1 Vernice Hankins
From: Joanne Berlin <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 8:56 AM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Input for item 3E on the 11/15/22 City Council Agenda
EXTERNAL
Dear Santa Monica City Council Members ,
Once again the SMPOA is attempting to undercut the effectiveness of the SMPSROC by their current threat of a lawsuit which would demand the removal of 3 reform oriented commissioners from the Santa Monica Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission, ostensibly over absences from required training to be a commissioner (the result of a settlement reached with the Santa Monica Police Officers Association in reaction to their initial lawsuit threat during the formation of the PSROC). It is disturbing to see this organization, which serves as a union for police officers, using this threat of a lawsuit to sway the votes of the Council on a matter of membership.
To my knowledge, the police department has not made good faith attempts to accommodate the issues that prevented these commissioners from attending all of the mandated meetings. All 3 did attend the POA presented one in person at VAP, which was actually after the May 31st deadline. All 3 are willing to make up those sessions, but have not been offered any times to do so.
I urge you to not allow them to extend their political power in our city by further expanding their influence over this commission which was conceived as civilian oversight for police. It is unseemly for them to demand the removal of concerned citizens who are doing their best to help Santa Monica reimagine and have some oversight of our police department. I’m asking you to not be intimidated by their threatened lawsuit. Exercise your own power to help broker a better way forward.
Thank you for considering community input,
Joanne Berlin
Coordinator for the Committee For Racial Justice
Concerned member of the Santa Monica community since 1996 Item 3.E
11/15/22
1 of 2 Item 3.E
11/15/22
1 Vernice Hankins
From: Peter DiChellis <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 1:28 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra
Cc: POA; Community Affairs; Ramon Batista
Subject: Agenda Item 3E PSROC & Litigation
EXTERNAL
The three PSROC members who skirted their legally required training obligations must be removed.
Suggest replacing them with experienced individuals who have professional law enforcement credentials and a willingness to fully study the issues, rather than appointing yet more learning-resistant amateurs.
Sincerely,
Peter DiChellis - Unaffiliated moderate
Santa Monica 90403
Item 3.E
11/15/22
2 of 2 Item 3.E
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