Pasadena’s Community Police Oversight Commission Meeting Set to Address Police Firearms Policy and Mediation Models

The Pasadena Community Police Oversight Commission will meet on Thursday to discuss community-police mediation models and a recommendation from the Policy Ad Hoc Committee that the Commission ask the Chief of Police to make a revision to the Department’s firearms policy.

The Commission’s meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Pasadena City Hall, located at 100 North Garfield Avenue in Room S249, Pasadena, California.

The meeting is open to the public and is an opportunity for community members to engage with the commission on matters related to community policing and oversight. The commission is responsible for reviewing police policies, practices, and procedures, as well as making recommendations to the City Council on ways to improve community-police relations and promote transparency.

The agenda for Thursday’s meeting includes a number of items related to the commission’s ongoing work. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments on matters not on the agenda before the commission moves on to its regular business.

The commission will then review and approve the minutes from its March 2, 2023, meeting. The commission will receive staff administrative updates before moving on to an informational report from the Independent Police Auditor (IPA). 

The IPA is an independent, civilian office that was established in 2015 to provide independent oversight of the Pasadena Police Department. The IPA’s mission is to promote public safety and trust in the police department by providing independent oversight, accountability, and transparency.

The commission will then move on to a discussion of community-police mediation models. Community-police mediation is a process that brings together community members and police officers to resolve conflict and build trust. The Commission will discuss the benefits and challenges of community-police mediation and whether it is a model that could be implemented in Pasadena.

Next, the commission will consider a recommendation from the Policy Ad Hoc Committee for the commission to approve and send a proposed letter to the Chief of Police regarding pointing of firearms policy language. This issue has been a source of concern for some community members, and the commission is interested in exploring ways to address it.

The Policy Ad Hoc Committee is a subcommittee of the Commission that is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on police department policies. The Committee has recommended that the Commission approve a firearms policy revision that more clearly defines when it is appropriate for officers to point their firearms at individuals.

The commission will then review and approve updates to its work plan. The work plan outlines the commission’s priorities and goals for the coming year and provides a roadmap for its activities. The commission will also provide information on upcoming agenda items and the next meeting, scheduled for May 4, 2023.