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Home My Public Portal About01-26-94 LAW ENFORCEMENT REVIEW BOARDLaW �nf�cerrrer�t Rltrw 330arb City of Lynwood 11330 9ullis Road Lynwood, CA 90262 R ECE IV 7 AGENDA CITY of LM /CCU I CITY CLERKS O'Fr:CE Jp?I'a 1 9 .. , LAW ENFORCEMENT REVIEW BOAR PM 18191IDIll1121112i31415 January 26, 1994 i c �� ('✓ City Council Chambers 6:00 p.m. I. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS a. Call to Order b. Pledge of Allegiance C. Roll Call d. Minutes: December 1, 1993 Regular Meeting II. BOARD REORGANIZATION a. Chairperson b. Vice - Chairperson III. PUBLIC ORALS IV. BOARD MEMBERS' ORALS V. ADJOURNMENT * Next Meeting - February 23, 1994 N \WPFILES \CITYMNGR \COM4ISSN \LEAH \012694A • MINUTES LAW ENFORCEMENT REVIEW BOARD Meeting of December 1, 1993 The regular meeting of the Law Enforcement Review Board was held on December 1, 1993, in the City Hall Council Chambers. (The agenda was duly posted as prescribed by the Brown Act.) The meeting was called to order at 6 05 p m. by Chairperson Robert Downs The pledge of allegiance was conducted by Commissioner Hilario Esparza. Members in attendance were: Elizabeth Dixon, Robert Downs, and Hilario Esparza. Boardmember David Willis was absent. It was moved, seconded and approved to excuse Boardmember Don Brantley's excuse, as he notified staff in advance of his absence Councilmembers present: Councilman Heine. Staff members in attendance: Roger Haley and Pat Alvarez. Sheriff's representative present: Lt. Jurado. The minutes of the October 27, 1993 regular meeting were approved as distributed. Public Orals - Preston Green, 3117 Oak Avenue, Lynwood. Mr Preston stated he would like to lodge a formal complaint against the Lynwood Sheriff's Department in regards to an incident that occurred on October 26, 1993 About 5:00 a.m. he was notified by a friend that his son might have been involved in a shooting at the American Motor Inn on Long Beach Blvd. When he arrived at the location, which was surrounded by yellow tape, he asked the officer for information because he thought his son was involved. Mr Green states that he was treated very poorly by the officer, he was told to stand there, and was given no information. He stood on the side for about thirty minutes, but then he was able to see his son's clothing, and he couldn't take it anymore He crossed the yellow tape attempting to find out if indeed the person laying on the ground was his son He was grabbed by an officer and put in a patrol car, where he was kept for about another thirty minutes. He still insisted on finding out whether the person involved was his son. An officer then told him that he would have to speak to the investigating officers. He left the scene and came back with his wife. His wife then asked an officer and they were finally told that it was indeed their son, and that he was at Martin Luther King Hospital. They 'S 7 Law Enforcement Review Board December 1, 1993 Page 2 were told that their son had a gun and when he wouldn't drop it as was ordered, deputies shot him. Mr Green stated that the Sheriff's Department never notified them that their son had been shot, and when they did find out that it was their son, the Sheriff's wouldn't give him any information on the incident. Mr Green stated that a couple of days after the incident, he went to the Lynwood station to lodge a formal complaint about the way deputies handled the shooting incident. He said Lt. Wilson was the person he spoke to, and instead of giving him the complaint form to fill out, he wanted to talk to Mr. Green about witnesses. Mr. Green said at that time he left the station and told Lt. Wilson that he would be back with his lawyer. Mr. Green stated that he requested a report of the incident on Saturday, October 30, 1993, and to this date he has not received anything. Mr. Green asked Lt. Jurado, who was present at the meeting, if he had any information related to this incident. Lt Jurado responded that he did not have any information, but he did supply the following information: all officer - involved shooting investigations are handled by the Homicide Bureau, not by the local station. Mr. Green would not get a report because it's considered a confidential, ongoing investigation In order to get more information, Lt Jurado suggested that Mr Green contact Homicide Bureau and explain that he is related to the deceased. Chairperson Downs asked Lt. Jurado what is the procedure