CC4J Newsletter #3, September, 2022

Chico Community Oversight of local Law Enforcement

To improve our local law enforcement towards humane policing, CC4J identifies independent civilian oversight as necessary. Currently, Chico has a Police Citizen Advisory Board (PCAB)  run by the Police Chief, who selects members and sets the meeting agenda. Cities across the nation want independent entities formed and funded to review complaints of police misconduct. One of the questions we are asking City Council candidates (see below) is how they would “promote police oversight”. Stay tuned for their replies.

Looking for ways to help CC4J? We are looking for assistance placing flyers out in the community both online and on public bulletin boards that will give people a direct link to read the city council candidate responses to these important questions. Please click the link below to sign up to help. Thank you!

I'd like to help CC4J get the word out!

CC4J will be submitting questions about policing to all these candidates

running for open seats on the Chico City Council:

District 2: Incumbent Business Owner, Kasey Reynolds is seeking re-election. She will be challenged by Morgan Kennedy, who has a background in social services and reproductive health.

District 3: Incumbent Dale Bennett, who worked in property and asset management  will be challenged by Monica McDaniel, a career technical educator and Arts Commissioner.

District 4: Two newcomers will face off. Nichole Nava, a senior case manager will face Addison Winslow, a Housing Consultant.

District 6: Two newcomers are seeking the seat. Tom Van Overbeek, a business

owner will run against Jesica Giannola, a housing case manager.

The Mission Local, an online journal, reported this information regarding DPA on August 4, 2022 :

1. The Department of Police Accountability was created by a county vote in 2016. It has a budget of about ten million dollars a year. It is

financed through the mayor’s office, not through the police budget.

2. The Department of Police Accountability investigates all citizen

complaints. It interviews both the police officer and the complainant.

3. The Department of Police Accountability received over 4,000

complaints in the last four years. Only 3 officers received more than

10 days suspension or a more serious consequence. Several officers

retired before an investigation could take place. Out of all the

complaints only 10% were recommended for discipline. In the 3rd

quarter of 2021 43% of the complaints were found to be ‘unfounded’,

20% were found to lack documentation. However, the use of force

incidents by police officers fell by 50%.

4. The Department of Police Accountability is dependent on the San

Francisco Police Department for information. Body camera and dash

board camera video is often shared late or is redacted.

5. Citizens complain that the Department of Police Accountability and the Police Commission do not fully use the powers they possess. The

public complains that they also do not practice transparency.

Read the full article in the Mission Local

Santa Monica Coalition for Police Reform

Recently, the convener of the Santa Monica Coalition for Police Reform, Michele Wittig, reached out to CC4J, to share our histories and perspectives.  CC4J and the Santa Monica Coalition will be meeting by Zoom after the November election.

The Santa Monica Coalition launched in 2015, after a highly-publicized incident of aggressive policing towards an African-American man in Santa Monica. On the Coalition are representatives from : The Committee for Racial Justice, the local NAACP and ACLU, and the Unitarian Universalist Church.

The Coalition focuses on:

*Telling community stories re interactions with law enforcement

*Becoming informed about local law enforcement policies and practices and state-wide policy reforms

*Participating in campaigns to enact policing reform legislation

*Meeting with local city policing leadership.....getting their perspectives, and recommending policy and practice changes that increase equity, fairness transparency, and accountability

*Providing support to those in need.  

Sonoma County Independent Police Review

In Sonoma County, the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach was established by the Sonoma Board of Supervisors in 2015. It’s an independent non-police agency. It reviews complaints and makes policy recommendations to the Sheriff’s Office. It has the authority to obtain evidence, contact witnesses, subpoena records, publish body cam footage on its website, and recommend disciplinary action…..all with a budget at 1% of the overall Sheriff’s Office. 

Thanks for reading our newsletter.  Questions and comments welcome:
cc4jchico@gmail.com