##LASD Oversight Meeting At East Los Angeles Library ###April 28, 2015 ####Comments/Notes
- Subpeona power is critical: not important, critical. Without subpeona power, there is no oversight as compliance would be optional at best and farsical at worst.
- A commission, if it is to objectively oversee the sheriff, must be comprised of individuals whose nexus to the criminal legal system is comprehensive rather than the proposed schemes which rely on judges, attorneys, the sheriff, and the county board of supervisors. A predominance of the members of a commission should come from the communities directly impacted by the actions of the sheriff's department. This means individuals who have had direct experience with the sheriff in an adversarial role/capacity.
- This commission has a unique opportunity to examine what policing and police oversight should look like in the 21st century. Such a re-imagination needs to happen as successful civilian oversight models are not readily available. It would be a missed opportunity and tragedy if recycling old and failed ideas rule the day under the banner of reform or oversight.
- The commission should publish its research of oversight models they evaluated in the process of identifying practices to be suggested and implemeneted in Los Angels County. This research should show the commission has performed its due dilligence to avoid replicating failed systems.
- When issues of commission budget are raised, it is important to factor the monetary value of stolen lives, broken families, at at the most base level, the cost of settlements or awards to victims of police misconduct. It makes sense to invest in oversight even if it is done simply to control costs so long as the goal is accountability & true public safety from police abuse/misconduct.