Community Police Oversight Commission to Host Community Forums on Pretextual Stops

Pasadena’s Community Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) will host two community forums focused on pretextual, or simply “pretext,” stops – stops initiated by law enforcement for a minor traffic violation with the actual purpose of investigating or searching for evidence of another unrelated crime.

These forums aim to provide community members with a platform to share their experiences and insights regarding pretextual stops, which are a significant aspect of police-community interactions,

The first forum is scheduled for Thursday, March 7, at 6 p.m. and will be held at Pasadena Community College’s Creveling Lounge, located at 1570 E. Colorado Blvd.

The second forum will take place on Thursday, March 14, also at 6 p.m., at the Robinson Park Recreation Center, situated at 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

Both events will offer Spanish interpretation services and will accommodate virtual attendance and comments via Zoom.

The CPOC said the forums aim to foster stronger community-police relations and to review and offer recommendations concerning the ongoing operations of the Pasadena Police Department.

Last December, the CPOC and the city’s Independent Police Auditor (IPA) agreed there was a need to clarify what pretext stops are and how they should be conducted.

These two forums are in response to the CPOC and the IPA both committing to study and consult with the community, and eventually provide recommendations to the Pasadena Police Department regarding the use of pretext stops.

At these forums, the CPOC will introduce the concept of pretextual stops and outline its research and assessment methodology. The core focus of the evenings, the CPOC stressed, will be to listen to and learn from community members.

“Hearing from our community members about their different experiences with pretextual stops and the impact they have is a critical piece of our Commission’s ability to fully understand and make recommendations on the continued use of pretextual stops in our community,” Esprit Jones, Chair of the CPOC, said. “We look forward to kicking off this important work with our community at these two listening sessions.”

California’s Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board (RIPA) said pretext stops occur when an officer stops a person ostensibly for a traffic violation or minor infraction but intends to investigate based on a hunch that alone would not justify reasonable suspicion or probable cause.

In August 2020, Anthony McClain was killed by a Pasadena police officer in an incident that started as a traffic stop. The Office of Independent Review (OIR), which the city hired to review Pasadena Police Department policies and investigate the incident, recommended that the CPOC “convene community conversations to formally discuss and consider the pros and cons of PPD’s use of pretext stops, especially with regard to minor equipment violations.”

The OIR also recommended that the Department reconsider the use of pretext stops, especially for minor equipment violations.

The forums next month indicate the city and the CPOC are actively promoting community engagement so as to address concerns, promote transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices, and to encourage residents to participate and have their voices heard in shaping the future of policing in Pasadena.

For more information, email CPOC@cityofpasadena.net or call (626) 744-4141.

Community members who are unable to attend the forums in person can also contribute their experiences and thoughts by emailing CPOC@cityofpasadena.net.