Last Wednesday night, the Public Safety committee held a special meeting regarding our police officers. The city manager began by sharing the amount of effort and outreach that has transpired the last few months with city initiatives with regards to our police department.
For the last two years, certain individuals have been lambasting our police force with charges of racial profiling and excessive force. Our police force has more than 400,000 engagements a year with San Jose residents and 99.8 percent of those have no complaints. The City of San Jose has an internal affairs department and an Independent Police Auditor (IPA) for complaints about the police department. With a city as large as ours, we are aware that complaints will no doubtfully happen. However, the complaints are few and far between, and that is something the city can be proud of.
Over the last two years I did not rush to judgment on condemning our police but rather listened to all points to view. As a Councilmember in a representative democracy I represent my entire district population and not just those who attend meetings as 99.5 percent of residents are not able to attend meetings or more so do not want to attend meetings.
Several members of the public spoke before the council and were generally supportive of the police. The speakers were San Jose residents from the West Side and the East Side who appreciated the efforts of our police force. One theme of change however was lengthening the rotation of a police officer from six months to some time longer so as to build even better relationships with residents.
The length of rotations is an issue that cannot be changed with a snap of the finger but rather a negotiation with the police union. I look forward to hearing more about the pros and cons on this specific matter.
Daniel Pham’s father spoke emotionally about his deceased son who suffered from mental illness and his loss. Dealing with the mentally ill even with specific training is very difficult as it is hard to reason with a delusional mind in a stressful situation. My friend from elementary school who suffered from mental illness committed suicide last year thus I have some understanding of the challenges with mental illness.
Another interesting point was raised by two different speakers. One was a Christian biker who was dressed sort of like a Hells Angel. He mentioned that his group had been stopped time to time by the police. He said if he was a police officer he would stop the bikers as well. He pointed out, however, that you should speak to a police officer the way you would like to be spoken to, like the Golden Rule.
As someone who grew up in San Jose I was always taught by immigrant parents to be polite to the police and I have been. It is only since being a Councilmember that I heard a person can verbally throw profanities at a police officer and that is acceptable. Well, it would not be acceptable with my Mom and Dad. An African American speaker who himself pointed out his large Afro said that he has been stopped by the police for decades both on the East Coast and the West Coast based on his appearance.
These two speakers got me thinking that is not just police stopping individuals but also the residents who call the police. Police respond to calls from our residents about suspicious activities and people. Therefore really all of San Jose is responsible. So, when you hear those that are critical of the police they are also critical at the character and prejudgements of our own San Jose residents and need to look in the mirror.
As far as our new IPA, I voted no along with Mayor Reed and Councilmember Constant. We had four well qualified candidates to choose from and I preferred another candidate. I do wish our new IPA great success for the 2.5 year term and beyond.
It is with deep sorrow that Chief Katz will be leaving/retiring from our police force. A straight shooter and a gentleman, he will be missed. My only request is that Captain Kirby please stay for the sake of stability and morale. I would make the same pitch to Chief Katz but I think it is too late.
It is refreshing to hear a city council member publicly supporting our officers. There have been several studies and court decisions which clearly show our officers are fair and do not single out minorities, maybe because so many officers on the department are themselves part of a minority.
Captain Kirby is a great leader and should be considered for Police Chief.
It is mind blowing that the rest of the city council picked the next IPA, who is left of left, and has a history of confrontational behavior wherever she has worked.
If the city council goes outside the city to pick the next chief, and he is of the same ilk as our new IPA, that will be disastrous for the police department and the citizens of San Jose.
Dealing with the mentally ill even with specific training is very difficult
So you experience us as a generic “the?” We are not.
Like every other group, we rise to a variety of levels, including earning doctoral degrees and 6 figure salaries.
Harold A. Maio, retired Mental Health Editor
Harold,
With all due respect, I don’t think the Council Member was lumping all those suffering from mental illness into one class/category. I gleaned that he was speaking about people who act out violently and uncontrollably like Daniel Pham did toward his brother and Police.
I have friends whose children are adults, and have serious mental health issues. It is rather frightening to be in the room when they act out punching themselves, and the others, or to hear them scream, throw, or break things. While I have lots of compassion for them, I don’t think my concern for my personal safety is ignorant, or something I should be ashamed of.
