The State - News from Aug. 10, 1988

A three-member panel has been established to monitor the city of Rio Vista’s five-man police force in the wake of allegations that officers used excessive force. The committee was formed after a three-month probe by the FBI and Solano County grand jury into allegations of abuse involving a grocery clerk who said officers beat him with a night stick and used a 5,000-volt stun gun on him. The panel will investigate residents’ complaints, join in hiring interviews and advise the Police Department on policy. “I think this is a very positive move, giving our constituents an opportunity to unload a problem onto a receptive ear,” said Mayor Jerry Rubier. Each officer in the department has at least 10 years experience.