Attorneys Call for Police Review Board With Teeth

Contending that the San Diego Police Department does not adequately investigate and discipline officers suspected of wrongdoing, a group of criminal defense attorneys called Thursday night for a change in the City Charter to permit the creation of a citizens review board that is removed from the control of the chief of police.

Attorney Tom Adler said that, in practicing law for 15 years in San Diego County, he has reviewed many confidential police Internal Affairs reports and found that they often inaccurately portrayed statements and evidence given by victims and witnesses of police brutality.

He also alleged that police officials have a practice of disciplining “only the officers they don’t like, such as those that do not conform to their views of a pro-active police force.”

Adler was speaking before members of the San Diego Charter Review Commission, which is considering asking the voters to create a citizens review panel whose members are chosen independent of Chief Bill Kolender.

Members of a police review board established eight months ago with the concurrence of Kolender have been sharply criticized because they are not allowed to discipline errant officers.

Robert Garcia, an official with the La Raza Lawyers Assn., said a new review board should be created with its members appointed by the City Council, who are elected representatives of the public.

Kolender, who said he supports the current board, insisted that his Internal Affairs unit properly investigates citizen complaints. He also said he alone should be authorized to discipline officers.

He said 28 officers were fired last year, 29 suspended without pay and 63 received reprimands.