Panel backs police auditor
Report by Fresno Co. grand jury provides support for Autry's bid.
By Matt Leedy / The Fresno Bee 02/27/07
Mayor Alan Autry won an ally Monday in his effort to hire an independent watchdog to monitor the Fresno Police Department.
The Fresno County grand jury released a nine-page report saying such a move would give the public a better look inside the Police Department and bolster community trust.
Some Fresnans are suspicious of the police, fear that officers use racial profiling in deciding who to investigate, and believe internal police investigations are more likely to protect the police than the public, grand jurors concluded.
The Police Department must have the trust of the community to be effective, Autry has said, and an independent monitor, or "auditor," would elevate the public's faith in officers.
The grand jury is the latest in a long line of groups to weigh in on whether Fresno needs a police auditor who could investigate complaints and provide an impartial report of police actions.
Although Chief Jerry Dyer back's Autry's idea, it lacks support from the City Council. Police unions have opposed the idea.
Deputy Mayor Roger Montero said the grand jury's report will give Autry a little more leverage when he tries again this year to convince the council to create the position.
The auditor position will likely be in Autry's proposed budget this spring, Montero said. "We don't see any reason to wait."
City staffers have estimated a police auditor and a staff assistant would cost about $180,000 a year.
The grand jury listed three reasons to hire an auditor:
Residents will feel confident that their complaints against the Police Department are thoroughly investigated.
The city will save money in court costs and financial settlements stemming from lawsuits against the department.
The professionalism of good police officers can be confirmed by an independent source.
The report says similar-size California cities have independent police oversight, including Sacramento, Long Beach and Riverside.
Autry has made similar arguments for an auditor, calling it an indispensable component for the Police Department.
Last year, Autry asked the council to let voters decide the issue by putting it on a ballot. Council members, however, turned away the idea, saying they were elected to watch over the city's various departments.
Montero spoke on Autry's behalf Monday while the mayor made arrangements for his mother's funeral.
"We believe an independent police auditor is the best way in the police business to prove we have the best police force in the country," Montero said. "We believe the council will see this sooner or later. We have to respect the findings of the grand jury."
But Council Member Jerry Duncan, a longtime opponent of a police auditor, said the position still isn't needed.
"I don't feel there is any significant level of mistrust about what our officers are doing," Duncan said. "The most accountable independent review is done by the City Council.
"If all of the sudden there was a lot of bizarre things going on, and issues of trust, I'd support an auditor. But that's not the case."
Several community organizations argue an independent auditor is needed.
Shortly after forming in 2000, the Central California Criminal Justice Committee began its push for independent police oversight. The committee -- which includes community activists -- got its start when a group of black residents complained they were being unfairly targeted for traffic stops by police.
Committee members were interviewed by the grand jury while it researched the issues. And on Monday the committee applauded the report.
"You need to have someone impartial to look at the policies and procedures they have in place," said Gloria Hernandez, a committee member.