Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - February 8, 2021
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Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting – February 8, 2021
On February 8, 2021, the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission (CPRC) held a teleconference special meeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:51 p.m. The commission adopted several sets of recommendations for the Mayor and City Council, amended its 2021 meeting schedule, approved a memorandum to the City Manager, and received updates on police department policies and training. Commissioners and staff participated via Zoom, with public comment available by phone and eComment.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Meeting Minutes (November 9, 2020): Approved unanimously (8-0, with Commissioners Erandi Zamora and Richard Falcon absent).
- Item 2 – 2021 Meeting Schedule: Approved as amended, 7-1 (Vice Chair Renee Carter voted no). The amendment adds a joint meeting with the Measure U committee on July 19, 2021, to discuss budget items. The commission later clarified that the structure of the joint meeting would be determined in coordination with legal counsel.
Discussion Items
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Item 3 – Discipline and Accountability Ad Hoc Committee’s 2020 Proposed Recommendations: Vice Chair Carter presented the recommendations, which include support for removing qualified immunity for peace officers, strengthening hiring background checks (including social media review and out-of-state criminal history), adopting a zero-tolerance policy for lying and use of carotid restraints, creating a progressive discipline matrix, and establishing an independent inspector general. The commission acknowledged that some practices are already in place but urged codification into general orders. The recommendations were adopted unanimously (8-0, with Kiran Savage-Sangwan absent).
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Item 4 – Rules of Procedure Ad Hoc Committee’s 2020 Proposed Recommendations: Commissioner Castillo-Krings presented recommendations for independent legal counsel, additional OPSA staff support, regular meetings with the police chief, and authority to review general orders on body-worn cameras, foot pursuits, and use of force. The commission amended the scope to include “past and current commission priorities” and adopted the recommendations unanimously (8-0).
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Item 5 – Mental Health Ad Hoc Committee’s 2020 Proposed Recommendations: Commissioner Castillo-Krings and Kiran Savage-Sangwan outlined recommendations to shift funding from the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) budget to community-based mental health response programs ($5 million immediately, $20 million annually), improve 911 mental health screening, adopt a last-resort standard for deadly force, and establish a serious incident review board with community mental health experts. The commission also recommended ongoing mental health support for officers. The ad hoc committee was closed but will be reconstituted in March. The recommendations were adopted unanimously (8-0).
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Item 6 – Memorandum to City Manager Howard Chan: The commission approved a formal request for City Manager Howard Chan to assist in obtaining demographic data on mental health-related police stops, including race, housing status, and gender. The memorandum was amended to include these additional data points and was adopted unanimously (8-0).
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Item 7 – Follow-Up Log: The log, updated as of the November 2020 meeting, was received and filed. Commissioner Carter inquired about visiting SPD academy training, and Deputy Chief Lester noted that virtual observation of lectures may be possible in the future.
Key Outcomes
- Votes and Decisions:
- Consent Calendar Items 1 and 2: Approved (Item 2 with one nay).
- Items 3, 4, 5, 6: All approved unanimously (8-0).
- Item 7: Received and filed.
- Directives:
- The 2021 meeting schedule will include a joint meeting with Measure U on July 19, 2021.
- The commission will create new ad hoc committees in March 2021, including a continued mental health focus.
- The memorandum to City Manager Chan will be sent with the added data requests.
- Next Steps:
- The adopted recommendations will be transmitted to the Mayor and City Council for consideration.
- Commission Chair Guerrero plans to follow up with council members on outstanding 2018-2019 recommendations.
- SPD will begin sending policy updates to OPSA for distribution to commissioners.
Public Comments & Testimony
No public comments were received for any agenda item or during the open comment period at the end of the meeting.
Chair’s Update
Chair Guerrero thanked outgoing commissioners, welcomed new Commissioner Keyan Bliss, and reported that he had met with several council members to urge action on prior recommendations. He noted that some 2018-2019 recommendations have verbal agreement from SPD but remain outstanding.
Office of Public Safety Accountability (OPSA) Staff Update
No update.
Sacramento Police Department Staff Update
Deputy Chief Lester reported that the Professional Standards Unit will now routinely send policy updates to OPSA for distribution to commissioners, improving transparency.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Elkarra suggested that the chair’s update be given at the beginning of future meetings. Commissioner Bliss expressed enthusiasm for his new role.
Meeting Transcript
10 seconds and we're ready. Okay. Good evening, everyone. This is the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission. We will please come to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish quorum? Yes. Commissioner Marion. Commissioner Castile Creange. Commissioner Bliss. Commissioner Bliss. Here. Sorry, on mute. Commissioner Elkara. Here. Commissioner Sabiano. Nope, sorry. Commissioner Escobar. Commissioner Zamora. Commissioner Falcon. Commissioner Sav Savage Sangwan. Here. Commissioner Carter. Here. And Commissioner Guerrero. Present. Just confirming you got Commissioner. Yeah, I called you out and I have you present. And Commissioner, we do have a quorum. Great. Thank you very much. Okay, so just to make sure that the public understands how we're running the meeting. Public meetings are still currently in uh teleconference meeting only to align with local and federal guidelines and social distancing recommendations for the containment of the coronavirus. For staff, commissioners, and those logged into the meetings, please remember to keep your microphones muted when you are not speaking. We will monitor the raise your hand feature in Zoom for commissioner comments. For members of the public that are tuning in, you are encouraged to submit public comment by using the e-comment on the online agenda page. A dedicated phone line has also been established for public participation during the meeting related to a specific agenda item or matters not on the agenda to give your public comment directly to this legislative body during the meeting. Please call area code 91608 7213 and follow the instructions given. Area code 916087213 and follow the instructions given. You can call any time during the meeting to speak on a particular item. You will need to call in before the item begins. When the item is being heard at the meeting, you will be placed into the meeting to make comments. If you would like to speak on subsequent items, you will need to hang up and call back after you speak on each item. You will be given two minutes per item to address the legislative body and may speak up to up uh two four items. Okay, let us move uh I believe to first consent uh calendar items, or is there anything on the consent calendar? Yes, there's two items. Um the meeting, the previous minutes and the um 2021 schedule. I believe for the meeting schedule um we'd like to have a conversation about that before we adopt it. Um can we can uh will a commissioner move the uh minutes please so move on moved? Thank you, Commissioner Alcara.
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