Publication Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Editorial: HRC 'police review' role needs definition
Editorial: HRC 'police review' role needs definition
(February 16, 2005) Human Relations Commission assigned delicate advisory role on Palo Alto Police Department in areas of race and ethnic relations
Lacking votes for anything stronger, the Palo Alto City Council has thrown a hot potato to the city's Human Relations Commission without clarity on exactly what it expects.
It's hardly a fair trade-off on an emotionally charged issue, and the council's vote last week didn't leave anyone really happy.
The issue of how police officers treat persons of color and varied ethnic backgrounds has haunted the Palo Alto department for years, as it has other departments. "Racial profiling" statistics indicate officers routinely stop more persons of black or Hispanic backgrounds than they do whites. Several high-profile cases in recent years brought this underlying matter to an angry head..
What is meant by "police review" will be more closely defined in coming weeks by City Manager Frank Benest -- who has official police-oversight responsibility under the City Charter -- and a subcommittee of HRC members meeting with Police Chief Lynne Johnson, who supports the council action. Given the vagueness, we are skeptical about the outcome of what seems to be a task about which even HRC members have expressed doubts.
Johnson is keeping the Police Officers Association (POA) informed so officers do not over-react to something that many dislike or even fear. No one likes to feel someone is looking over their shoulder, and officers are no exception -- particularly when those looking are civilians without training or experience in front-line stresses of police work.
But officers have huge power over people's lives, and police singling out or even mistreating individuals is a national problem. Being stopped for "driving while black" is a bitter joke among minorities.
The two Palo Alto officers who did most to create the current angry climate in Palo Alto -- when they pulled Gunn High School coach Albert Hopkins, who is black, from his car and allegedly beat and maced him in July 2003 -- are scheduled to go to trial March 7 on criminal charges.
Yet it is disturbing that the internal administrative report on the incident determined that their actions followed departmental policies. There is a serious disconnect here that needs addressing if the relations with all segments of our community are to be healed.
The real significance of the council action last week is the policy decision to create external review. Most cities still have none.
In choosing the advisory-review route, the council turned away from two other approaches: the "police auditor model" being used in San Jose and the formal police review board used in Berkeley and some other cities.
Johnson has been meeting regularly with the HRC and personally is committed to improving relations with minorities and putting in place protocols, training and internal procedures to support that. They are co-sponsoring a "building trust and respect" community meeting Wednesday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, 505 East Charleston Road.
Even Councilwoman LaDoris Cordell, a former judge and a leading advocate of outside oversight, said Johnson "does care that all who live and work in this city are treated fairly by her officers." But the data are there, she noted in pushing for stronger action.
The new HRC role closely parallels another policy: installing digital videocameras in patrol cars to record traffic stops and arrests. The camera system went out to bid this week, and policies will reflect those of the International Chiefs of Police Association and state police agencies.
Johnson says an "always on" policy sought by some could triple the cost of the system due to extra digital storage needed. Given the current climate, that might be worth the investment, as cameras protect both the rights of those stopped and officers. Using cameras elsewhere has resulted in sharp drops in complaints and lawsuits against police.
There is no excuse for any officer to single out persons based on race or ethnic background for special attention or treatment, physically or verbally. As we have suggested in the past, officer training must emphasize keeping cool in the face of hostility and verbal abuse from people stopped. This is a core test of professionalism and is irrespective of someone's race or ethnic background -- or age, gender or attitude, for that matter.
The combination of appropriately used cameras, training, internal procedures/discipline and now a mechanism for responsible external review could help dispel the lingering cloud of suspicions about the department -- but only if officials develop more clarity about what needs to be done and who should do what.
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