Pasadena Police Complaint Process Falls Short, Independent Auditor Report Concludes

A comprehensive assessment of the Pasadena Police Department’s handling of citizen complaints has uncovered significant shortcomings, including inadequate communication with complainants and missed opportunities for community engagement, according to the City’s Independent Police Auditor.

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Read the full report here

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The report, published on July 8, by IPA Dr. Richard Rosenthal, examined 76 personnel investigations opened in 2023 and closed prior to April 30, 2024. It pointed to multiple areas where the Department’s complaint process could be improved to better serve the community and ensure accountability.

“With respect to less serious allegations or allegations which, on their face, did not appear to allege misconduct, the PSU [the Pasadena Police Dept.’s Professional Standards Unit — Editor] routinely missed opportunities to provide excellent customer service or approach complaint handling from a holistic perspective,” Dr. Rosenthal wrote in his report.

One key finding was the need for better communication with complainants.

The report recommended that the Professional Standards Unit “improve the content of its disposition letters to complainants to include sufficient information, whenever permitted by California law, to allow an objective reviewer to understand the rationale for ‘not-sustained’ findings.”

Dr. Rosenthal emphasized the importance of assuring complainants that their grievances were subject to an evidence-based review, even when allegations were not sustained.

This recommendation aims to increase transparency and build trust between the police Department and the community.

The assessment found that in some cases, the Department failed to interview all necessary witnesses or investigate all allegations, potentially compromising the thoroughness of investigations.

The Deputy Chief returned fourteen cases (18.4% of all investigations he has reviewed) for further investigation or documentation.

While the Department met the mandatory one-year statute of limitations for completing investigations in all cases, the report highlighted that almost one quarter of complaints could have been handled more expeditiously.

The report revealed stark differences in sustained rates between community-initiated complaints and internally generated complaints. Community-initiated complaints had a sustained rate of 12.1%, while internally generated complaints had a much higher sustained rate of 72.7%.

Among the 11 recommendations made in the report, Dr. Rosenthal suggested creating a disciplinary matrix to ensure fair and consistent discipline across the Department.

He also recommended considering video recording key interviews conducted by the Professional Standards Unit to enhance transparency and accountability.

A significant recommendation with long-term implications was the report’s mention of the potential need for a police monitor or ombudsman role. A police monitor is a much more active role than the current independent auditor arrangement. A monitor observes in real time and sometimes participates in internal investigations of police misconduct, including critical incidents like officer-involved shootings.

Dr. Rosenthal proposed that the Department could benefit from an independent outside source to assist in ensuring thorough investigations and appropriate findings. This recommendation aligns with growing calls for increased civilian oversight of police Departments nationwide.

Members of the Pasadena Community Police Oversight Commission, which received the report during its July 11 meeting, expressed concern over the findings. Commissioners emphasized the need for improved transparency and community engagement in the complaint process.

Commissioner Raúl Ibáñez highlighted the importance of the report’s recommendations.

“This is very much connecting to future work for us as a body, as a Commission, and how do we with laser focus stay honed in on this particular topic and continue to track how we might achieve this goal,” Ibáñez said.

The Police Department has not yet provided a formal response to the report’s findings and recommendations.

Chief Eugene Harris, present at the Commission meeting, said the Department would take time to thoroughly review the assessment. The Department has decided to provide a written or oral response at the September 2024 Community Police Oversight Commission meeting.