Retired LAPD captain appointed to police oversight commission – Pasadena Now

The Pasadena City Council voted Monday to appoint a retired Los Angeles Police Department captain to the Community Police Oversight Commission.

The City Council appointed the former LAPD captain to the commission by a vote of 5-1-1. He was nominated by Felicia Williams.

Jess Rivas opposed the nomination and Jason Lyon abstained.

Some residents said a former police officer should not be on the commission.

However, former police officers are not excluded from serving on the commission. Another member of the commission is also a former police officer.

Vernon worked on the investigation into the Rampart scandal.

Investigators uncovered criminal activity in the LAPD’s Rampart Division anti-gang unit, and 70 police officers were involved in shootings and beating suspects, planting evidence, drug trafficking, bank robberies, perjury and cover-ups.

In total, 24 of them were accused of misdemeanors, 12 were suspended, seven had to leave the department and five were fired.

More importantly, in 106 cases, previous convictions based on testimony from these officers were overturned.

Williams said she heard about Vernon in a recent interview and decided to appoint him.

“I am appointing him to the commission because of his deep understanding of both community policing and investigations and hope for greater cooperation between CPOC and the Police Department to ensure the safety of all Pasadena residents,” Williams said. Pasadena now on Sunday.

A second nomination by Williams, which would have placed Tyler Werrin on the Environmental Advisory Commission, was rejected.

Werrin is part of a lawsuit against the city over its rent control law.

And Vernon may not stay on the commission for long.

New councillor Rick Cole, who will be sworn in later this year, said Pasadena now On Monday he did not agree with the appointment.

“I am not comfortable with this step back from greater diversity on our city commissions,” Cole said.

The appointments of Vernon and Teddy Bedjakian, who was also appointed to the Police Oversight Commission on Monday, changed the composition of the commission, which was one of the most diverse in the city.

The seats were previously held by Noemi Emeric-Ford and Barbara Stacy respectively. The change shifts the gender ratio in the eleven-member Commission from seven women and four men to six men and five women.

The terms of office of several Commissioners expire this month.

Opponents of the appointment claimed that Vernon should not be included in the commission because of his many years of service in the police force.

“It was about having a voice and having a say and getting an insight into the work of our police officers,” said Michael Williams. “Having two former police officers invalidates the commission.”

According to the city’s website, the purpose of the commission is to improve, develop and strengthen relations between the community and the police, as well as to review the ongoing operations of the Police Department and make recommendations to the Chief of Police, City Manager and/or City Council.

“At the end of the day, these are people who want to serve,” said Tyron Hampton, who voted for Vernon and Werrin.