Case in point, my friend had a teenage daughter who was very ill. She was getting the finest medical care and therapy money could buy. We were at a Birthday party and her daughter got angry about something small and full on punched another friend of mine in her lower back. (My friend was on disability because she injured her back on the job.)
The woman she punched was just innocently standing in line to get a piece of cake, when this young girl decided to take her anger/frustration out on the person standing closest to her. Needless to say the woman punched had to be rushed to the hospital, and the Police were called to get the teenager under control. They did a great job by the way because they were informed PRIOR to arriving that she was mentally ill, UNLIKE in the unfortunate Pham incident were they DID NOT know Mr. Pham was mentally ill.
I know a professor at a California university who makes a six-figure salary. She believes that the CIA has implanted tracking devices in her brain, that can relay her thoughts as well as her location to their McLean, Virginia office. She is not actually any easier to deal with than less educated, lower-income people who have mental illnesses. Which may explain her problems getting tenure, but that’s another story.
PO,
I like the way you pack a lot of thoughts into one article.
I think we all need to look into the mirror from time to time. We all need to practice the forgotten art of respect that was once taught by parents. We need to remember that this city is only as safe as the people who live in our community. It is okay to call the police about any suspicious activity no matter what race is involved. It’s a team effort and without the help from the citizens, San Jose would not be nearly as safe. However, if you find yourself on the receiving end and being stopped by a police officer….just take quick glance in the mirror, be respectful and remember that San Jose is still a safe place.
PO, I like how you make it very clear to us that what comes from this IPA is not from your choosing. Almost an ominous prediction into the future.
I too wish Chief Katz well. With even more retirements from command staff and officers looming, we all should be worried about the stability and morale of the department that keep our city safe.
A refreshing article.
PO for Mayor!
Actually, in time that is not a bad idea. A very thoughtful piece. I have encountered quite a few mean spirited, surly officers in our city. However, I am sure there are some very friendly and professional ones as well. Good article PO.
P.O.
I think this is one of your best posts yet. Thank you for keeping an open mind and for coming forward and supporting the very people who protect us from harm. Police Officers are only human and if people started treating them as such, instead of looking at them like the “MAN,” we’d be a lot better off.
On the issue of the IPA, BRAVO on voting NO! This newly hired former Judge is NOT the right person for this job. Neutrality is VITAL for this position and that lady is so far left of that quality it is frightening. I want to know how she plans on setting up a mediation program, given that I haven’t heard a word about her being a certified mediator.
Metro, does she have ANY certification in mediation, or any formal training in mediation that would qualify her in setting up a program, and/or how to conduct them in the first place? I really want to know because ALL of us in the community, even anti-cop groups, wanted an IPA with a mediation expertise/degree.
On another note: I honestly think the City needs to STOP using Avery and Associates period. They did a horrible job of community/public outreach, and properly vetting of candidates. They conducted SHORT phone interviews that didn’t really give candidates an opportunity to explain all their qualifications.
They were completely inept at the community meetings. When asked questions we were met with a lot of “I don’t knows.” When asked for a business card we got, “Oooops! I don’t have one.” Yes folks, a perfect example of how the City is spending our tax dollars on overpaid incompetent consultants!
Kathleen,
I agree with you about Avery and Associates. The really ironic thing is that they are located in Los Gatos. The city manager could have found a firm in San Jose and kept the money in our own city.
I am generally supportive of the San Jose Police. It’s a difficult job and I think they all deserve to be paid more for what they do.
Time and again I have been impressed by their kindness, wisdom, bravery and restraint.
The recent Mercury News series about police misconduct was poor journalism. Resisting arrest is a crime but the Mercury treated it like it wasn’t.
But that being said, I must say that police abuse happens sometimes because it once happened to me.
