Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - April 8, 2024: Evaluations, Community Engagement, and Liaison Controversy
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Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - April 8, 2024
The Sacramento Community Police Review Commission (SCPRC) met on April 8, 2024, from 5:39 PM to 7:54 PM at City Hall. The commission approved past minutes, adopted a follow-up log, evaluated SPD's implementation of 2018 and 2019 recommendations, discussed the 2020 recommendations (deferred), debated community engagement plans, and addressed a significant controversy over the city manager's decision to end direct SPD engagement with the commission following a commissioner's private citizen actions.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of March 11, 2024 Minutes: Passed unanimously with 8 yes, 1 abstention (Commissioner Espinoza Salazar), and 2 absent (Commissioners Carter and Jody Johnson).
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comments: No speakers for matters not on the agenda or consent calendar.
- Item 6 – Community Engagement: A student (Naeli) spoke, questioning the goal of technological presentations for community engagement and suggesting youth outreach and consideration of digital access barriers.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – Follow-Up Log: Adopted the commission's follow-up log. Vote: 9 yes, 0 no, 2 absent.
- Item 3 – Evaluation of 2018 SPD Recommendations: Chair Bliss presented the evaluation. Of 27 original recommendations, the commission found 6 fully implemented, 9 partially implemented, 3 started, 8 not implemented, and 0 pending. Commissioners praised the collaborative process with SPD's Professional Standards Unit. Motion to approve the evaluation and include it in the 2023 Annual Report passed 9-0.
- Item 4 – Evaluation of 2019 SPD Recommendations: Chair Bliss presented the evaluation. Of 38 recommendations (19 discipline/accountability, 11 internal, 8 mental health), the commission found 8 fully implemented, 5 partially, 4 started, 10 not implemented, and 5 pending review (mostly mental health). Discussion noted that some recommendations are outdated due to the new Department of Community Response. Motion passed 9-0.
- Item 5 – 2020 SPD Recommendations: Chair Bliss explained that the evaluation is incomplete; the commission has only received SPD responses. He moved to amend the recommendation to receive and file, pending completion of the evaluation. Motion passed 9-0.
- Item 6 – Community Engagement Process: Chair Bliss and Commissioner Carter Martinez presented a draft community outreach plan for 2024, including three community forums (one on Military Equipment Use policy), leveraging council members' platforms, tabling, and using video presentations in neighborhoods with police distrust to avoid re-traumatization. Commissioners discussed tight timelines, budget constraints (no city funding), and the need for free venues. Assistant City Manager Mario Lara clarified that the MEU report will be ready by end of May, with a required community meeting in July. No formal vote; the commission provided direction to continue refining the plan.
- Item 7 – 2020 Recommendation for a Police Liaison: Vice Chair Buenrostro reported that on March 18, 2024, the city manager informed Chair Bliss that SPD would no longer engage directly with the commission due to a commissioner's private citizen conduct (Chair Bliss). Assistant City Manager Lara clarified that he is the new liaison, and sworn personnel will only work with a working group that excludes commissioners who have acted in defiance of lawful orders. Chair Bliss explained his involvement in a city council protest. Commissioners debated the impact on legitimacy, transparency, and the chilling effect on diverse voices. A letter to the Mayor and Council was presented. Motion to continue the item to May 13, 2024, passed 8-1 (Chair Bliss abstained).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved.
- Items 2, 3, 4, 5: All motions passed unanimously (9-0) with 2 absent.
- Item 6: No vote; direction given to Chair and Vice Chair to refine the community engagement plan.
- Item 7: Motion to continue to May 13, 2024, passed 8-1.
- Staff and Commissioner Comments: Commissioners expressed dismay over the perceived step backward in SPD-commission relations and the lack of communication from the city.
Meeting Transcript
Chair Staff is ready when you are. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, if you can please unmute. Commissioner Sample. Present. Commissioner Jay Johnson. Present. Commissioner Z. Johnson is absent. Commissioner Carter Martinez? Here. Vice Chair Ben Rostro. Here. Commissioner Griggs? Here. Commissioner Carter is absent. Commissioner Jody Johnson. Absent. Commissioner Castile Kriegs. Here. Commissioner Espinoza Salazar? Here. Chair Bliss. Here. Thank you. We have quorum. And for the record, uh, Commissioner Z. Johnson is present. Thank you, Clerk. I would like to remind members of the public in chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, uh, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins. We will 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 accept speaker slips until the final speaker has concluded their comments. Uh for matters not on the agenda, you will have five minutes to speak once you were 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 uh first hear public comment matters not on the agenda, followed by the consent calendar, and then the discussion calendar, where we'll just make a quick shift for uh item two, which is the uh uh Sacramento Community Police Review Commission follow-up log with item uh with item number three. We're gonna move that to the end. We're gonna move item two to the end, if that's okay. And then uh before closing out, we will have uh commissioner and staff ideas, questions, and comments. And with that, we will now proceed with today's agenda. Please rise for the opening acknowledgements in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands to the original people of the land, the Nissanan people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Miwok, Patwin Winton peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancherio, 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 to get today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous Peoples, history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. And with that, I will uh pass it over to Vice Chair Burn Rostro to lead us in Pleiche of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. 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 any members of the public who wish to uh make comments on uh matters on the agenda? Thank you, Chair.
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