Modesto police review board makes recommendations to police. What are they?
The Community Police Review Board approved its second annual report Wednesday night, finalizing a yearlong review of 2024.
The report outlines issues the board examined over the past year, including police recruitment practices, use of polygraph testing and the advisory arbitration process. It offers eight recommendations to the Modesto Police Department and three to the city, which will decide whether to adopt them.
Recommendations to the Police Department are:
- Provide a brief public update each month on every critical incident the CPRB is monitoring and on any other case the chief deems of high community interest.
- Publish racial, ethnic and geographic data for traffic stops, and geographic data for arrests and use-of-force incidents in a manner accessible to the public. Continue to seek insights about enforcement practices from the traffic-stop data collected under state law.
- Integrate de-escalation requirements and mandatory body-camera activation requirements into the policy manual using language so that expectations are clear and subject to enforcement.
- Engage the CPRB and at least two community-based organizations when developing policy changes and keep the board informed of policy updates in a timely manner.
- Publish an implementation schedule when a policy or training change stems from an independent police auditor’s finding, a CPRB recommendation, or when the change has an impact on public transparency or civil rights.
- Continue to evaluate the benefits and potential disadvantages of pretext stops with regard to public safety and community trust, and present findings at a meeting.
- Strive to interview officers who are involved in a deadly-force incident as soon as possible, preferably within 24 to 48 hours.
- Adopt a public-facing communication standard that looks for ways to ensure clarity and understanding, particularly with language that explains use-of-force concepts and enforcement priorities when applicable.
The final three recommendations mirror those made by the independent police auditor in June, which Police Chief Brandon Gillespie had already rejected.
Recommendation to the city are:
- Allocate an annual outreach budget for the CPRB.
- Provide in-person Spanish interpretation at every CPRB meeting and translate agendas, minutes and handouts into Spanish.
- Fund travel for up to four CPRB representatives to attend the annual National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Conference and require a post-conference briefing to the full board.
The CPRB released a draft of the report in July to discuss potential revisions. The recommendation for MPD to refine its communication standard is an addition since the draft.
Purpose of the board
The purpose of the CPRB is to “promote community engagement and participation in the oversight of the Modesto Police Department” and to help “ensure transparency and community trust.”
The CPRB holds monthly public meetings and prepares an annual report outlining its activities and recommendations, which is submitted to City Manager Joe Lopez and the City Council.
The board refers any public complaints it receives to the city manager, who is responsible for forwarding them to MPD for investigation. The report confirmed that the board did not receive any complaints from members of the public in 2024.
The board also receives prompt notifications of major incidents, such as shootings by officers, and board members are authorized to visit the scene of certain critical incidents.
The CPRB reviews the independent police auditor’s annual report and MPD’s internal investigations. Like the auditor, the board’s role is limited. It can only review and offer recommendations.
During public comment, attendees expressed appreciation for the work the board does but also criticized its lack of real authority to effect change.
“It just doesn’t seem like a lot of stuff’s happening,” said Ray Ruiz, father of Trevor Seever, who was killed by an MPD officer in 2020. “I hope everyone on this board is frustrated because it doesn’t seem like anything gets done.”
Teacher Anthony Drobnick urged the board to gain authority to request independent investigations beyond the police auditor’s review of how cases are handled. He also proposed adding a youth representative, a suggestion echoed by others.
“Getting someone who actually knows that life and lives that role in this community, I think would make a lot of sense,” Drobnick said.
There also were calls for the board to restore Zoom comments to make meetings more accessible. Chair Nico Solorio noted that the City Council had voted to disable Zoom public comments in general but said he would explore reinstating them for CPRB meetings.
The CPRB meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the City Council chamber, 1010 Tenth Street Place, basement level.
