Press conference announcement

Press Conference to address Measure II
Legacy of the Tyisha Miller Killing – Justice Served

Community Police Review Commission Created in Response to Her Case

Protecting us is their duty. Ensuring that they are fair, firm and consistent is the community’s duty. Riverside Coalition for Police Accountability (RCPA) is a broad based community coalition with representatives from numerous organizations and a long-term commitment to community involvement in oversight of the police.

RCPA has been educating and encouraging voters in Riverside to vote “Yes” on Measure II, a proposed amendment that would make the Community Police Review Commission (CPRC) part of the Riverside City Charter.

Bill Howe, a Retired Police Chief of UCR from 1983-1988 is a strong supporter of Measure II. According to Mr. Howe, “When I was a working police chief, I was against police oversight, however, since I retired and have seen some of the things that have happened in law enforcement, like the Tyisha Miller case, I have changed my mind and believe police oversight is needed.”

WHAT: Community response to voter decision on Measure II
WHO: Linda Dunn, Spokesperson for the Riverside Coalition for Police Accountability, and representatives of the Riverside City Council, the Community Police Review Commission, and the Tyisha Miller Steering Committee
WHERE: Zacatecas Restaurant, 2472 University Ave., Riverside, CA.
WHEN: 10pm – November 2, 2004 “Election Night Event”

The press is cordially invited to attend.

Endorsements for YES on Measure II

The following organizations and individuals have endorsed Measure II:

• Ronald O. Loveridge, Mayor
• Dom Betro, Riverside City Council member, Ward 1
• Ameal Moore, Riverside City Council member, Ward 2
• Nancy Hart, Riverside City Council member, Ward 6
• The Group
• Latino Network
• Inland Valley Friends (Quakers)
• The Green Party County Council (Riverside County)
• Riverside Women’s Democratic Club
• Marjorie M. Mikels, Democratic Candidate for California State Senate, 31st District
• Louis Vandenberg, Democratic Candidate for the 44th Congressional District
• Robert Melsh, Democratic Candidate for the California State Assembly, 64th District
• Rev. Dr. Jerry Louder (President, U.S. Pastors’ Association)
• Rev. Dr. Jesse Wilson, Kansas Avenue SDA Church
• Rev. Paul S. Munford, New Joy Baptist Church
• Mustafa Kuko, Director, Islamic Center of Riverside
• Bill Howe, retired Chief of Police
• Kevin Akin, California State Chair, Peace and Freedom Party
• Dr. Larnel and Victoria Jackson
• Jack B. Clark, Jr.
• Alfredo Figueroa, Assistant Dean of Students, UCR
• The Black Voice News
• Democratic Club of Greater Riverside
• Social Action Committee of the Universalist-Unitarian Church of Riverside
• Dr. Bill Hendrick, RUSD
• Woodie Ruckert-Hughes
• NAACP, Riverside Chapter
• Mary Figueroa, Riverside Community College Board of Trustees
• Jose Medina, Riverside Community College Board of Trustees
• Mark Takano, Riverside Community College Board of Trustees
• Bob Buster, Riverside County Supervisor, District 1
• The Press-Enterprise
• Katie Greene
• Dennis Garcia
• Lt. Michael Crichton, retired, Riverside County Sheriff's Department
• Bill Medina
• Central Labor Council of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties
• Chani Beeman
• Jane Block

Mock debate on Measure II

The RCPA invited the Riverside Police Officers Association (RPOA) to a public debate on Measure II... but the RPOA declined to attend or to participate so we will instead hold a mock debate as follows:

DATE: Tuesday, October 26, 2004.
TIME: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
PLACE: On the downtown Riverside pedestrian mall, beside the commemorative statue of Martin Luther King, Jr., in front of City Hall.

We regret that the RPOA is not willing to engage in dialogue on Measure II.

We issued this invitation to the President of the RPOA:

October 19, 2004

Pat McCarthy, President
Riverside Police Officers Association
8543 Indiana Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504
Phone: 351-1199
email: pmccarthy@riversideca.gov

Dear Officer McCarthy:

The Riverside Coalition on Police Accountability (RCPA) invites the Riverside Police Officers Association to participate in a debate on Measure II. The debate will be held on Tuesday, October 26th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm on the outdoor stage near the front entrance to City Hall.

