Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - September 11, 2023
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Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - September 11, 2023
The Sacramento Community Police Review Commission met on Monday, September 11, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Complex. The meeting was chaired by Vice Chair Keyan Bliss (in the absence of Chair Graciela Castillo-Krings, who arrived at 6:39 PM). Commissioners discussed the Office of Public Safety Accountability's (OPSA) 2020-2023 complaint data, approved the previous meeting's minutes with an amendment, and received the Commission Follow-Up Log. A recurring theme was the absence of Sacramento Police Department (SPD) representatives and frustration with city council's inaction on commission recommendations.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of August 14, 2023, Meeting Minutes (File ID: 2022-02470): Passed a motion as amended. The amendment added a note that no representative from the Sacramento Police Department was present during the discussion of the previous meeting's item 2, and that commissioners expressed a desire for SPD attendance. The motion passed 8-0 (Commissioners Sample, J. Johnson, Z. Johnson, Bliss, Buenrostro, Carter, Guerrero, Marion; three absent: Carter Martinez, Salazar, and Chair Castillo-Krings).
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Item 02 (OPSA Reports): One speaker, BNB Unity, expressed frustration that SPD continues to not attend meetings, stating that the commission is being scapegoated and that SPD does not listen to Black and Brown voices. They urged commissioners to consider striking meetings or resigning en masse to force accountability.
- On Matters Not on the Agenda: Anna Marie Smith commented on the Military Equipment Use (MEU) report, noting that SPD reported zero complaints despite 852 deployments and citing the need for better community outreach so that complaints are properly categorized. She also highlighted the commission's role as a bridge between police and the community, urging SPD to recognize the value of that relationship.
Discussion Items
- Item 02: Office of Public Safety Accountability, 2020-2023 Quarter and Annual Reports Overview (File ID: 2023-01219) – Dr. LaTesha Watson, Director of OPSA, presented data on police complaint classifications and allegations. Key trends: service-related complaints were the second highest category in 2022 (146 allegations); discourtesy and improper search and seizure were also consistently high. Dr. Watson explained that OPSA's recommendations have not been implemented, but an audit on search and seizure is pending city council action. Commissioners asked about the lack of an SPD representative, the use of the "unfounded" disposition, and the need for a discipline matrix. Commissioner Mario Guerrero noted that many other jurisdictions have discipline matrices, and the commission had previously proposed one. Vice Chair Bliss expressed frustration that SPD has not attended meetings, citing a culture of disrespect. Commissioner Guerrero and Chair Castillo-Krings criticized city council for not acting on the commission's recommendations, including the Military Equipment Use policy. The commission discussed the follow-up log and the possibility of restructuring it to align with the work plan. No vote was taken on the discussion; the item was received and filed.
- Item 03: Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Follow-Up Log (File ID: 2023-01233) – Received and filed. Commissioners debated the log's effectiveness. Chair Castillo-Krings proposed using the log to inform the 2024 work plan. Commissioner Renee Carter expressed frustration that city council has not acted on recommendations, leading to a backlog of 146 items. Commissioner Guerrero suggested restructuring the log into categories (current work plan, future work plan, miscellaneous). Vice Chair Bliss emphasized the need for public understanding and transparency. The discussion concluded with a plan to develop a revised log for the next meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved the August 14, 2023, minutes as amended (8-0).
- OPSA Reports: Received and filed; no formal vote taken. The commission will follow up on Dr. Watson's presentation and request SPD attendance at future meetings.
- Follow-Up Log: Received and filed; the chair and vice chair will work with Commissioner Guerrero to propose a restructured log for the next meeting.
- Commissioner Comments: Several commissioners expressed frustration with SPD's absence and city council's inaction. Commissioner Guerrero and Vice Chair Bliss indicated willingness to resign en masse if no progress is made. Chair Castillo-Krings urged continued engagement but acknowledged the commission's limited authority.
- Meeting Adjourned: At 8:17 PM, in memory of the 9/11 first responders and all who lost their lives that day.
Meeting Transcript
Chair, staff is ready when you are. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Monday, September 11th, 2020. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Vice Chair. Commissioner Sample. Present. Commissioner J. Johnson. Present. Commissioner Z Johnson is currently absent. Vice Chair Bliss. Yes. Commissioner Carter Martinez is currently absent. Commissioner Buen Rostro is currently absent. Commissioner Carter. Commissioner Guerrero. Present. Commissioner Marion. Commissioner Salazar is absent. And Commissioner Castillo Kringles is absent. We have quorum. Oh, and my apologies. For the record, uh Commissioner Z Johnson has just arrived. Thank you, Clerk. I would like to remind members of the public and chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins. For members of the public who wish to join virtually, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you have joined the meeting and wish to speak, you may hit the raise your hand option to provide public comment when the chair confirms the public comment spirit speaking period for the desired item. And if you are calling in via telephone uh to raise a hand, you can dial uh star nine and then to unmute or mute, dial star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. Um and I believe we will. Oh uh I've also named that uh to provide greater community participation in our commission's work. We will also allow more time for members of the public to give comments and we'll ask the clerk to keep the queue open until the last speaker has concluded their comments. For matters not on the agendum, you uh you will have five minutes to speak once you are called upon, and for matters listed on the agenda, you will have three minutes to speak once you are called upon. We will also be adjusting the order of our agenda to hear matters not on the agenda first, followed by the uh consent calendar. And we will now proceed with today's agenda. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands. To the people, to the original people of the land, the Nissanan people, the Southern Maidu Valley and Plain Mi Wok people, the Petwin Windu peoples, and the people of the Wilton Brancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we recognize and honor the native people who once came who came before us and will walk beside 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. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, everyone. Our first business today is public comments, matters not on the agenda. As a reminder for the public, you will have five minutes to speak on this item. Clerk, are there a member any members of the public who wish to speak on public on matters not on the agenda? Thank you, Chair. I have no speaker slips from those in chambers, and I have no hands raised online. Thank you, Clerk. Our second business today then is approval of the consent calendar. Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on matters uh on the consent calendar?
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