Kevin Johnson asks Police Chief for report on Sac PD reforms on issues of ‘Training, diversity, accountability and engagement;’ announces creation of ‘Public Safety Committee.’

Body cameras, community engagement programs, de-escalation training – just some of the new programs that may be introduced to Sacramento Police Department (SPD) after Mayor Kevin Johnson requested Tuesday evening that Chief of Police Sam Somers look into how to aleve rising tensions between police and civilians.

Have you liked ‘Politics From the Sac‘ on Facebook?

Johnson called Somers to the podium late Tuesday night, at the end of the longest City Council meeting since last January.

“We want crime to go down, and public trust to go up,” the Mayor told Somers who took notes attentively. “That’s the balance we’re looking for.”

Mayor Johnson requested that the Police Chief return to the city council in 30 days time with an initial report on several issues that would completely overhaul SPD, including body cameras for on-duty cops, diversifying the police force, reaching out to the community and further training for officers.

“I’d like you to look at implementing a pilot program on body cameras,” Johnson told Somers, noting that several factors would have to be carefully considered. “There are privacy issues, there are technologies, there are personnel – there’s a number of issues and we need to understand what that means.”

Johnson also announced the creation of a “Public Safety Committee” to be headed by Councilmember Allan Warren (District 2), that will last for one year.

According to the Mayor’s plans, the Committee, which will also include Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby (District 1) and Councilmember Rick Jennings II (District 7), will meet with police representatives once-a-month and deliver quarterly reports to the City Council on what progress is being made.

“We have a great police department, but we can do better,” said Johnson. “Our community wants to be engaged. We have to make sure we’re not just saying it. We need to define what engagement looks like.”

Training, diversity, accountability, engagement

The Mayor divided his requests of Police Chief Somers into four key categories that, according to him, were based on the demands of civilians in the community: Training, diversity, accountability, and engagement.

“We would like you to look at cultural sensitivity, notions around biases, de-escalation techniques (and) chronic and mental illness recognition,” said the Mayor citing that he would also like to explore the possibility of recruiting local cops who are already familiar with the City and the people as opposed to newcomers from outside the Sacramento.

After touching on training, Johnson moved to Diversity, saying, “We want to make sure that the police department reflects the diversity of our community, and not just diversity in terms of race, but diversity in terms of gender and diversity in terms of thought.”

“Bring back your plan; tell us what the budget implications are the best you can,” Johnson told the Police Chief. “I’d really like to hear what a definition of success looks like, what a good cop looks like.”

“I know this might be easier said than done,” Johnson concluded to Somers. “But I think we’re up for a challenge in a real way and I think that this framework gives us the chance to get back to the community in a meaningful way.”

‘Thanks for making your voices heard’

The suggestion of body cameras was met with a smattering of applause from some members of the audience, many of whom took part in last Saturday’s downtown protest against police brutality.

Several of those from the protest spoke to the Mayor at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, just one week after three were arrested in chambers for “Disturbing a public meeting.”

This week, the public comments, though passionate, proceeded without significant incident and received praise from Mayor Johnson.

“Thanks for making your voices heard,” said Johnson. “Thanks for doing it in a respectful manner.”

Audiences members audibly voiced their disapproval however, when Johnson began speaking to Somers by complimenting the police force.

“I think we have an amazing police department,” he said. “After Ferguson, I want to make sure our law enforcement in Sacramento doesn’t feel like they’re paying the price for every incident that happens around the country.”

“What we have to do is be mature enough to understand that when you have things happening around the country, it may not be indicative of everything that’s going on.”

Tuesday’s meeting was City Council’s last meeting of the year. The Council will reconvene from recess on Tuesday, January 6th.