Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Regular Meeting - February 12, 2024
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Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Regular Meeting - February 12, 2024
The Sacramento Community Police Review Commission met on Monday, February 12, 2024, at 5:34 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. Chair Keyan Bliss presided. The meeting included a special presentation to welcome new Commissioner Jody Johnson, approval of the consent calendar, discussion and approval of the 2024 Work Plan, continuance of the Annual Report, and approval of the Follow-Up Log with an addition. No public comments were made on matters not on the agenda or on consent items.
Special Presentation
- Chair Bliss welcomed newly appointed Commissioner Jody Johnson, who expressed gratitude and eagerness to collaborate. Commissioner Johnson was appointed by the mayor.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of Meeting Minutes (January 8, 2024): Approved unanimously (8-0, with three members absent).
- Item 2 – OPSA 2023 Quarter 4 Police Complaint Activity Report: Received and filed. The report documented 67 complaints closed in Q4, involving 160 allegations, of which 9% were sustained. Commissioner Carter Martinez arrived at 6:18 PM and departed at 6:28 PM due to personal health conditions, but did not participate in the consent vote.
- During discussion, commissioners queried OPSA Director Dr. Watson about the backlog of investigations (some from 2020-2021), the availability of Q1 and Q2 2023 quarterly reports, and trends in search and seizure allegations (31 allegations noted). Dr. Watson stated that staffing shortages (only three people) limit comprehensive analysis, but that six additional staff were approved and are being onboarded. He noted that improper search and seizure is consistently among the top allegation categories and that a standalone policy is needed. Commissioner Carter requested data on the percentage of sustained complaints that lead to lawsuits; Captain Buchanan indicated the department tracks litigation but could not provide immediate statistics. Commissioner Z. Wayne Johnson suggested using a composite list of officer complaints and commendations to assess behavior patterns, and requested this be discussed in a subcommittee.
Discussion Items
- Item 3 – Proposed 2024 Work Plan: Commissioner Castillo-Krings presented a draft work plan. After discussion, the commission refined the work plan to include three priority work areas: (1) Community Policing and Response (including homelessness response and community engagement), (2) SPD Strategic Planning and Budget Transparency, and (3) Civilian Oversight Engagement and Function (including MEU policy reviews and improving commission effectiveness). Commissioners emphasized the need for early and robust community outreach for MEU forums, with at least one month's notice. The work plan also includes goals to conduct a joint workshop with City Council on the city auditor's recommendations, review outstanding commission recommendations from 2020-2023, and up to six community forums. The motion to approve the work plan passed unanimously (8-0).
- Item 4 – Annual Report to City Council: The proposed annual report includes the commission's 2023 recommendations (including those on search and seizure policy) and the 2024 work plan. Commissioner Castillo-Krings noted that the search and seizure recommendations had been expanded in the current version compared to the January draft, and without clear track changes, she and other commissioners were uncomfortable voting. After discussion, the commission moved to continue the item to the March 11, 2024 meeting. The motion passed unanimously (8-0). Commissioners expressed desire to see a version with strikethroughs/redline changes before approving.
- Item 5 – Follow-Up Log: The follow-up log was approved as amended. Commissioner Bliss added a request for a presentation on the 2024 RIPA (Racial and Identity Profiling Act) report from the California Department of Justice. The motion to approve the log with that addition passed unanimously (8-0).
Commissioner and Staff Comments
- Chair Bliss provided an update on the planned joint workshop with City Council, which aims to clarify the commission's role and powers. He expressed strong support for a civilian oversight model and cautioned against a purely advisory function, stating he would not participate in a performative process. Other commissioners acknowledged the advisory nature of the commission but awaited the workshop's outcome. Commissioner Jody Johnson raised interest in a community know-your-rights workshop; Chair Bliss suggested this could be incorporated into the work plan's community engagement process.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved (meeting minutes and Q4 OPSA report).
- 2024 Work Plan: Approved unanimously, defining three priority work areas and a calendar for community forums, with emphasis on early notification and coordination with SPD on MEU policy.
- Annual Report: Continued to March 11, 2024, pending clear documentation of changes to search and seizure recommendations.
- Follow-Up Log: Approved with addition of a request for a DOJ RIPA report presentation.
- New Commissioner: Jody Johnson seated and welcomed.
Meeting Transcript
Chair Staff is ready when you are good evening and thank you so much for joining us this Monday, February 12th, 2024 meeting of the Sacramento Community Please to Review Commission. This meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, please unmute. Commissioner Sample. Absent. Commissioner John Johnson. Present. Commissioner Z Johnson. Absent. Commissioner Carter Martinez. Absent. Vice Chair Buen Rostro. Absent. Commissioner Griggs. Commissioner Carter. Commissioner Carter. Commissioner Jody Johnson. Commissioner Costello Kring. Here. Commissioner Espinoza Salazar. Here. And Vice, and I'm sorry. And Chair Bliss. Here. And just to note that Commissioner Z Wayne Johnson has just uh attended. Thank you. Thank you. We have quorum. Excellent. Thank you all so much for joining us today. 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. 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 will ask the uh the clerk to accept speaker slips until the final speaker has concluded their comments. For matters not on the agenda, you will have five minutes to speak once you are called upon. And for matters listed on the agenda, you will also have five minutes to speak once you were called upon. We will also be adjusting the order of our agenda to hear public comment, matters not on the agenda first, followed by the consent calendar, then the discussion calendar before closing with commissioner ideas, questions, and comments, where I will also be giving a uh chair's update for commissioners present. 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 original people of this land, the Nissanam people, the Southern Ramaidu, Valley and Plains of Miwok, the Patwin Wintune peoples, and the people of the Wilton Brancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still 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, contribution, and lives. Thank you. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Okay, so our first uh moment of business today will be to welcome our newest police review commissioner, Jody S. Johnson from District from uh who was appointed by the mayor most recently. And uh just want to welcome you to uh joining us on this body and uh would uh happy to open up if you have any uh thing you'd like to add or share with us. You're open. Um just thank you for everybody the warm welcome. Um, looking forward to collaborating and working with you guys moving forward. Thank you so much.
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