After Pasadena Shooting, Multiple Agencies Will Investigate Officer’s Use of Deadly Force

The fatal shooting of a suspected gunman by a Pasadena Police Department officer Monday night near the Sierra Madre Villa Metro Gold Line station has set in motion a multi-agency investigation that will scrutinize the officer’s use of deadly force from at least four different angles — a process that could take many months or even years to complete.

The shooting, which also left the officer wounded and in surgery at Huntington Hospital, launches an overlapping system of criminal, administrative and civilian oversight reviews that governs such incidents in Los Angeles County.

Here is a guide to what happens next, and who is responsible for each phase of the investigation.

What happened

Pasadena police officers responded around 7:30 p.m. Monday to a report of a man shot in the shoulder near the Metro Gold Line’s Sierra Madre Villa station, near the 210 Freeway. Officers found the victim and began administering first aid. Other officers spotted a man matching the description of the suspected gunman, who fled on foot when police tried to make contact, according to Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris.

During a foot pursuit of roughly three blocks northward past the Hastings Village shopping center, at least one officer and the suspect exchanged gunfire near Sierra Madre Villa Avenue and Electronic Drive. The suspect was killed at the scene. The officer, described as a senior member of the department and a field training officer, was conscious and talking when he was transported to Huntington Hospital, where he underwent surgery, according to city spokesperson Lisa Derderian and police spokesperson Susana Porras.

The criminal investigation: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Since 2014, the Pasadena Police Department has relied on the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to conduct the criminal investigation into its officer-involved shootings, rather than investigating its own officers. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau take the lead in determining whether any criminal laws were violated by anyone involved in the incident. This arrangement was put in place to address concerns about the inherent conflict of a police department investigating its own officers’ use of force.

The Homicide Bureau investigation involves gathering all physical evidence from the scene, interviewing civilian witnesses, canvassing for video footage, and conducting forensic analysis. Chief Harris said Monday that Pasadena Police robbery and homicide detectives will separately lead the investigation into the initial shooting of the victim at the Metro station that preceded the police pursuit.

The legal review: Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office

Under a longstanding protocol, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office dispatches prosecutors and investigators from its Justice System Integrity Division (JSID) to the scene of every officer-involved shooting in the county. According to the DA’s published protocol, JSID personnel respond immediately to observe the investigation, interview witnesses alongside the primary investigating agency, and conduct their own independent review of the evidence.

The DA’s role is narrowly focused: to determine whether the officer’s use of force violated criminal law. The DA does not assess whether the officer followed department policy or used appropriate tactics.

Once the Sheriff’s Department completes its investigation and submits its reports — typically within 60 to 90 days, according to the protocol — the JSID reviews all evidence to determine whether the shooting was legally justified. If the DA concludes that no criminal charges are warranted, the office issues a public closing report analyzing the evidence and explaining its findings. If the evidence supports criminal charges, the DA has the authority to prosecute the officer. These reports are published on the DA’s website.

The internal review: Pasadena Police Department

Separately from the criminal investigation, the Pasadena Police Department conducts its own internal administrative review. The department’s Use of Force Review Board examines the incident under Department Policy 302 to determine whether the officer’s actions complied with departmental rules, which can be more restrictive than what the law requires.

Under Pasadena’s City policy, the Chief of Police is solely responsible for determining whether a use of force was within department policy. Neither the City Manager nor the Pasadena City Council has a role in that determination. If the Chief finds that the officer violated policy, the officer can face discipline up to and including termination. The officer has the right to appeal any discipline to the City Manager.

Civilian oversight: Pasadena’s Community Police Oversight Commission

The Community Police Oversight Commission (CPOC), established by the Pasadena City Council in 2020 under Ordinance No. 7368, provides an additional layer of civilian review. The 11-member commission — with eight members nominated by individual City Councilmembers and three by community-based organizations — is charged with reviewing police department operations and making recommendations to the Chief of Police, City Manager and City Council.

The CPOC is assisted by an Independent Police Auditor (IPA), currently Teresa Magula of the OIR Group, a firm that specializes in police oversight. Under the ordinance codified in Pasadena Municipal Code Chapter 2.60, the IPA has unimpeded access to all police department personnel complaints and internal investigations. The IPA reviews all categorical uses of force — a category that includes officer-involved shootings — to assess whether the department’s investigation was complete, thorough, objective and fair. The IPA then reports findings and recommendations to the CPOC.

The CPOC and IPA do not have the authority to impose discipline on officers or to direct personnel actions. Their role is advisory: they can recommend changes to department policies, procedures and training. The commission has the power to issue subpoenas for non-personnel records and for the testimony of non-city witnesses.

The CPOC has reviewed multiple prior Pasadena officer-involved shootings through the IPA process, including the 2020 fatal shooting of Anthony McClain and the 2022 fatal shooting of Adam Youines.

What about the state?

Under California Assembly Bill 1506, which took effect July 1, 2021, the California Department of Justice is required to investigate any officer-involved shooting that results in the death of an unarmed civilian.

In the March 2 incident, the suspect was reportedly armed with a firearm and exchanged gunfire with officers, which means the state DOJ would not be required to investigate. However, the California Attorney General retains discretionary authority to open an investigation into any officer-involved shooting.

How long does this take?

The timeline for completing these overlapping investigations varies widely. The DA’s protocol calls for the investigating agency to submit its reports within 60 to 90 days, but in practice, the process has taken far longer. In the case of Anthony McClain, who was fatally shot by a Pasadena officer in August 2020, the DA’s office did not issue its closing report until March 2022 — roughly 19 months later. The department’s internal Use of Force Review Board did not finalize its findings until October 2022, and the independent OIR Group review was published in 2023, nearly three years after the shooting. Pasadena’s Independent Police Auditor has publicly criticized the DA’s office for lengthy delays in completing its reviews of Pasadena officer-involved shootings.