TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to report back to the City Council within 30 days on the Citizen Police Complaint Commission, including a summary of investigations over the past 5 years, and recommendations for discussion of possible revisions to improve accountability and transparency in the relationship between the Police Department and the community.
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND:
Long Beach, as with communities throughout the nation, is grappling with systemic issues of injustice and calls for policy changes and a profound cultural shift in law enforcement in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN and several other incidents of violence against people of color, often at the hands of law enforcement.
While Long Beach has made many improvements in its policing efforts in recent years, there is still room for improvement, as with communities across the nation.
On April 10, 1990, the voters of Long Beach approved an amendment to the City Charter to establish the Citizen Police Complaint Commission (CPCC). The Charter grants the CPCC to authority to receive, administer and investigate, through an independent investigator, allegations of police misconduct with emphasis on excessive force, false arrest, and complaints with racial or sexual overtones.
Any person has the right to make a complaint against any employee of the Long Beach Police Department through the CPCC. A complaint can be made in person, by telephone, by mail, by email or by a person not directly involved in the incident. Complaints can also be made anonymously.
The CPCC is neither an advocate for the complainant nor the police personnel. Their findings can result in the accused personnel being disciplined, trained or exonerated.
The Commission consists of 11 members of the general public of Long Beach. There shall be one Commission member from each Council district, nominated by that district’s
Councilmember to the Mayor, and two at-large appointments. The members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.
Given that it has been 30 years since the CPCC was established, it is time to give a fresh look at the role of the CPCC and identify options for increasing accountability and transparency in the relationship between our Police Department and the community.
Any revisions to the framework and authority of the CPCC would likely require a vote of the people of Long Beach to amend the City Charter, so it is important to engage in this discussion in a timely manner.
STATEMENT OF URGENCY: Council consideration is especially timely given the recent events in Long Beach and throughout the country.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact was able to be conducted due to the urgency and time sensitivity of this item.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
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Respectfully Submitted,