This will be an opportunity to bring to the citizens of Riverside the reasons why the Community Police Review Commission should, or should not become part of the City Charter.

The RCPA agrees to share the responsibilities by having each side submit four questions. We suggest having co-moderators, one to be appointed by RCPA and one by the Riverside Police Officers Association. RCPA plans to have a response panel of two or three people and you are welcome to do the same. We will provide a timekeeper.

We propose that the debate be held according to the following guidelines:
1. Each moderator will present up to four questions;
2. Each side will be given two minutes to respond and one minute for rebuttal;
3. The co-moderators will alternate questions from those provided by the two sides; and,
4. There will be an opportunity for one follow-up question by each co-moderator.

Please reply to me, the RCPA Chair, by email at deborah.wong@ucr.edu. Confirm your acceptance and provide the name of your co-moderator by noon Friday, October 22, 2004. You are welcome, also, to submit the names of your panel members. If you prefer to submit your four questions at this time, let us know and we will provide you with our questions.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Deborah Wong, RCPA Chair

Proposed addition to the City Charter

If passed, Measure II would add the following section of text to the Riverside City Charter:

Sec. 810. Community police review commission.

There shall be a community police review commission which shall have the power and duty to:

(a) Advise the Mayor and City Council on all police/community relations issues.

(b) Conduct public outreach to educate the community on the purpose of the commission.

(c) Receive, and in its discretion, review and investigate citizen complaints against officers of the Riverside Police Department filed within six months of the date of the alleged misconduct in writing with the commission or any other City office as established by ordinance of the City Council.

(d) Review and investigate the death of any individual arising out of or in connection with actions of a police officer, regardless of whether a complaint regarding such death has been filed.

(e) Conduct a hearing on filed complaints or commission-initiated investigations when such hearing, in the discretion of the commission, will facilitate the fact finding process.

(f) Exercise the power of subpoena to require the attendance of witnesses, including persons employed by the City of Riverside, and the production of books and papers pertinent to the investigation and to administer oaths to such witnesses and to take testimony to the extent permissible by law. Subpoenas shall only be issued by the commission upon the affirmative vote of six commission members.

(g) Make findings concerning allegations contained in the filed complaint to the City Manager and Police Chief.

(h) Review and advise the Riverside Police Department in matters pertaining to police policies and practices.

(i) Prepare and submit an annual report to the Mayor and City Council on commission activities.

Note that the City Council would still have control over the CPRC's administration, e.g., its annual budget, designating the total number of commissioners, selecting commissioners from applicants, etc.

Measure II on the Sample Ballot published by the City of Riverside

IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE "II"

(Community Police Review Commission)

The current City Charter does not include the City's Community Police Review Commission as one of the enumerated City boards and commissions. The Community Police Review Commission was created by ordinance of the City Council in April of 2000.

If passed by a majority of voters, this measure would add the Community Police ReviewCommission to the Charter, with the same powers and duties as already established byordinance of the City Council. Such powers and duties would include the following:

(a) advise the Mayor and City Council on all police/community relations issues; (b) public outreach to educate the community on the purpose of the commission; (c) receipt and discretionary review and investigation of citizen complaints against officers of the Riverside Police Department filed within six months of the date of the alleged misconduct; (d) review and investigate the death of any individual arising out of or in connection with actions of a police officer; (e) conduct a hearing on filed complaints or commission-instigated investigations when such hearing, in the discretion of the commission, will facilitate the fact-finding process; (f) require the attendance of witnesses, through subpoena, and the production of books and papers at commission investigations; (g) make findings concerning allegations contained in the filed complaint; (h) advise the Riverside Police Department in matters pertaining to police policies and practices; and (i) prepare an annual report to the Mayor and City Council on commission activities.

If Measure "II" is approved, there would be no direct fiscal impact to the City. This measure would not impact the City Council's current obligations under Section 801 of the City Charter. Section 801 provides that the City Council shall budget funds which in its opinion are sufficient for the efficient and proper functioning of City boards and commissions.

By: City Attorney, City of Riverside

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure "II." If you desire a copy of the proposed Charter language, please call the City Clerk at 951-826-5557 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you or view the full text at www.riversideca.gov.