The Fullerton City Council moved item twelve, an update from Chief Hughes about the trial of two former officers acquitted of charges in the death of Kelly Thomas, to the beginning of its meeting agenda tonight. Of the fifty or so members of the public who spoke about the item, nearly a dozen expressed support for civilian oversight of the Fullerton Police Department. Following public comments of the issue, Councilman Bruce Whitaker reminded the audience that he did support a public police commission, and voted against the proposal to hire the Office of Independent Review to provide a lesser model of oversight through outside audits by Michael Gennaco’s OIR.
Councilwoman Jan Flory claimed that the subject was dealt with on two different occasions, and even cited a study session held at the new community center as an example of the council’s consideration of different models of oversight. Readers will recall that the Police Oversight Proposal Committee (POPC) was limited to less than ten minutes to present a model of public oversight following lengthy presentations by the chief of police and Michael Gennaco. Almost no discussion of the proposal took place at that time. There has never been a real public discussion of police oversight by the Fullerton City Council.
Readers will also recall that Ms. Flory was supported by the Fullerton Police Officers Association in the 2012 elections. The FPOA spent tens of thousands of dollars to ensure that they elected a candidate who would privilege their priorities over the interests of the public.
Ms. Flory claimed that the POPC proposal was in conflict with state legislation that protects police officers, and that the council was advised by lawyers that they should not adopt a civilian police commission.
Of course, The Peace Officers Bill of Rights does severely limit the public’s access to information about police misconduct, making real oversight somewhat complicated. But such civilian oversight is certainly not impossible, and is vital to a community where people can be beaten in the streets by the police and be found guilty of nothing by a jury.
Councilwoman Flory ought to take the public’s demands for civilian oversight more seriously. If she thinks state law is standing In the way of it, we will expect her leadership in efforts to change that law. We request that she contact our state legislators on behalf of the people of Fullerton to reform POBR.
fullertonrag.com 
Flory and her cohorts are a joke, a bad joke, aimed at those of us that voted for the recall.
Minions of the machine, part of which is the police union.
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Jennifer Fitzgerald speaking in regard to the need for Police Oversight, 9/17/2013: “I just don’t hear that in the community.”
Hey, Jennifer . .. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?!
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Not listening is a great way to guarantee not hearing.
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I AGREE!!!!!!
Can we say it any louder?
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These coward politicians in Fullerton, Anaheim, Garden Grove etc don’t see a need for civilian police oversight because they refuse to look. A patently obvious con on the people of Orange County, CA. I saw it first hand in Anaheim, Garden Grove and with the Rep. Loretta Sanchez.
The “police officer’s bill of rights” is the mechanism used in order to cover up police corruption. Chief Hughes’ love affair with the “Office of independent review” is a dynamic that perpetuates the false impression that there is oversight here in Orange County. I’ve witnessed way too much criminal activity on the part of OC law – there is no useful accountability here.
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So TRUE! They get in office with the MONEY and VOTES from the Police Union, so once in office they OWE THE POLICE FAVORS not the citizens of the community. They can give a rat’s ass about the community because they don’t donate MONEY and VOTES to the council members.
Crooked Politicians and Crony Capitalism run every government. They OWE favors. Its all B.S. The people need to rise against this!
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The Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act does not prevent a civilian police oversight committee; it only requires that if that oversight committee makes recommendations to the police department, and if those recommendations may form the basis for initiating discipline, that the peace officer be permitted to appeal the findings of the oversight committee. The confidentiality statutes you complain about–which are NOT part of the Bill of Rights Act, also do not prevent an oversight committee. See the 2008 case of Berkeley Police Officers Association v. City of Berkeley.
Now, for all of you NIMBYs that suddenly care about the homeless, please use the same energy to spend time helping the homeless and mentally ill. Whatever you do, please don’t be a hypocrite like Bax Baxter and pretend to stand up for the homeless through the Kelly Thomas beating, and then complain when the City Council considers establishing a homeless shelter near a school. You can’t have it both ways.
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Putting something you (otherwise) want in a location you think is inappropriate is not having it both ways. I may want a Jacuzzi, but I do not want it in the kitchen.
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Good point; bad analogy.
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The “confidentiality statutes” are Orwellian double speak for obstruction: lying by ommision is still lying – here is part of the rest of the story –
http://m.ocregister.com/articles/-225344–.html
Confidentiality statutes sounds so civil and proper don’t they.
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You may not be aware of this but Bax had Kelly in his home several times. Since this would’ve been before Kelly’s murder and it’s a little known fact, it’s hardly using the beating to stand up for the homeless. He continues to do many things for the homeless without attention.
Thank you for the rest of your info.
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