Building Community Trust with
Fair and Balanced Reform to
Increase Police Accountability
The problem: Members of our communities suffer life-threatening injuries or even death at the hands of police officers. The Police are policing themselves, and our communities do not trust the San Diego Police Department. There is no independent, trusted process for holding them accountable.
Too many San Diegans don’t have trust or confidence in the police department. And because of this, too many won’t call for help, too many won’t report crimes, and too many won’t speak up. This makes everyone less safe.
The commonsense solution: Establish a community-led independent Commission on Police Practices, created and controlled by the people, not politicians and not law enforcement.
Introducing the
Commission on Police Practices
In November 2020, San Diegans for Justice will put a measure on the ballot to replace the current Community Review Board on Police Practices with an independent Commission to bring public trust to the way SDPD is held accountable.
This real justice ballot measure in San Diego will need your help and support.
This new Commission will:
Conduct independent investigations into complaints of police misconduct that San Diegans can trust.
The new Commission will be required to use independent investigators not affiliated with SDPD. The current system is limited to only reviewing investigations conducted by the Internal Affairs Department of SDPD.
Require independent legal counsel with NO conflicts.
The current system relies on the City Attorney for advice and representation, but the City Attorney also advises and represents the Mayor and SDPD. Sound fair to you?
Subpoena law enforcement and non-law enforcement witnesses and their records as part of any investigation.
The current system depends on information passed on by law enforcement and offers no subpoena power for the public to discover the truth themselves.
Investigate cases like domestic violence by law enforcement.
The current system does not serve partners of police officers, who far too often fall through the cracks when they become victims of abuse.
Require evaluation of SDPD's compliance with Federal, State, and Local reporting laws and requirements.
The current system does not require the transparency necessary for the public to trust that SDPD complies with laws meant to protect the public from harm.
Create a fair and balanced commission.
The new Commission will have its own staff, policies and procedures to guarantee an independent, transparent, and trustworthy process for police accountability. The current system is vulnerable to political whims because it is run by the Mayor, who also oversees the SDPD, and has received campaign support from the Police Officer’s Association. Ordinary people do not feel that their communities are heard or that the current process can be trusted.
What Fair and Balanced Reform
Means for San Diego
With a truly independent Commission, community members will have the confidence and trust that their voices will be heard by investigators free from conflicts, special interest pressures, and politics. This will result in trust of police practices, a more accountable police force, and a safer city for ALL.
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Fewer incidents of misconduct, fewer officer involved shootings, and fewer in-custody deaths.
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Strengthened recruitment, especially among communities of color, for a more diverse SDPD that is actually representative of the communities they serve.
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Less confrontations that will result in less litigation against the City and a reduction in the cost of settlements and legal awards. More money and resources can be put toward programs that keep our people and community safe.
San Diegans Who Support
Fair and Balanced Reform
All Of Us or None
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American Friends Service Committee
AAPI Democratic Club
Black Men and Women United, San Diego
Blue Dream Democrats
Center for Policy Initiatives
Council on American Islamic Relations
Coalition of Labor Union Women
Clairemont Town Council
Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance
Community Assistance Support Team
Criminal Defense Lawyers Club
Democratic Socialists of America, San Diego
Democratic Women’s Club and San Diego
Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association
First Unitarian Universalist
Generation Justice
Hillcrest Town Council
Indivisible CA, Districts 52 & 53
La Jolla Democratic Club
La Jolla Shores Association
League of Women Voters, San Diego
Martin Luther King Jr. Democratic Club
Mid-City CAN
Mosques Against Trafficking
NAACP San Diego
National Action Network
National Lawyers Guild, San Diego Chapter
Ocean Beach Green Center
Older Women's League, San Diego Chapter
Pacific Beach Democratic Club
Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA)
Peace Resource Center
People's Alliance for Justice
People Over Profits, San Diego
Pillars of the Community
Pink Crescent
Rancho Peñasquitos Democratic Club
San Diegans for Criminal Justice Reform
San Diego Democrats for Equality
San Diego 350
San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association
San Diego Labor Democratic Club
San Diego Organizing Project (SDOP)
San Diego Racial Justice Coalition
San Diego County Young Democrats
Standing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
Tom Homann LGBT Law Association
UNITE HERE Local 30
United Against Police Terror, COPWATCH San Diego
United Domestic Workers AFSCME Local 3930
Uptown Democratic Club
Veterans Democratic Club
Veterans for Peace San Diego
Women Occupy San Diego
U.S. Representative Scott Peters
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez
County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher
Councilmember Barbara Bry
Councilmember Monica Montgomery
Councilmember Priya Bhat-Patel
Trustee Nora Vargas