2021 ANNUAL REPORT
COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION
CITY OF RIVERSIDE
3900 Main Street, 7th Floor, Riverside, CA
(951) 826-5509 | Fax: (951) 826-2568 | RiversideCA.gov/CPRC
1 MISSION
The mission of the Community Police Review Commission is to promote public confidence in the professionalism and accountability of the sworn staff of the Riverside Police Department (RPD). The CPRC accomplishes this mission by conducting an independent review of officer-involved death (OID) cases and citizen complaints. The CPRC or the CPRC Manager may request independent investigation services to obtain further information about OIDs or complaints. The CPRC may recommend changes in RPD policy and maintains community relationships through continuous public outreach efforts.
PURPOSE
The Mayor and City Council nominate and appoint all nine Commissioners of the CPRC. In order to fairly represent the City, that membership is distributed among all wards of the City. Commissioners serve four-year terms and may only serve two terms for a total of eight years. By ensuring an independent and thorough review of all OID and complaint cases brought before the Commission, the CPRC is able to advise the Mayor and City Council on all police and community relations issues. Case review findings and suggestions are also shared with the City Manager and Police Chief.
Although ensuring the Mayor and those mentioned above stay informed, the CPRC strives to make the greatest impact while serving the citizens of Riverside. The CPRC is tasked with ensuring good relations between the Riverside Police Officers and the community they serve. The Commission’s efforts serve to increase public trust in the Riverside Police Department. It seeks to provide the public with the assurance that any allegations of misconduct lodged against a sworn officer will be fairly and thoroughly reviewed.
Through public outreach efforts, the CPRC provides a forum whereby community members can express their opinions and seek answers about the Police Department. Complaints, concerns or suggestions can immediately be shared with the Police Chief and appropriate staff thereby improving the quality of service provided by the Police Department. In addition, the CPRC educates the public on the purpose of the Commission.
11 Figure 2 illustrates the 46 allegations logged from the 27 cases reviewed by the Commission.
COMPLAINT CASE REVIEW
In 2021, the Commission reviewed and closed a total of 27 complaint cases containing 46 allegations. At years end, there were a total of 2 cases with completed investigations remaining for the Commission’s review.
“Reviewed” refers to the cases for which the Commission received the investigation case files and made findings in Closed Session review.
Reviewed
96%
Pending
Review
4%
Below, Figure 1 identifies the cases reviewed in 2021 vs. the cases remaining for the Commission’s review by the end of 2021.
20 6 10 1 1 2 6
0 5
10 15
20 25
Discourtesy Exceeding
Lawful Peace
Officer Powers
Failure to Take
Responsible
Action
Safety Unsatisfactory
Work
Performance
Violation of
Department
Provisions
Wrongful
Exercise of
Authority
1 4
6 0 1
4 1 0
5 25
2 5
0 2
4 0 0
8 25
Exonerated Frivolous Incomplete Inquiry Not Sustained Other Judicial Review
Prev. Admin
Review
Sustained Unfounded
RPD CPRC
2021 COMPLAINT COMPARISON FINDINGS
RPD VS. CPRC
Figure 3 provides data comparing the complaint case findings of the 46 allegations reviewed by the Riverside Police Department (RPD) and Community Police Review Commission (CPRC). Each of the entities independently reach findings on allegations.
FINDINGS AND DISPOSITIONS OF PERSONNEL COMPLAINTS:
Sustained: When the investigation discloses sufficient evidence to establish that the act occurred and that it constituted misconduct.
Not Sustained: When the investigation discloses that there is insufficient evidence to sustain the complaint or fully exonerate the employee.
Unfounded: When the investigation discloses that the alleged act(s) did not occur or did not involve department personnel.
Exonerated: When the investigation discloses that the alleged act occurred, but that the act was justified, lawful and/or proper.
Incomplete: A matter in which the complaining party either refuses to cooperate or becomes unavailable after diligent follow-up investigation. At the discretion of the assigned supervisor and the Internal Affairs Bureau, such matters need not be documented as personnel complaints, but may be further investigated, depending on the seriousness of the complaint and the availability of sufficient information.
Previous Administrative Review: A matter in which the actions of the employee(s) have been determined to be within policy in a previous Supervisor Administrative Review or other administrative investigation. If no further information is provided or discovered, beyond the facts already known at the time of the Previous Administrative Review, the Department supervisor, with approval of his or her commanding officer and the Internal Affairs Lieutenant, may classify the allegation with a finding of Previous Administrative Review.
Inquiry: If an uninvolved supervisor determines that a citizen is merely requesting clarification of a policy or procedure, or the alleged misconduct or improper job performance, even if true, would not constitute a violation of law or Department policy or procedure, the supervisor, with approval of his or her commanding officer and the Internal Affairs Lieutenant, may classify the matter as an inquiry and need not take a complaint.
Other Judicial Review: This classification is intended to address two types of complaints: Civil Matters or Court Proceedings.
Frivolous: Complaints that are totally and completely without merit, or which are made for the sole purpose of harassing a police employee may be classified with a finding of Frivolous as approved by the Internal Affairs Lieutenant or a chief officer.
3 OFFICER-INVOLVED DEATH(S) (OID)
The Riverside City Charter defines the ability of the Community Police Review Commission to review and investigate officer-involved deaths. Charter Section 810, empowers the Commission “to review and investigate the death of any individual arising out of or in connection with actions of a sworn police officer, regardless of whether a complaint regarding such death has been filed.” Immediately upon the death of a person arising out of or in connection with the actions of a sworn police officer, a criminal investigation commences. The Riverside Police Department (RPD) conducts the criminal investigation, which includes gathering physical evidence, obtaining statements from involved parties and witnesses, and gathering reports from all involved officers.
Information regarding OID cases can be found on the Commission’s website below:
RiversideCA.gov/CPRC
The Commission did not review any officer-involved death cases in 2021.
IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COMMISSION ACTIVITY
Commission community outreach efforts were significantly impacted by the CDC restrictions. Despite the pandemic, the Commission successfully held nine commission meetings and met case review timelines.
2021 COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION
TRAINING, SEMINARS & CONFERENCES
Training presentations are generally conducted during the open session of the Commission’s Regular Meetings and the public is encouraged to attend. Commissioners also attend training classes and seminars outside Regular Meeting training presentations. The following list includes, but is not limited to, training presentations, seminars and/or conferences that the Commission and/or Commissioner(s) took part during 2021:
• Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan
• Control Devices and Techniques
• Public Safety Engagement Team Overview
• Integrating Communications Assessment and Tactics
• Assembly Bill 953 - Racial and Identity Profiling
• CPRC Marketing Opportunities
• Assembly Bill 1506
• Riverside Police Department Dispatch Operations
• Parks and Neighborhood Safety Specialist Program
• 2021 NACOLE Conference
Eileen Teichert, Chair, Citywide
Norma Berrellez, Vice Chair, Ward 6
City Support Staff:
Megan Stoye, CPRC Manager
Frank Hauptmann, CPRC Consultant
Phil DeBrier, Ward 4
Artemese Evans, Ward 5
Isaac Hirales, Ward 1
Abel Huerta, Ward 7
Michael Levine, Citywide
Michael Bumcrot, Independent Investigator
Mercedes Daems, Secretary