SIMI VALLEY : Police Review Panel Request Is Rejected

The Simi Valley City Council on Monday rejected a second request that it appoint a civilian panel to review allegations of police misconduct at a Sept. 12 demonstration against white supremacist Richard Barrett.

All five council members said they were satisfied with an internal investigation that found no evidence that police used excessive force against the protesters.

“As far as I’m concerned, the report is complete,” Councilwoman Judy Mikels said. “I have no intention of opening it up and keeping it going.”

The civilian review was urged by Neighbors Against Nazis, one of the groups that demonstrated against Barrett.

The organization rejected the findings of an internal city investigation, released last week. The demonstrators contended that officers were overzealous in the use of horses, a police dog, batons and barbed-wire to control a crowd of more than 300 people.

The protesters had gathered in the parking lot outside the East County Courthouse, where Barrett and one supporter staged a rally in support of the Rodney G. King beating trial verdict.

At the protest, four people were arrested for throwing rocks and a bottle at police and striking horses ridden by Ventura County sheriff’s deputies, Simi Valley police said.

On Sept. 14, leaders of Neighbors Against Nazis called for a civilian review panel, but council members said they wanted to await the results of the internal investigation.

Police Chief Lindsey P. Miller said police supervisors and top city administrators reviewed 11 hours of videotape shot during the rally before concluding that officers and deputies followed proper procedures in making arrests and controlling the crowd.

Members of Neighbors Against Nazis criticized the report at Monday’s council meeting. One called it “a whitewash.” Another, Lisa Cash, asked, “Were we all at the same demonstration?”