Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - August 9, 2021
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Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - August 9, 2021
On Monday, August 9, 2021, at 6:00 p.m., the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission met via teleconference only in response to the COVID-19 local emergency. Commissioners present were Keyan Bliss, Renee Carter, Graciella Castillo-Krings, Basim Elkarra, Eddie Escobar, Mario Guerrero, and Greg Jefferson (joined at 6:05 p.m. and participated from the LGBTQ+ item onward); absent were Richard Falcon, Michael Marion, and Erandi Zamora. Chair Guerrero presided, with staff from the Office of Public Safety Accountability. The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
Chair and Staff Updates
- Chair Guerrero reported that the Commission is working with the City Council on a process for considering commission recommendations, with key recommendations expected to be taken up within weeks.
- The Office of Public Safety Accountability and Sacramento Police Department gave no updates.
Consent Calendar
- The Consent Calendar was adopted by one motion (motion by Commissioner Bliss, second by Commissioner Escobar; 6-0).
- Item 1: Received and filed the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Joint Measure U Meeting Minutes (File ID 2021-00929).
- Item 2: Approved the Commission meeting minutes dated May 10, 2021 (File ID 2021-00930).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Evan Minton, a Sacramento resident and transgender advocate, expressed full support for establishing the LGBTQ+ ad hoc subcommittee and offered to participate.
- Alexis Sanchez, Director of Advocacy and Training for the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, spoke in favor of the motion, stating that LGBTQ folks are disproportionately targeted in hate crimes, discrimination, and over-policing, and that the subcommittee is vital for community members.
- During the non-agenda public comment period, Nick Labarra, a staff writer for the Sacramento Observer, asked about the Sacramento Police Department racial equity report; staff noted it was not an interactive session and he made no further comment.
Discussion Items
- Item 3 (Establish LGBTQ+ ad hoc subcommittee): Chair Guerrero requested creation of the subcommittee after discussions with the LGBTQ+ community and the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, noting that a draft policy exists and that the subcommittee would review work, examine other jurisdictions, and advance the policy. Commissioner Bliss moved and Commissioner Elkarra seconded. The motion passed 7-0. Commissioners Bliss and Guerrero were appointed to the subcommittee.
- Item 4 (Follow-Up Log): The Commission received and filed the Follow-Up Log. Chair Guerrero reported two follow-up attempts with no response regarding a National Lawyers Guild request. Discussion included Commissioner Castillo-Krings asking about a board/commission web landing page; Clerk Cuppy said data is being populated and a link would be shared. Commissioner Bliss asked about a shortened redirect link, which was deferred for further conversation.
Ad Hoc Committee Updates
- Media and Outreach (Commissioner Castillo-Krings): Held a follow-up discussion with Deputy Chief Lester regarding recommendations from a prior photographers presentation; further discussion is planned.
- Crowd and Riot Control and De-Escalation (Vice Chair Carter): A community input session will be held Monday, August 23, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom; flyer available by emailing Chair Guerrero.
- Budget (Commissioner Bliss): The committee continues to meet and held a joint session with the Measure U Advisory Committee, including a presentation from a UC Davis health policy research team. Commissioner Bliss requested a detailed breakdown of the $165.9 million Sacramento Police Department budget by program and staff time, with a clear distinction between general fund and Measure U dollars, plus conversion of full-time equivalent positions into dollar amounts, including four Police Record Specialist II positions. OPSA will follow up on the request.
- Alternative Response: No update because Commissioner Falcon was absent; Chair Guerrero requested a written report for future meetings.
Commissioner Comments, Ideas, and Questions
- Commissioner Bliss requested a future review and summary presentation on the Sacramento Police Department's recent racial equity report/audit. OPSA added the request to the follow-up log, with timing to be determined.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar adopted (6-0).
- LGBTQ+ ad hoc subcommittee established (7-0); Commissioners Bliss and Guerrero appointed.
- Follow-Up Log received and filed.
- OPSA to follow up on budget data request and racial equity report presentation.
- Clerk Cuppy to consult the City Attorney regarding a potential joint Commission/Measure U meeting.
- Meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Chair staff is ready when you are I am ready. Okay, well, good evening, everyone. The Sacramento Community Police Review Commission will please come to order. Uh, will the clerk please uh call roll to establish quorum? Thank you. Commissioner Marion. Commissioner Castillo Krings. Good afternoon, present. Commissioner Bliss. Present. Commissioner Alcara. Present. Commissioner Jefferson. Commissioner Escobar. Present. Commissioner Zamora. Commissioner Falcon has let us know he will be absent this evening. Vice Chair Carter. Present. And Chair Ghetto. Present. Okay, and I believe that is quorum, correct? That is a quorum. Perfect. Okay. Once again, everyone, welcome to the meeting of the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission. The commission was established to provide community participation in reviewing and recommending police department policies, practices, and procedures, and to monitor the implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of city policing initiatives and programs. Members of the public participating via Zoom. If you would like to speak on an agenda item, please raise your hand when the item begins. If you wish to speak on a subsequent item, you will need to raise your hand when that item begins. Some instructions on how to raise your hand. Please, uh, if you're online, uh click on the raise hand feature at the bottom of your screen on a mobile app. Uh you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. Telephone if you are calling uh via telephone to raise your hand, dial star nine, then to unmute or uh mute, dial star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. The clerk will call you and allow you to speak. You will have two minutes to address the commission. If you go over you will the allotted time, you will be asked to make your final comment and then we'll be muted. Okay, so we are going to get started. Uh first up on the agenda is uh the chair's update, and I have a couple of items. First, I just wanted to let the public and the uh commissioners know that we continue to work with the city council on a process uh whereby they will consider commission recommendations. Uh I'm really hopeful and excited that that is uh work that is happening now. Uh we're hopeful that within weeks uh they will take up a number of recommendations, uh key recommendations. Um they will spread these out over um a number of months until they consider uh I believe all of them. So I'm heartened by that. Um I also want to give a shout out to the ad hoc committees. My understanding is a lot of good work is happening in the committee, so thank you for continuing that. And then um the last item that I want to update is um at the last meeting. Um we had an issue regarding uh public how the public gets on the uh queue to speak with a transition um from the phone system to Zoom, which is what we're using today. Hopefully, that issue um is moot and the public will be um uh will easily be able to uh give their comments.
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