Former LAPD Captain Sworn In to Police Oversight Commission on Monday

Former Los Angeles Police Department Captain Paul Vernon was officially sworn in on Monday and is now part of the City’s police oversight commission.

The City Council voted 5-1-1 to appoint Vernon to the Commission.

Appointments are part of the consent calendar and rarely require a separate vote.

Locals attacked Vernon and his nomination to the department and one person even claimed appointing him would “invalidate” the commission.

Vernon responded with a guest opinion piece in Pasadena Now.

“Let me reassure the public and give any notice to the police department, the Pasadena Police Officers’ Association, the City Council, and my fellow commissioners that I am an independent and critical thinker,” Vernon said.

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 police department’s ongoing operations to the Chief of Police, City Manager, and/or City Council.

Vernon began his career with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1988 and held various roles, including patrol officer, field training officer, field supervisor, training supervisor, Internal Affairs investigator, watch commander, gang lieutenant, and Public Information Officer (PIO).

Vernon holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Cal Poly, Pomona, and has graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy, Session 204, in 2001.

Vernon coordinated recruit training at the Los Angeles Police Academy, authored manuals on personnel complaint investigations and discipline management, and designed courses for Internal Affairs investigators and ethics training.

As a lieutenant, he helped design the Complaint Management System and automated many procedures at Internal Affairs.