Good Article in the Contra Costa Times about Police Oversight and the efforts to implement a Commission to oversee the Bart Police. In as much as I do agree with the article that most commissions are only able to make recommendations as it relates to oversight and policy, check and balances still do exist allowing the people to have a voice when it comes to the kind of Police department they engage with in their communities on a regular basis. The ability to make a complaint and have that complaint heard and changes made to the way sworn officers interact with the public goes a long way towards accountability, respect and the building of trust.
www.contracostatimes.com
I am posting this again as the comment by the BPA representative touched a nerve with several commissioners on the Police Review Commission. To dismiss the work of the commission off hand by stipulating "that the findings are never used" diminishes the hard work of oversight we do. The Commission has started a subcommittee to look into changes to the Ordinance so that we can truly be part of the disciplinary process and have our findings used and not dismissed.
Good Article in the Contra Costa Times about Police Oversight and the efforts to implement a Commission to oversee the Bart Police. In as much as I do agree with the article that most commissions are only able to make recommendations as it relates to oversight and policy, check and balances still do exist allowing the people to have a voice when it comes to the kind of Police department they engage with in their communities on a regular basis. The ability to make a complaint and have that complaint heard and changes made to the way sworn officers interact with the public goes a long way towards accountability, respect and the building of trust.
www.contracostatimes.com
I am posting this again as the comment by the BPA representative touched a nerve with several commissioners on the Police Review Commission. To dismiss the work of the commission off hand by stipulating "that the findings are never used" diminishes the hard work of oversight we do. The Commission has started a subcommittee to look into changes to the Ordinance so that we can truly be part of the disciplinary process and have our findings used and not dismissed.
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