Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Special Meeting - July 29, 2020
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Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Special Meeting - July 29, 2020
The Sacramento Community Police Review Commission held a special teleconference meeting on July 29, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting focused on introducing the new Director of the Office of Public Safety Accountability, Dr. LaTesha Watson; receiving updates on the proposed Inspector General position and 911 Alternative Response Model; hearing a presentation from MH First and the Anti Police-Terror Project; and discussing a Commission Statement of Action in response to the killings of George Floyd and Congressman John Lewis. Public comments were taken on each agenda item.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Multiple callers expressed opposition to Dr. Watson's appointment, citing her law enforcement background and questioning her ability to provide independent oversight. One caller stated they did not believe the city manager or mayor have the community's best interest in mind.
- Several speakers called for defunding the Sacramento Police Department and redirecting funds to community-based alternatives like MH First. One resident of District 8 urged the commission to join the movement to defund SAC PD and invest in prevention and intervention.
- Many commenters voiced strong support for MH First, describing it as a needed alternative to police response for mental health crises. One caller noted that MH First has been operating since January 2020 and should be fully funded.
- A speaker from Momentum United proposed that the commission be given authority to investigate all misconduct complaints, direct discipline, and be the sole entity to direct the Inspector General.
- Dr. Flojaune Cofer, chair of the Measure U Community Advisory Committee, offered collaboration to review police department data and effectiveness.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: Introduction of the New Director of the Office of Public Safety Accountability, Dr. LaTesha Watson – Dr. Watson introduced herself, noting her 26-year law enforcement career including as a police chief. Commissioners questioned her about gaining community trust, her independence from police, and her plans for outreach. Dr. Watson stated her track record includes being terminated for holding officers accountable, and emphasized community engagement as a priority. Commissioner Savage-Sangwan asked how she would respond to concerns about her background; Dr. Watson replied that experience is necessary to know what to look for in investigations.
- Item 2: Update on Inspector General Position and 911 Alternative Response Model – Kelly Fong Rivas, Chief of Staff to the Mayor, presented an update. The Inspector General position will report to the OPSA director, conduct independent investigations, and publicly present findings. Commissioners questioned the independence of the IG since it reports to a former police chief. Vice Chair Carter argued the IG should report directly to mayor and council, not to Dr. Watson. Rivas explained the IG's independence means separate investigations from Internal Affairs. Commissioners also raised concerns about lack of community feedback and requested the commission be involved in the process. Bridget Dean, Interim Director of the Office of Community Response, presented on the alternative 911 model, describing plans for a first response team led by social workers for calls involving mental health, homelessness, substance abuse, and community disputes. She emphasized a commitment to racial equity and community collaboration.
- Item 3: MH First and the Anti Police-Terror Project Presentation – Asantewaa and Nikki from MH First described their volunteer-run mobile crisis response team, launched January 3, 2020, that provides de-escalation and support without police involvement. They highlighted the gap in services and the need to fund community-based alternatives. Commissioners expressed support and asked about language capacity and data collection. The presenters called for funding to be shifted from the police budget to expand their services.
- Item 4: Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Statement of Action – Chair Guerrero introduced a moment of silence for George Floyd and Congressman John Lewis. He then read his statement recommitting to the work, ensuring community voice, and being a nuisance to city council to get recommendations voted on. Other commissioners shared personal statements. Commissioner Carter read a letter linking policing to the history of slavery and systemic racism, and urged council to use its municipal police power to enact reforms. Commissioner Savage-Sangwan committed to reimagining safety beyond policing.
Key Outcomes
- The commission discussed plans to hold a meeting with SAC PD to find agreement on the commission’s recommendations (as requested by city council on July 1).
- Chair Guerrero noted that work group reports and potential votes on recommendations are expected at the next regular meeting on August 10, 2020.
- Commissioner Elkarra requested an update to the ACLU report on use of force; Chair Guerrero indicated it may not be ready for August but possibly September.
- Commissioner Savage-Sangwan requested that the city attorney present their opinion on the police department’s compliance with state law regarding use of force, and asked that a confidential memo on the topic be made public. The deputy city attorney stated the memo is confidential.
- Vice Chair Carter suggested the commission explore having its own independent legal counsel, citing potential conflicts of interest with the city attorney’s office.
- No formal votes were taken during this special meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Hi Mario, I'm gonna put one minute on the clock. It looks like everyone who um RSVP is in the meeting. So I'm gonna go ahead and start the one minute and then we'll start the meeting. Okay, perfect, thank you. I do see that we have someone in the um waiting area, so I don't I don't know if we want to allow that person in. I'm not sure who that is. I sent them a message. Oh, got it. Okay. That I I received that message, I think that went to all of us. All right, I'm prepared to take roll if you want to go ahead and start the meeting, and then I'm here when you need me. Okay, good evening, everyone, uh, to the commissioners and the public. Uh thank you so much for joining tonight's special meeting of the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission. Uh, we called on this meeting in particular because we have not been able to meet the last couple of meetings due to COVID 19, and we thought it was important to have a meeting as soon as possible. So uh we'll start off with taking role, please. All right, uh Commissioner Marion here, Commissioner Castillo Kings. Here Commissioner King. Commissioner El Kara. Here. Commissioner Sabineau. Here, Commissioner Escobar. Here. Commissioner Zamora. Commissioner Falcone. Here. Commissioner Savage Sangwan. Vice Chair Carter. Yeah. Chair Aguero. Uh, here. All right, we have a quorum and we start the meeting. Thank you very much. So um hopefully uh the uh commissioners uh you were sent the agenda and the community you have access to the agenda. So uh first on the on our agenda is a discussion calendar. So we first want to uh turn it over to our new director of the Office of Public Safety and Accountability, Dr. Letitia Watson, uh, to introduce herself and say a few words. Thank you, Chair. Good evening to everyone. I want to make sure that I thank everyone for being here tonight. And although I have been working with the commission and uh working after officially taking this position June eighth, so I am in week eight. I found that this was a great opportunity to formally introduce myself. I am from Texas, and I began my career in law enforcement in 1994. I have had non-sworn as well as sworn positions. Um I started out as a nine one operator and I rose to chief of police. What is unique is that I have led in a very professional and innovative law enforcement agency. And I've also led in an organization that was riddled in misconduct, nepotism, uh the good old board network, and uh a myriad of other things that the community uh does not expect the police to participate in. With all of this experience, I bring here to the city of Sacramento, and at the forefront of my work here, accountability is going to be very important. And working with the police commission is going to be exceedingly important. Um, we look forward to what we all will do, both offices, the Office of Public Safety Accountability as well as the police commission to assist the City of Sacramento residents in making sure that we generate changes that improve the law enforcement profession as well as better serve the interests of the public. So again, I look forward to the work ahead.
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