Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - March 14, 2022
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Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - March 14, 2022
The Sacramento Community Police Review Commission (CPRC) held a teleconference meeting on Monday, March 14, 2022, starting at 6:00 p.m. and adjourning at 7:42 p.m. The meeting included approval of previous meeting minutes, a detailed audit presentation of the commission itself, establishment of 2022 ad hoc committees, and discussion of a follow-up log. Commissioners heard updates from the Office of Public Safety Accountability (OPSA) and the Sacramento Police Department (SPD), including introductions of new SPD leadership.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of February 14, 2022, Meeting Minutes (File ID: 2022-00517): Passed unanimously (7-0-1, with Commissioner Carter abstaining). Motion by Commissioner Elkarra, second by Commissioner Guerrero.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during any portion of the meeting.
Discussion Items
- Audit of the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission (File ID: 2022-00562): Lynn Bashaw, Assistant City Auditor, presented the audit findings. The audit reviewed 110 recommendations issued by the commission between 2018 and 2021. Key findings included: lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities; insufficient resources (staff, training, technology, email accounts, website); and absence of a formal recommendation and follow-up process. Less than half of the recommendations had received written responses from SPD, though verbal responses were common. The audit made 16 recommendations, including clearer city code definitions, adequate staffing and training, and structured recommendation tracking. The City Council had approved the audit on February 22, 2022, and the auditor’s office will follow up semi-annually. Commissioners expressed strong support for the audit and noted that many of the findings aligned with their own prior recommendations. Commissioner Guerrero highlighted the need for SPD to formally respond to commission requests and for council to vote on recommendations within three months. The item was received and filed (no vote required).
- Establishment of Ad Hoc Committees for 2022 (File ID: 2022-00613): Chair Castillo-Krings and Vice Chair Bliss led the discussion. Six proposed ad hoc committees were presented:
- Implementation Ad Hoc: Will review and repackage prior years’ recommendations for council consideration.
- Budget Transparency Ad Hoc: Will evaluate SPD’s budget policies, practices, and expenditures related to transparency and outcomes.
- Community Interaction Use Case Framework Ad Hoc: Will define major categories of police-public interactions and identify best practices and training protocols.
- Surveillance Ad Hoc: Will assess SPD’s surveillance technologies and predictive policing practices.
- LGBTQ+ Ad Hoc: Will review SPD policies affecting LGBTQ+ communities, focusing on sex workers, people living with HIV/AIDS, and LGBTQ+ youth.
- Accountability and Oversight Ad Hoc: Will examine the Department of Community Response (DCR) and SPD professionalism and service issues, particularly relating to substantiated complaints of discourtesy and improper conduct. Commissioners selected their top two ad hoc preferences via roll call. Due to absences, some ad hocs had fewer members. It was agreed that the Community Interaction and Accountability/Oversight ad hocs could meet together to explore possible merging. The motion to establish all ad hoc committees passed unanimously (8-0-0). Chair Castillo-Krings will finalize assignments and communicate via email.
- Commission Follow-Up Log (File ID: 2022-00666): OPSA staff presented the log for commissioner requests. Commissioner Bliss requested that the commission’s past meeting minutes be consolidated under a single active legislative body page on the city website. The item was received and filed (no vote required).
Key Outcomes
- Approval of Minutes: Minutes from February 14, 2022, were approved with one abstention.
- Audit Report Received and Filed: The audit of the commission was accepted; the auditor’s office will track implementation of its recommendations.
- Six Ad Hoc Committees Established: Commissioners voted unanimously to create six ad hoc committees for 2022. Assignments will be finalized by the chair after the meeting.
- Commission Follow-Up Log Received: The log was accepted; the clerk’s office will work on consolidating meeting archives.
- SPD Leadership Introduced: New Chief Kathy Lester and her command staff (Deputy Chiefs Oliveira, Leon, Green, and Captain Steigers) were introduced and welcomed by the commission.
- No Public Comments: No members of the public addressed the commission.
Commissioner Comments-Ideas and Questions
- Commissioner Bliss raised concerns about inadequate police response and disrespect toward unhoused individuals, including long wait times for service and lack of trauma-informed care. He suggested the new Accountability/Oversight Ad Hoc engage with community organizations (e.g., Sacramento Homeless Union, Loaves & Fishes). OPSA Director Watson clarified that complaints can be filed anonymously and that OPSA tracks complaints by council district. The commission acknowledged the issue and noted it aligns with the work of the new ad hoc.
Meeting Transcript
Chair, we are live, and we're ready to staff is ready when you are great. Thank you. Good evening and welcome to the Monday, March 14th, 2022 Sacramento Community Police Review Commission meeting. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll call and establish forum? Yes, thank you. Commissioners, can you please unmute and turn on your videos for roll call? Commissioner Carter. Is absent. Commissioner Commissioner El Cara. Present. Commissioner Falcone will be absent. Commissioner Guerrero. Present. Commissioner Jefferson is absent. Commissioner Marion. Unfortunately, I'm in a bad reception area, so I apologize. That's okay. I can hear you. Thank you. Commissioner Espinosa Salazar. Commissioner Williamson. Present. Commissioner Zamora is absent. Vice Chair Bliss. Chair Castillo Krings. Present. Thank you. We do have a quorum. Great. Thank you. So this virtual meeting is virtual via Zoom. For members of the public who wish to join, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom. Once you have joined the meeting and wish to speak, raise your hand to provide public comment when the chair, when I confirm that the public comment speaking period for the desired item. If you are online, click on raise hand on the bottom of your screen. If you are on a mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option or more tab. If you are telephone on using a telephone, raise your hand dial star nine. Then an unmute or mute dial star six. Speakers will be called by the last four digits of their phone number. First, let's do land acknowledgement and the pledge of allegiance. Please rise to for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands. To the original people of this land, the Niseinan people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains, My Walk, the Putwin Windu Peoples, and the Peoples of the Wilton Rancheria. Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and will walk besides us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, contributions, and lives. Thank you. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible for liberty and justice for all. So a couple of things that we have for you. And once we have that information, we will make sure that there's seven recommendations are going to be voted on by council. And we will make sure that you receive a copy of what those are going to be.
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