Listening and learning
Chief Sanchez to make community input part of policing Pasadena
By André Coleman 07/08/2010
Former Santa Monica Deputy Chief of Police Phil Sanchez goes back a long way in Pasadena, New Year’s Day 1974 to be exact, when as a 17-year-old Eagle Scout Sanchez proudly helped carry the banner leading that year’s Rose Parade Queen’s Trophy honoree along Colorado Boulevard.
On Monday night, Sanchez returns to Pasadena, only this time to be formally sworn in at 6 p.m. in the courtyard at City Hall
as Pasadena chief of police, the first Latino to head the city’s Police Department.
A few weeks back, the 53-year-old Sanchez came out on top of a politically tumultuous process to replace former Chief Bernard Melekian, who left Pasadena in November to head up the US Justice Department’s community policing program. Sanchez, a husband and father of four who worked with Melekian when the former Pasadena chief was a detective in Santa Monica, was chosen for the chief’s position over Deputy Chief Chris Vicino, a 24-year department veteran who was picked by Melekian to head the department on an interim basis upon the former chief’s departure.
Making things difficult for Vicino, who made it clear after being sworn in as interim chief that he wanted the job permanently, was lingering resentment in the African-American community over his role in a 1986 incident in which former Black Panther and local activist Michael Zinzun lost sight in one eye. Vicino, who worked hard over the years to reassure residents that he did nothing wrong and harbored no prejudice, was cleared of wrongdoing in that incident by a district attorney’s probe.
Earlier this year, it was learned by the Pasadena Weekly that some officers felt uncomfortable with Vicino as deputy chief after the dismissal of Cmdr. Paul Gales and the demotion of Lt. Kevin Hall — both African Americans — over alleged ethics violations involved with Gales asking Hall to place his stepdaughter’s name on the roster of a summer youth program that Hall led. Both cases are the subject of arbitration hearings. Both Hall and Gales declined to comment for this report.
Like Melekian, Sanchez is also a big proponent of community policing. On the other hand, he is also an expert on the use of deadly force. In 1991, he developed Santa Monica’s Special Entry Team. But, then again, he was also one of the founders of Santa Monica’s Chronic Homeless Project. In 2004, he received the Santa Monica Police Department’s Medal of Courage twice for heroic actions during tactical incidents, one of which included a hostage situation on the Santa Monica Pier.
As varied, diverse and impressive as his resume may be, Sanchez will have his hands full after getting settled into Pasadena, where residents are fearful following a spike in local shootings, the early release of prison inmates and the loss of 14 vacant officer positions due to budget cuts.
“I hope that the new chief hits the ground running, because there are a lot of issues that are ongoing and that need to be addressed,” said ACLU spokesperson Martin Gordon. “From what we know of him, he seems as if he would like to see more involvement with the community on the part of the Police Department. I hope he engages us in an open dialogue.”
Joined by Lt. Phlunte Riddle, Sanchez visited the Weekly offices in Old Pasadena Tuesday to talk about some of his hopes and goals for his new job.
PW: The past year has been pretty tumultuous. There have been charges of a cover-up in an officer-involved shooting, and racism occurring in the top ranks of the department, with two officers going through arbitration after being disciplined internally. Morale has been low. What can you do to improve that?
Chief Sanchez: The higher the morale, the more people within the organization understand the mission and, conversely, the lower the morale the less people understand the mission. I have to define the mission. I bring zero baggage to this department. We go forward on July 12, and everybody is on an even playing field without any double standards or unfair expectations.
How transparent will your department be when it comes to shooting incidents? Will you release the names of officers involved in these types of incidents?
I believe in transparency, but we have to look at all of the information involved in every situation. If we have a shooting and an officer is being threatened, then we have to be cautious about releasing names. With all the social networks, the names are usually out there in three minutes, because a lot of times police employees are on there talking about it. If that’s the case where an employee is out there on social networks like Facebook and Twitter writing about it, then I am going to check with the city attorney and talk about releasing the information, because it is already out there. We have to balance the needs of the well-being of the officer with the needs of the public to have the information.
The city’s new budget eliminates 14 vacant police officer positions. How will that hurt the department?
The fundamental ability to respond to calls will not change. We still have the tools in place to get the job done, but we have to not just look at Pasadena, but the region. What are the trends across the nation as far as crimes being committed? I am not talking about profiling or going after people based on the color of their skin. We have to look at behavioral patterns.
What do you see as the biggest challenge ahead?
You’ve already targeted it. It’s the budget. We want to have access to resources to technology to help do the job, not as a replacement for the job, but to help us. We have to be engaged in the community and our officers have to be ambassadors for the city. I plan to do a lot of listening and little talking. I always say that’s why God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we could listen more than we speak. We have to reach out to the parts of the community that have perceived a sense of isolation and bridge that gap.
Have you had a chance to meet with any local groups? If so, which ones?
The NAACP, El Centro, Jackie Robinson Center, Pasadena Journal. I am spending a lot of time here. I am not afraid of long days.
Do you have any plans to curb the recent spike in shootings in the last several months, many of which involved local youth?
The shootings have been low in frequency but high in impact. We are being short-sighted if we just focus on the frequency. Shooting comes out of violence. We have to invest in our youth with programs and opportunities and allow our youth to get engaged. … These kids have no hope of ever becoming something other than what they are, and they will go to extraordinary measures to become something else. We have to create opportunities to create hope to deal with youth violence.
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Comments
Zero baggage? Not to get too Clintonesque, but, how do you define "baggage?"
DanD
posted by DanD on 7/08/10 @ 09:10 a.m.
Sounds like Pasadena picked up another good man for the job of Chief of Police. However, once again the new Chief is being duped, or already has been duped, into believing that the "Community" consists of only Black and Hispanic people. Mr. Sanchez, why haven't you stated that you have met with people from the San Rapael, Linda Vista, Hastings Ranch and La Manda park areas? The have a right to hear your game plan for combating crime and addressing budget issues too. Try to form your own game plans and not those who work at City Hall.