I was parked near Horace Mann School around 7 PM listening to the radio. After about 5 minutes, two policeman swooped down on me and accused me of all sorts of things—drug dealing, male prostitution, all kinds of things. When I politely denied each accusation, they screamed at me that they knew I was lying. They subjected me to at least 30 minutes of verbal abuse. They got in my face, literally. I could tell they were trying to get me to react with anger so perhaps they could escalate that into an arrest. Out of the corner of my eye, I was hoping there would be some witnesses. There were none. I wasn’t just afraid they were going to arrest me. I was afraid they were going to rough me up in the process. I let them search my car. I complied with all their requests. I never raised my voice. I never said anything rude. I didn’t dare ask for a badge number because both of them made it clear they were close to the breaking point. Finally, they said I could go.
I couldn’t get through a night’s sleep for weeks. I asked a friend of mine at the Mercury News if I should report the incident to Internal Affairs and he said if I did, I’d risk retaliation.
For over a year, every time I saw a policeman or a police car, I tensed up.
It’s taken a long time to get over this.
I have no reason to believe such abuse is common. I think it is far more common for citizens to be verbally abusive toward police, and I think when they are, they should be arrested.
But police abuse does happen. And when it does, it takes a long time to get over.
Robert Wright,
I really want to thank you for your courage in sharing your story and for putting your name on your post. I wish you had reported it because officers like that need to go. They reflect very badly on the fine police officers we do have.
As citizens, we need to feel safe when speaking with the police and respected by our police. What happened to you was just plain unacceptable. Having said that, I want to honor and commend you for not allowing that horrific experience to make you lump ALL police officers into one category of “bad/abusive.” You are truly a shining example of how we as a society should judge the individual and not the whole. You have my deepest sympathy and respect. God bless.
Kathleen, but every time somebody suggests bad behavior by a cop, you come to their defense and suggest that there is a misunderstanding or it’s always the fault of the victim of the cop’s behavior. This is the whole point of the police auditor role. For the most part, police officers behave admirably and heroically, but we have to allow for the possiblity that sometimes individual police officers mistreat people.
Need to Go,
“Kathleen, but every time somebody suggests bad behavior by a cop, you come to their defense and suggest that there is a misunderstanding or it’s always the fault of the victim of the cop’s behavior.”
Not true. I have NEVER taken the stand that all Police Officers are perfect, infallible, or without flaw. You might want to re-read my post to Robert. I think you fell a sleep at the wheel because my post clearly states that I think he should have reported these cops.
Also, you ned to remember that there are two sides to every story Need to Go, if there wasn’t, I’d be out of work as a mediator.
My thanks to LaDoris Cordell, Tiger Woods, Michael Vick, Tupac Shakur, Charles Barkley, Chris Brown, Michael Jackson, Barack Obama and Naomi Campbell for sticking it to the man.
The racism and bigotry and prejudice of the Chuck Reed administration has been dealt a significant blow.
Looks like Rob Davis and Bobby Lopez are going to have to straitghten up and fly right.
“The racism and bigotry and prejudice of the Chuck Reed administration has been dealt a significant blow. Looks like Rob Davis and Bobby Lopez are going to have to straitghten up and fly right.”
George your comment is really uncalled for. I’m surprised to hear you say something so ignorant and hateful. WOW! Mayor Reed is NOT a racist nor is his administration. Bobby Lopez and Chief Davis are both decent people.
Why would you say something so horrific, and why Eric would you post this after all the guff you gave me over not allowing personal attacks like this on SJI? WOW…
Kathleen, You’re right … I think. Although it’s hard to figure out what point Mr. “Berlin” is trying to make. At any rate, our policies say we will not post racist comments, and this does have a nasty racist edge to it. I think.
I am going to have to support Chuck Reed here. Despite my differences with the man, Reed is not a racist. Considering we have a fellow who berated Reed from Santa Clara who has attacked Reed for “working with blacks, those Asians, and Italians who steal,” I think Chuck is getting attacked by racists like this guy, who is an associate and volunteer for Santa Clara Plays Fair.
The endorphins that get released when calling someone a racist must be a powerful narcotic indeed.
But does the intensity of the racist!/endorphin high wear off over time?
SJI labs should wire up all the types around here that like to call others racists with EKGs and do a study.
A more constructive approach might be to buy Mr. “Berlin” a cat to kick, so he doesn’t have to keep subjecting the rest of us to his unintelligible rants.