1 City of Pomona
Police Oversight Commission
Annual Report
January 2025 – December 2025
Introduction
The Police Oversight Commission (POC) exists to promote transparency, accountability, and meaningful community engagement in the civilian oversight of policing in the City of Pomona.
During the 2025 calendar year, the Commission continued its work of reviewing police practices, monitoring complaint and use-of-force oversight through the Inspector General process, engaging with community members, and strengthening its operational foundation.
This report provides a narrative summary of the Commission’s activities, discussions, and actions during 2025, based exclusively on approved 2025 meeting minutes and, where minutes were not available, the December 9, 2025, agenda. The report is intended to inform the Pomona City Council and the public of the Commission’s work and to document how the Commission carried out its ordinance-mandated responsibilities during the year Commission Structure and Meeting Schedule
The Police Oversight Commission is a five-member body that met regularly during 2025, generally on the second Tuesday of each month in public session. Meetings were conducted in accordance with applicable open-meeting requirements and included opportunities for public comment.
As reflected in the 2025 meeting record, Commission membership during the year included:
• Eunice Russell, Chair
• Brian Brooks, Vice-Chair (since February 2025)
• Hanan Gibani, Commissioner
• Tremale Ratcliffe, Commissioner (resigned October 2025) • Armando Yanez, Commissioner (appointed and seated in October 2025 replacing Eric Vasquez)
A vacancy existed during portions of the year as reflected in staff communications and meeting rosters. During the October 14, 2025, meeting, Commissioner Tremale Ratcliffe verbally submitted his resignation from the Commission.
During Commission discussion, concerns were raised regarding the City Council process used to select a new commissioner. It was stated on the record that the process was viewed as questionable, because the selected individual was as a former student of the Mayor. The Mayor participated on the City Council’s ad hoc committee involved in the selection of the new commission member. The full City Council did not have the opportunity to review any of the candidates, the entire review process was conducted instead by the ad hoc committee. These concerns were noted during Commission discussion; no formal Commission action was taken.
ATTACHMENT NO. 1
2 Overview of Commission Activities in 2025 Establishment of Annual Priorities and Governance At the outset of 2025, the Commission reviewed its oversight role and continued to refine its governance practices. At the February 11, 2025, meeting, the Commission conducted its annual selection of officers, continuing Eunice Russell as Chair and selecting Brian Brooks as Vice-Chair. The Commission also established ad hoc committees to advance specific initiatives, including Community Awareness Day planning and preparation of the annual report. Throughout the year, the Commission addressed procedural matters such as attendance, quorum requirements, meeting scheduling, and agenda planning to ensure continuity of operations and compliance with open-meeting requirements. Review of Police Department Reporting Throughout 2025, the Commission consistently reviewed Pomona Police Department (PPD) monthly reports during public meetings. Commissioners asked questions and sought clarification regarding the structure and content of these reports, with particular emphasis on complaint tracking, investigation status, use-of-force reporting, youth diversion data, and enforcement activity related to quality-of-life concerns. Commissioners repeatedly requested clearer, more consistent, and more comprehensive reporting in order to support effective oversight and enhance public understanding. These requests were raised during multiple meetings and reflected an ongoing effort to improve transparency rather than isolated concerns. Inspector General Oversight and Reporting Throughout 2025, the Commission received regular updates from the Inspector General regarding complaint investigations and use-of-force matters. Early in the year, during review of the Inspector General’s initial reporting to the Commission, concerns were expressed that the report lacked sufficient detail, analytical depth, and consistency to fully support the Commission’s oversight responsibilities. The Chair requested that future Inspector General reports adhere to higher and more consistent professional standards, including clearer organization, substantive analysis, and uniform presentation to ensure meaningful review and transparency for the public. The Commission continues to receive Inspector General communications throughout the year and emphasized the importance of accurate, consistent reporting to ensure meaningful oversight. Special Report Regarding Pomona Police Department Interaction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) During 2025, the Commission received a special report and briefing from the Chief of Police addressing questions raised by commissioners and members of the public regarding the Pomona Police Department’s interaction with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 3 As reflected in the meeting record, the Pomona Police Department does not engage in immigration enforcement and does not conduct operations on behalf of ICE. The Department’s role is limited to compliance with applicable state and federal law and is focused on local public safety responsibilities rather than civil immigration matters. It was further explained that when ICE operates within the City of Pomona, it does so independently and not at the direction of, or in coordination with, the Pomona Police Department, except as required by law. Commissioners asked questions to ensure clarity for the public regarding the