New Pasadena Police Auditor Plans Town Halls To Boost Community Engagement

Teresa Magula, Pasadena’s new Independent Police Auditor, presented her first monthly report before the Community Police Oversight Commission Thursday night, outlining plans to launch a series of bilingual town hall meetings as part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen community-police relations and increase public accessibility to oversight processes.

“I want to make myself available to the community,” Magula said at her first police oversight commission meeting last week. “While it’s important to incorporate the perspectives of the Police Department and the Commission, it’s equally important to hear from the people who live here.”

Magula, who brings over 17 years of oversight experience and holds a master’s degree in public policy with specialization in crime policy, was selected from 12 applicants following interviews with eight candidates by both the commission’s ad hoc committee and City Council representatives. She replaces Richard Rosenthal, Ph.D., who departed in December.

Her background includes significant work with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Office of the Inspector General, where she progressed from handling public complaints to reviewing critical incidents and officer-involved shootings. Representing Office of Independent Review Group, a team of independent police practice experts, Magula emphasized her team’s extensive experience in police oversight.

“I am part of a team that may be familiar to some in the city,” Magula told commissioners. “The members of this group have devoted their entire careers some upwards of 20, 25, 30 years to doing the work of police oversight.”

Several major initiatives await her attention, including reviews of multiple officer-involved shootings, developing a mediation program for police complaints, analyzing pretext stops survey data, and implementing an early warning system to track potential risk factors among officers.

The planned town halls will be conducted in both English and Spanish, leveraging Magula’s bilingual capabilities.

“A little-known fact that surprises some people is that I am bilingual,” she said, expressing hope that the Spanish-language sessions would further enhance communication within the community.

To ensure accessibility, Magula has established multiple channels for community contact.

“The email goes directly to me, and I personally manage it. If you leave a voicemail at our listed number, we ensure the message is transcribed, and I make every effort to respond promptly,” she explained.

Community members can reach her through Office of Independent Review Group’s email at info@oirgroup.com, with all oversight reports to be made available on the organization’s website.

The new mediation program being developed will offer flexibility in handling complaints.

“We are working with various agencies to spin up these types of mediation programs,” Magula explained. “If at any point there is a dissatisfaction with how the process is going, the process shifts into the formal gear of how the department would normally otherwise investigate a complaint.”

Commissioner Juliana Serrano welcomed Magula’s appointment.

“You have very big shoes to follow in those of Dr. Rosenthal and the reputation of Office of Independent Review group really precedes you,” Serrano said.

While Magula will serve as Pasadena’s primary auditor, other Office of Independent Review Group members may assist with specific projects.

“I’m looking forward to being out there and meeting people where they are,” she concluded.