Grand Jury Report : Simi Police Praised for Improvements

The Ventura County Grand Jury Monday reported that the Simi Valley Police Department, once criticized for brutality and inefficiency, has improved dramatically.

The Grand Jury’s report, released to the Simi Valley City Council, attributed the improvement to the resignations and firings of problem officers, better training and “decisive and intelligent leadership” by Police Chief Lindsey Miller.

The grand jurors concluded, “A dramatic turnaround appears to have been made in the level of professionalism of the city’s Police Department.”

Ed Leland, foreman of the 19-member Grand Jury, said police morale has risen and crime has fallen. The grand jurors cited FBI statistics listing the city as having the fewest serious crimes per person among United States cities with populations of 50,000 or more, “a noteworthy indicator of the changes that have taken place.”

Written Complaints Were Common

The Simi Valley Police Department has been the subject of frequent criticism over the years. Community activists accused the department of brutality, inefficiency and unprofessional behavior. Written complaints about police actions were common.

Critics included the Ventura County district attorney’s office, which in 1982 issued a report concluding that a woman had been raped in the police jail, “probably” by a police officer. But the police officer could not be identified and there were no prosecutions.

Leland said Miller, who became chief of the force three years ago, was responsible for the improvement.

During Miller’s tenure, the image of the 82-officer force has improved and complaints about the department have subsided. Leland said the Grand Jury will include its findings on the Police Department in a final report issued when the Grand Jury session ends in July.