Department’s position on immigration enforcement. The discussion reflected broader community concerns related to trust, transparency, and understanding of law enforcement’s role in immigration-related activities. Youth Diversion Oversight Youth diversion oversight was a recurring topic during 2025. Commissioners reviewed youth diversion statistics included in monthly police reports and asked questions regarding eligibility, referrals, outcomes, and program implementation. The Commission agendized future presentations to receive more detailed updates and sought information that would allow both the Commission and the public to better understand how the program operates and its impact. Community Engagement and Public Communication Public comment was received at each regular meeting, and community concerns were an integral part of Commission discussions throughout the year. Topics raised by the public included neighborhood safety, homelessness-related concerns, quality-of-life enforcement, and expectations regarding police responsiveness. The Commission also received invitations and communications from community organizations, including an invitation from the Optimist Club to attend its Respect for Law and Officer of the Year event. Detective Diana Hernandez was the recipient of the Optimist Club of Pomona and Pacific Southeast District Officer of the Year Award. The award recognizes Pomona officers for their service and professionalism, and the Commission acknowledged the importance of community recognition of our department’s law enforcement efforts consistent with public trust and accountability. Community Awareness Program A significant focus of the Commission’s work during 2025 was the development of a Community Awareness Program intended to strengthen public understanding of policing, civilian oversight, and available community resources. The program was conceived as an educational and engagement-focused initiative rather than an enforcement-oriented activity and was designed as a Commission-led public education forum. As discussed during multiple meetings, the goals of the Community Awareness Program included increasing public understanding of the role and authority of the Police Oversight Commission; educating residents on how to file complaints, request information, and participate in oversight processes; promoting awareness of youth diversion and prevention-oriented programs; and fostering constructive dialogue between the community and law enforcement. Planning emphasized accessibility and the use of clear informational materials designed to demystify police procedures and civilian oversight mechanisms. 4 In support of these goals, the Commission established a Community Awareness Day Ad Hoc Committee and engaged in planning discussions throughout the year. The Commission’s decision in August 2025 to revise and update its public-facing brochure was directly tied to this effort, reflecting the Commission’s intent to ensure that residents have clear, accurate information about the Commission’s purpose and how to engage with it. As discussed during 2025 meetings, Community Awareness Day is scheduled to be held in February in the Pomona City Council Chambers and will be conducted in both English and Spanish to ensure accessibility for a broader segment of the community. Noteworthy Meetings and Developments • July 2025: No meeting was held due to lack of quorum. • August 2025: The Commission reconvened with a full quorum, approved prior minutes, addressed quorum and attendance procedures, approved revisions to Commission outreach materials, received public comment regarding neighborhood safety and community events, and agendized future youth diversion updates. • October 2025: A new commissioner, Armando Yanez, was introduced and seated; Commissioner Tremale Ratcliffe submitted his resignation. • November 2025: The Commission convened at a special meeting to establish an Annual Report Ad Hoc Committee and discuss preparation of this report. • December 2025: The posted agenda reflected continued discussion of monthly police reporting, Inspector General updates, youth diversion, use-of-force oversight, Community Awareness Day planning, and Commission business. Alignment With Ordinance Duties The Commission’s activities during 2025 reflected its ordinance-mandated responsibilities to provide civilian oversight, enhance transparency, monitor complaints and use-of-force investigations through the Inspector General process, engage with community concerns, and report annually to the City Council. These responsibilities were carried out through regular public meetings; ongoing review of Police Department reporting; receipt and discussion of Inspector General communications; repeated requests for improved reporting standards; establishment of ad hoc committees to advance outreach and reporting; and direct engagement with community members through public comment. Record Limitations Approved minutes for the December 9, 2025, meeting were not available at the time this report was prepared. The December agenda was used solely to identify topics scheduled for discussion, without attribution of specific actions, motions, or outcomes. Conclusion During 2025, the Police Oversight Commission continued to strengthen its oversight role through consistent review of police reporting, engagement with the Inspector General process, 5 attention to youth diversion, development of a Community Awareness Program, and sustained community engagement. While challenges related to reporting quality, staffing changes, and record availability persisted, the Commission remained focused on advancing transparency, accountability, and public trust. This Annual Report is submitted to the Pomona City Council in fulfillment of the Commission’s annual reporting obligation and to provide the public with a clear and accurate account of the Commission’s work during the 2025 calendar year.