuit. Sanchez, who took over the department last month, did not return phone calls seeking comment for this story.
Barnes was shot 11 times — seven times in the back — by two officers who said Barnes pointed a gun at one of them from the backseat of a car during a traffic stop. Police have not revealed the names of the two officers and have refused to release a videotape of the incident shot from their squad car.
“Absolutely, it’s time to get independent,” said Gary Moody of the Black Males Forum. “Not from a council perspective, but from a community perspective. We don’t need the council to appoint this. The community needs to come together.”
Civilian members of the department’s three review boards are required to graduate from the Citizens’ Police Academy, which was started in 1993 by then-Police Chief Jerry Oliver shortly after the LA riots. Oliver opted for the academy over a police commission, a decision later supported by former Police Chief Bernard Melekian.
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