Matt Leslie
Citizen Committee Seeks Civilian Oversight of Fullerton Police Department in the Wake of Beating Death of Kelly Thomas, Reports of Abuse by Officers, Recent and Impending Lawsuits against FPD
FULLERTON, CA, The Police Oversight Proposal Committee (POPC) will host a public presentation on methods of police oversight Wednesday, July 11, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Fullerton Public Library Conference Center. The public are invited to attend. There is no admission charge.
Citizen Oversight committees are composed of community members who review complaints, look into claims of misconduct and harassment, and investigate instances of excessive force. Maria Hernandez-Figueroa and Eduardo Calderon, both students from California State University’s Masters of Public Administration Program will present their findings on civilian oversight of law enforcement agencies. Their analysis covers different forms of police oversight and the effectiveness of each to provide “lawfulness and legitimacy in policing” as well as the tracking and recording of public complaints, increasing accountability and transparency, and counteracting institutional conditions that lead to abuse.
Formed in the aftermath of the beating of Kelly Thomas by the officers of the Fullerton Police Department, the Police Oversight Proposal Committee has been meeting since November 2011. Responding to reports of abuse by FPD officers and lawsuits against the department, POPC’s ultimate purpose is to develop a proposal for meaningful and effective civilian oversight of the FPD to the Fullerton City Council.
The July 11 program will be facilitated by Dr. Jarret Lovell, Asst. Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice, CSUF. Following the presentation, the researchers will answer questions from the attending public.
The Fullerton Public Library Conference Center is located at 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832. Free parking is available on site.
For more information email fullertonpopc@me.com
The Police Oversight Proposal Committee (POPC), www.facebook.com/POPC2012
fullertonrag.com 
I like the idea of a Police Commission. Will remind the officers who they work for….
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How does a citizens commission know more about policing than the police department?
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Much of it is just common sense. We have other commissions in town that aren’t necessarily filled with experts in the field. A police commission is needed to be made aware of complaints. Most people know it’s not OK to receive multiple complaints about an officer and do next to nothing about it until the city has to settle a suit for $ 350,000. Come to the meeting to find out.
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So Joe Blow citizens who knows nothing about police work, who has never done it or been there is going to tell cops what to do? Great these liberals love to live under the umbrella of protection that cops provide and then question it…..The next time some 250lb. yoked up parolee breaks into your house, kicks your ass and then rapes your wife, don’t call the cops. Move to Mexico I hear their Justice System is great.
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