when a relative requests information related to an incident in which a family member has been involved in Lt. Jurado explained that at any crime scene, everyone is barred from the investigative field. No person may be allowed in the crime scene for identification purposes unless Homicide detectives feel that it's an essential part of the investigation. He also stated that any potential witnesses are transported to the station (for interviewing) . Lt. Jurado also explained that when the identity of a deceased person is undetermined at the crime scene, the body will be taken to the Coroner's office, and as part of their investigation, the Homicide Bureau will take fingerprints. Once detectives determine the identity of the person, they will contact the family members to confirm if the deceased is indeed that person. Boardmember Dixon questioned how is it determined when family members are contacted Lt. Jurado responded how and when family members are contacted is decided between the Coroner's office and Homicide Bureau. Ms Dixon also inquired about the Sheriff's procedures on taking personal belongings form the deceased. Lt. Jurado stated that no one is allowed to remove 0 Law Enforcement Review Board December 1,1993 Page 3 0 a wallet or any other possession from a deceased body, except the Coroner (by law). If the person is still alive, on the other hand, any law enforcement officer is allowed to retrieve a wallet for identification purposes. Lt. Jurado also mentioned that whenever there's an officer - involved shooting incident, in addition to the Homicide Bureau conducting an investigation, the "Professional Standards and Training ", and the District Attorney's office conduct independent investigations. Chairperson Downs expressed his concern for family members not being able to obtain any information about a relative involved in an incident. Mr. Downs feels that officers should be more sensitive to family members, when it comes to providing them with information about a relative. Chairperson Downs spoke on witnesses coming forward and not being afraid to speak up about incidents they may have witnessed. Chairperson Downs summarized points of complaint: 1. Mr. /Mrs. Green not being able to receive information about the incident. Lt. Jurado directed Mr. & Mrs. Green to the Homicide Bureau in downtown Los Angeles. 2. Mr. /Mrs. Green were treated very poorly by the deputy (first contact) at the scene. Chairperson Downs invited Mr. & Mrs. Green to fill out a formal complaint form, and then it will be forwarded to City Council, who will in turn direct it to Captain Freeman. 3. Mr. /Mrs. Green were not allowed to lodge a formal complaint against the Sheriff's Department. Boardmember Dixon made a motion to accept complaint and forward to City Council for their review. Motion was seconded by Boardmember Esparza, approved by all. Mr Green was handed a complaint form to fill out and return to City Manager's Office for submission to Council and Sheriff's Department. Connie Cooper, of 3901 Virvinia Avenue, Lynwood. Ms. Cooper spoke on the problem of police response when she calls to report gang members (up to twenty people sometimes) standing in front of her house all day drinking, smoking, and trying to intimidate her and her neighbors This problem has existed for some time now, and even though she has been reporting it to the Sheriff's, nothing has been done. Ms. Cooper said neighbors have also called to complain She has spoken to ! 0 Law Enforcement Review Board December 1, 1993 Page 4 both Sgt Coleman and Sgt. Wilson She said when reporting these incidents, she has been asked to identify the people standing outside of her house. Ms. Cooper said she doesn't feel she should jeopardize her life by having to go outside to identify these gang members in order to get the Sheriff's to come and solve the problem. Ms. Cooper said even the people who answer the phones at the Sheriff's are rude when she calls. Ms. Cooper was handed a complain form and asked to fill it out with all the details, and return to City Manager's staff in order to try to resolve the problem by deploying bicycle patrol to her area. December Regular Meeting It was unanimously decided to reschedule the December regular meeting (due to the Christmas holiday) to the regular January meeting. Adiournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:13 p.m to the January 26, 1994 regular meeting. N \ WPFILES \CITYMNGR \COMMISSN \LERB \120193M