Clearly, Councilman Sam Liccardo is trying to make nice with Police Chief Rob Davis after blasting him for his “inflexible” leadership style in a recent Metro article. Today, the councilman made a point to give the chief a few little kudos at the afternoon City Council meeting.
The council was in the middle of discussing a timeline and process for the independent police consortium, which will be reviewing SJPD’s culture and tactics. Liccardo, who represents the downtown district, has been the most outspoken critic of the chief. But today, he was stroking Davis, suggesting that the chief was being a strong leader by allowing the police department to be scrutinized by outside researchers who will determine whether police are prone to racial or gender bias.
“I commend the chief,” Liccardo said from the dais, as he looked over at Davis. “You are taking a risk and I commend you for that. I agree that this is a leadership opportunity.”
The council went ahead and voted to hold off on making any commitments to the consortium for another two weeks. This will give the group time to ask more questions and allow community stakeholders to bring their concerns to the table.
In related business, five council members signed off on a memo asking the council to do something to help restore the public’s trust when hiring the next Independent Police Auditor. Thay called for a revamp of the process.
The new process, according to the memo, should seek public input on how to fill the watchdog position, given the charged emotions surrounding police issues at this time.
According to the memo, initiated by Councilwoman Nora Campos, the city attorney—not the mayor—should be put in charge of managing and overseeing the process for selecting the next IPA. This would ensure fairness and transparency, according to the memo.
“Removing this function from a political office at a time of controversy and intense public scrutiny is a sensible way to move forward and to begin to regain public trust,” the memo reads.
It hasn’t been too long ago that many considered Rick Doyle to be Gonzo’s lackey. If the same holds true under Reed, Nora may have proposed a pig in a poke.
BTW, anyone know who actually wrote the memo?
Debra Figone should head up the search and selection committee. Rick Doyle isn’t up to the task.
#2 wrote:“That SHOULD have whatv they believe is reality. If the SJPD think believe exists were to come the left would be calling Obama to save the day.”
HUH?
JMOC: Haha, ya…I read that too after I submitted it. It was the end of the day and I was tired.
My point was that they deserve exactly what they believe exists with SJPD. If racism actually were an institutionalized problem with our police dept our city would know it and the local rag, known as the Merc, would really have something to write about instead of working to create problems. Hope that clarifies what I was trying to say…
The leftists in this city deserve a police force that is out of control and rampant. That SHOULD have whatv they believe is reality. If the SJPD think believe exists were to come the left would be calling Obama to save the day. Raj and the army of hate will not satisfied until police officers in this city arrest only whites and not browns, blacks or yellows. The endless drumbeat of this BS that is disguised as reform will have officers allowing browns, blacks, and yellows to run over the city since stopping one is racist. Whites must be arrested! The statistics must be fair and even. A Task Force should be raised, and soon, to study means by which more whites can be arrested and the rainbow colors set free. Come on Raj, are you with me? You’ve won me over. Let’s go get em!