Police Auditor Wants to Explore New Outreach Methods After Low Turnout Plagued Community Meetings

Thursday night, Pasadena’s Independent Police Auditor Teresa Magula reported unanticipated challenges with generating community engagement at recent meetings she held to get public input.

Despite organizing two community meet-and-greet sessions, attendance was low. Magula attributed the outcome partly to inclement weather and community hesitation.

“It’s quite a big ask to have people come into a space where they may not know what to expect,” Magula told commissioners during the May 8 Community Police Oversight Commission meeting.

Magula expressed particular concern about the session held in Spanish at Villa Parke, acknowledging the “political climate, which we find ourselves in.”

“Having said that, I was very grateful for the community that did show up, that did express their challenges, their concerns, their questions,” Magula said.

She described meaningful interactions that occurred despite limited attendance, including personal stories shared by residents.

Magula reported that in one case, a community member’s concerns resulted in the review of a previously closed complaint.

Another incident at Tuesday evening’s most recent session prompted immediate action from Police Chief Gene Harris and Deputy Chief Art Chute, who were both present and “on the phone finding solutions” for a resident’s unresolved issue, according to Magula.

She also said there was “a lot of gratitude for the police and for the work that’s done here in Pasadena by the department.”

To improve future outreach efforts, Magula proposed hosting smaller gatherings in more comfortable settings and ensuring “sufficient notice, sufficient publicity” for events.

“We may look to host some sessions that are smaller, that are in homes, that are in churches — spaces that perhaps feel a little more welcoming and comfortable to the people that we’re trying to reach,” she said.

Commissioner Juliana Serrano praised Magula’s ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking residents.

“For folks to be able to speak in their native tongue and communicate with you and you are great listener…I just want to say thank you for that,” Serrano said, adding that these smaller, more intimate settings could help community members better understand the commission’s purpose.

Several commissioners suggested additional outreach locations.

Commissioner Florence Annang recommended the job center to reach day laborers, noting that an attendee at a previous meeting felt “the other day laborers should have heard what you were saying.”

Other suggested venues included “Jackie Robinson the senior” center and “Jackie Robinson, the old center,” described as “the hub for African-Americans.”

Beyond community engagement, Magula reported on several ongoing projects. She said she has reviewed 13 closed vehicle pursuit cases out of 42 total pursuits in 2024 and recently attended a pursuit training hosted by the Air Operations unit. Her findings report, focusing on best practices and policy recommendations, is expected in July. She said she continues to review critical incidents and regularly attends the department’s review boards.

Magula also mentioned progress on a mediation program being developed in collaboration with the Los Angeles city attorney’s office. The program will utilize trained volunteer mediators, which she noted was “the best news” because it means “this program can move forward whether or not we have funding.”