ACLU, Bay Area Urban League, PUEBLO and Other Groups Urge Mayor Jerry Brown to Fill Oakland Citizen's Police Review Board


For Immediate Release: February 28, 2002

OAKLAND, CA - The ACLU of Northern California and other concerned individuals and organizations have sent an open letter to Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown urging him to fill the empty seats on the Citizen's Police Review Board (CPRB)-the governmental body charged with hearing citizen complaints about police misconduct-with qualified candidates so that the CPRB can properly function. As a result of term expirations and resignations, only four Oakland community members have been appointed to the nine-member board, preventing the CPRB from even holding a meeting, hearing cases or making policy recommendations. In fact, today's meeting was cancelled for lack of a quorum.

     "The so-called Rider's police scandal in Oakland uncovered over a hundred cases of police abuse, including police beatings, planting evidence, and harassing innocent members of the community," said ACLU-NC Police Practices Policy Director Mark Schlosberg. "That is why it is critical that Mayor Brown appoint board members as soon as possible. It is his mayoral obligation to the citizens of Oakland."

     The open letter, signed by several Oakland community groups and a member of the CPRB, stressed the importance of a functioning civilian review board because "effective civilian review of the police is necessary to ensure a vigorous, impartial, and thorough investigation of police complaints." In addition, it would renew the confidence of a community shaken by several highly publicized police scandals. The letter also exhorts Mayor Brown to select diverse and talented candidates who demonstrate a commitment to the mission of the CPRB in order to improve the Board and to rid it of the current membership problems.

     "A new Board filled with dedicated members that represent the rich diversity of Oakland could improve the City's civilian review system of police complaints and improve the Oakland Police Department and community relations," said Maggie Aragon of People United for a Better Oakland (Pueblo).