Steinberg outlines plan for reforming police department

Doug Johnson reports

AND TRANSPARENCY TOWARDS THEPOLICE DEPARTMENT HE SAYS THESECOND PROPOSAL COULD FREETHEM UP TO FOCUS MORE ONCRIME.THE EVENTS OF THE PASTCOUPLE HAVE SHAKEN ME TO THECOURT AND I AM DIGGING INSINKING DEEPER THAN I EVERHAVE IN FOR SACRAMENTO.

MAYORDARRELL STEINBERG SAYS THAT'SWHY IT'S TAKING ACTION TOREFORM POLICING IN THE CITYWITH 2 PROPOSALS ANNOUNCEDTODAY, THE FIRST IS TO CREATETHE POSITION OF AN INDEPENDENTINSPECTOR GENERAL, A PERSONWHO WILL INVESTIGATE EVERYTIME A POLICE OFFICER SHOOTSOMEONE OR IS ACCUSED OFEXCESSIVE FORCE WHICH RESULTSIN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY ORWHEN AN INDIVIDUAL DIES WHILEIN CUSTODY THE INSPECTORGENERAL WILL BE CHARGED WITHINTERVIEWING WITNESSES.

ISSUESUBPOENAS FOR RELEVANTEVIDENCE AND MOST IMPORTANTPUBLICLY ANNOUNCE THEIRFINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ANDRECOMMENDED DISCIPLINE.

IFWARRANTED THE MAYOR SAYS THATINSPECTOR GENERAL THAT REPORTALL FINDINGS OF THE CITIZENSPOLICE COMMISSION, THE CITYCOUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC THESECOND PROPOSAL.

IT REQUIRESUS TO RE IMAGINE.

MODERN DAYPOLICING MAYOR STEINBERG ISALSO PLEDGING $5 MILLION TOSET UP A NEW DEPARTMENT WHICHWILL RESPOND TO NON CRIMERELATED 911 CALLS CURRENTLYBEING ANSWERED BY UNIFORMEDPOLICE OFFICERS.

HE SAYS IFAPPROVED OVER THE NEXT 24MONTHS, THE CITY WILL HAVE NEWCOMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAMS TODEFUSE TO DE ESCALATE AND TOHELP PEOPLE.

WITH THOUSANDS OFCALLS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT ISPLAYING NOT NECESSARY ORHELPFUL DISPATCH, WHAT IS THEADDRESS OF THE EMERGENCY.

THEMAYOR SAYS THOSE TEAMS WOULDBE SENT TO CALLS INVOLVINGMENTAL HEALTH HOMELESSNESS INOTHER DIFFICULT SITUATIONSTHAT DON'T INVOLVE THE ACTUALCOMMISSION OF CRIMES THE MONEYWE ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FORTHESE CALLS.

AND RESPONSESWILL BE SHIFTED.

TO THE NEWDEPARTMENT HE SAYS THE NEWDEPARTMENT WILL FREE UP POLICETO FOCUS MORE ON CRIME SOLVINGAND PREVENTION OR POLICE FORCEMUST NO LONGER BE THE FIRSTAND LAST OPTION FOR VIRTUALLYEVERY SITUATION.NOW WE DID ASK THE MAYORWHY MAKE THESE REFORMS NOW WHYNOT DO THIS YEARS AGO HE SAIDSPECIFICALLY WITH THEINSPECTOR GENERAL.

THERE WASLITTLE QUESTION ON IF THEYEVEN LEGALLY COULD CREATE THATPOSITION BUT HE SAID AFTER SB1421, WHICH GIVES THE PUBLICACCESS TO POLICE MISCONDUCT INUSE OF FORCE RECORDS AFTER ISA LITTLE MORE CLARIFICATION ONTHAT LAW THEY REALIZED THEYCOULD IN FACT LEGALLY MAKETHAT POSITION REPORTING LIVEAT CITY HALL TONIGHT, DOUGJOHNSON FOX 40 NEWS.