PASADENA : Plan for Citizen Oversight of Police Matters Advances

After almost two years of study and debate, the Pasadena City Council has tentatively approved Police Chief Jerry Oliver’s plan to place civilians on advisory boards to review complaints against the department and to recommend discipline for officers.

The council’s 5-1 decision on Tuesday is a step toward establishing three panels to review use of force, disciplinary actions and property damage involving police officers, including crashes involving police cars. A final vote is expected April 11.

The council moved ahead with the plan even though no one seemed entirely satisfied.

Several residents complained that the advisory boards would have no enforcement authority and too few civilians. Police union spokesmen, meanwhile, complained that they did not have enough input into the plan and are not happy about having civilians on the panels.

But council members, noting that Oliver first proposed the panels in 1992, said they will take another look at the plan in six to eight months.