PASADENA>> Police Chief Phillip Sanchez announced Monday that he plans to hand over all future officer involved shooting investigations to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Sanchez made the announcement at the end of a meeting of the Public Safety Committee, a four council member group that is charged with oversight of the Police Department.

Sanchez said he felt LASD was the most qualified group to review officer involved shooting incidents.

“The Pasadena Police Department will retain administrative review based on the sheriff’s investigation, but I believe that will add an additional level of transparency,” Sanchez said. “It will also remove the theory that the fox is watching the hen house.”

In 2012, the fatal officer involved shooting of unarmed teen Kendrec McDade left many in the community asking for a new manner of oversight for the police department, many calling for a separate body in addition to the Public Safety Committee. The McDade incident was studied by several different agencies, all of which did not find fault with the officers; however, the final report from the Office of Independent Review is still pending.

The shooting is also the subject of a lawsuit filed by McDade’s parents against the city.

Sanchez said Monday that he made the decision to trust the LASD with OIS investigations after reviewing officers conduct over the last four years he has served as chief, adding that there are also a number of internal promotions coming up that “deplete the department’s ability to do comprehensive investigations.

“I have great faith in the L.A. County Sheriffs with respect to their OIS roll out teams,” Sanchez said. “They provide that for 30 other municipalities in L.A. County and we will add to that.”

The announcement came in the last five minutes of the meeting so council members did not have time to discuss or comment extensively.