City Accepting Applications to Fill Three Seats on Police Oversight Commission

Community-based organizations are being asked to nominate people to fill three seats on the City’s police oversight commission.

Juliana Serrano, Florence Annang and Alexis Abernethy will term out at the end of June. The trio serves as community-based organization commissioners.

The trio represents All Saints, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Links, respectively and cannot be immediately reappointed.

“Juliana, Florence and Alexis served the commission and the community honorably,” said Commission Chair Esprit Jones. “We are looking forward to new commissioners coming on board with a fresh perspective and a willingness to serve.”

Interested parties are required to submit an application by 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 12. Applicants for the community based seats must be endorsed by a community-based organization. A supplemental application with this information must be submitted by the May 12, deadline.

The City Council will choose the commissioners.

The City Council established the oversight commission (CPOC) by ordinance in 2020.

According to the City’s website, the commission’s purpose is to enhance, develop and strengthen community-police relations and review and make recommendations regarding the ongoing operations of the Pasadena Police Department to the chief of police, city manager and/or City Council.

The CPOC is composed of 11 members, with the Mayor and each City Councilmember nominating one (for a total of eight) and three members nominated from community-based organizations. The City encourages interested members of the public to apply for the three community-based organization seats, with those appointed receiving three-year terms set to expire on June 30, 2028.

No later than 90 days after appointment to the commission, new commissioners must participate in a ride-along with the Pasadena Police Department, and receive 30 hours of training in relevant subject matter areas no later than 90 days after appointment.

Further information about the qualifications, training requirements, and duties of commissioners can be found in the Pasadena Municipal Code, Chapter 2.60.