Search Continues for Candidates to Fill Open Seats on Police Oversight Commission

There are just a few weeks left for community-based organizations to nominate people to three seats on Pasadena’s police oversight commission (CPOC). The commission, established by ordinance in 2020, serves to strengthen community-police relations and make recommendations regarding police department operations.

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 three available positions are currently held by Juliana Serrano, Florence Annang and Alexis Abernethy, whose terms expire at the end of June. Instead of being nominated by City Council members, which is how commissioners are traditionally chosen, these three members were nominated by local nonprofits per the City Charter to sit on the inaugural police oversight commission. All Saints, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Links, respectively, nominated the trio.

The CPOC is composed of 11 members, with the Mayor and each 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.

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 endorsement information must be submitted by the deadline. The City Council will choose the commissioners.

Selected commissioners will serve 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. They must also 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.