Modesto city leaders approve plan to increase police transparency

CRUZ EXPLAINS WHAT THIS MEANS AND WHAT SOME RESIDENTS THINK. MARICELA: IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY. >> LIKE A LOT OF CITIES, POST-GEORGE FLOYD WE HAD SOME STRUGGLES WITH POLICING. MARICELA: MODESTO CITY COUNCILMEMBERS VOTED TO APPROVE A COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW BOARD AND AN INDEPENDENT POLICE AUDITOR. TO REVIEW OFFICER ACTIVITIES AND ADDRESS THEM WITH THE POLICE CHIEF. >> COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON POLICING. MARICELA: THIS MEANS THAT A NINE-MEMBER BOARD WILL REVIEW OFFICER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO USE OF FORCE COMPLAINTS, IN-CUSTODY DEATHS, OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, AND BIAS-BASED POLICING COMPLAINTS AMONG OTHER CLOSED INVESTIGATIONS. >> MORE INTERACTION WITH THE COMMUNITY IN GOVERNMENT, PERIOD WHETHER IT IS THE POLICE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NO MATTER WHAT IT IS IS BETTER. >> PRODUCT DOLLARS GO INTO YOUR BUDGET. I PAY YOU TO PROTECT US. NOT TO KILL US. MARICELA: BRITTONI CHAVEZ WIFE OF PAUL CHAVEZ WHO DIED IN AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING ON JULY 14 IS HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL BETTER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE REAL HONEST PEOPLE JUST REAL HONEST PEOPLE. SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK UP, SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY’S BACK MARICELA: THE COMMITTEE WILL BE MADE UP OF MODESTO CITY RESIDENTS WHO REPRESENT DIFFERENT GENDERS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND ETHNICITY AMONG OTHER QUALIFICATIONS. >> POLICE HAVE TO INTERACT WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND SO HAVING EVERYONE REPRESENTED, MEANS THAT WE WILL HAVE A GOOD CONDUIT GOING INTO OUR COMMUNITY. MARICELA: THE MODESTO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION TOLD KCRA THAT THEY WERE INVOLVED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS AND SUPPORT THE CHANGE. THE COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS WILL SERVE A FOUR-YEAR TERMS, THE NINE POSITIONS OPEN IN JANUARY. IN MODESTO MARICELA DE LA CRUZ, KCRA 3 NEWS. GULSTA

Modesto city leaders approve plan to increase police transparency; community input included

Updated: 10:17 PM PST Dec 15, 2022

Modesto city leaders approved on Thursday a plan to make police activity more transparent.The plan includes creating a community police review board and an independent police auditor. It would also adopt recommendations from community members as part of a program the city of Modesto launched called Forward Together. “Like a lot of cities, post-George Floyd, we had some struggles with policing,” said Chris Ricci, a council member with the city of Modesto support safety, fairness, and equity throughout the department and the community.Alternate Response Models – that ensure the right type of response and resources are applied to a situation.Accountability – for police conduct, decisions, and how they impact the Modesto communityThe nine- Board member will review officer activities related to use-of-force complaints, in-custody deaths, “officer-involved-shootings,” and bias-based policing complaints — among other closed investigations — and submit an annual report and analysis of completed administrative investigations to the city manager and city council.”More interaction with the community, in government, period, whether it’s the police, economic development — no matter what it is, is better,” Ricci said.Th e committee will be made up of Modesto residents who represent different genders, sexual orientations, and ethnicity, among other qualifications.Brittoni Chavez – wife of Paul Chavez, Jr. who died in an officer-involved shooting on July 14, is hopeful that this will better the police department’s practices.”I would like to see real honest people just real honest people; someone who is not afraid to speak up, someone who is going to have our community’s back,” said Chavez, who’s been advocating for police reform since her husband’s death.Daniel Starr, with the Modesto Police Officers Association, told KCRA 3 they were involved since the beginning of this process and support the change.The CPRB members will serve four-year terms and applications will open in January.

Modesto city leaders approved on Thursday a plan to make police activity more transparent.

The plan includes creating a community police review board and an independent police auditor. It would also adopt recommendations from community members as part of a program the city of Modesto launched called Forward Together.

“Like a lot of cities, post-George Floyd, we had some struggles with policing,” said Chris Ricci, a council member with the city of Modesto.

The three areas of focus that Forward Together looked into were:

  • Policies and Practices – that support safety, fairness, and equity throughout the department and the community.
  • Alternate Response Models – that ensure the right type of response and resources are applied to a situation.
  • Accountability – for police conduct, decisions, and how they impact the Modesto community

The nine-member board will review officer activities related to use-of-force complaints, in-custody deaths, “officer-involved-shootings,” and bias-based policing complaints — among other closed investigations — and submit an annual report and analysis of completed administrative investigations to the city manager and city council.

“More interaction with the community, in government, period, whether it’s the police, economic development — no matter what it is, is better,” Ricci said.

The committee will be made up of Modesto residents who represent different genders, sexual orientations, and ethnicity, among other qualifications.

Brittoni Chavez – wife of Paul Chavez, Jr. who died in an officer-involved shooting on July 14, is hopeful that this will better the police department’s practices.

“I would like to see real honest people just real honest people; someone who is not afraid to speak up, someone who is going to have our community’s back,” said Chavez, who’s been advocating for police reform since her husband’s death.

Daniel Starr, with the Modesto Police Officers Association, told KCRA 3 they were involved since the beginning of this process and support the change.

The CPRB members will serve four-year terms and applications will open in January.

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