I attended a meeting of the Coalition For Police Review Thursday evening at 5:30 It was not a big crowd but the average level of education could be characterized as “member of the bar”. There will be another meeting at 5:30 Monday March 6th and I highly reccomend attending. Tuesday there is a planned press conference at the court house to announce the planned civilian police review board for the city of Eureka. While many complaints come in concerning county law enforcement that are not examined in this high crime county the scope is too large at this point. Just the number of person hours required to circulate the petition for signatures is the first concern and it is hoped that such review boards in Arcata and Eureka will set a precedent and be an inspiration to others.
If you have ever complained to a law enforcement agency, the Humboldt County Grand Jury or the California Attorney General you will understand the problem. Rather than deal with the huge number of complaints they are all summarialy dismissed in the guise of “supporting our men and womwn in uniform”. Allowing shoddy police work, lazy targetting of the most innocent members of society rather that actual criminals etc is not supporting law enfoecement and is making us all less safe.
I obtained a copy of the Arcata Police Review Act of 2006 and it can be viewed here in pdf form.