The Apology

It is not often that you find an apology in the Regular Business of the City Council’s Agenda.  I have a bad feeling this is just the first of many apologies to come.

The Council’s Agenda for Tomorrow’s meeting includes a staff recommendation that the Fullerton Police Department publicly apologizes and acknowledge that the department’s narcotics unit mistakenly raided the wrong home.

Staff Report to Council:

“On October 20, 2010 Fullerton PD Narcotics Unit detectives were attempting to conduct a probation search on a male adult subject living at 219 S. Ventura Place, in Fullerton.  Armed Fullerton PD detectives mistakenly entered the Nordel family residence at 223 S. Ventura Placefrom the rear alley, and ultimately through the back door, believing it to be 219 S. Ventura Place.”

It has taken the City nearly a year to issue the Nordell Family an official apology and devise a process to prevent future unlawful entries by our Fullerton Police Department.  

I am concerned that had the Nordell family not brought this to the City Council on several occasions, this public acknowledgment and apology would not be forthcoming.

There are a few lessons we can learn from the illegal raid.

First, people make mistakes.  Officers are people and are not infallible. 

Second, police officers must understand that blindly following their fellow officers into a fight can have deadly consequences.  Although it might not always be practical, officers know the circumstances of the fight first.  Had officers entered a different wrong house, it is reasonable to conclude officers would have been met by a gun wielding home-owner whose door was being kicked in by a gang of masked thugs all yelling. 

The third lesson is that the Nordells have successfully managed to have the Police Department review their actions, recognize the Department’s mistake, and develop a policy for conducting future raids.  The Nordell family did not have to sue over the raid though they certainly had the right to.  Instead, they sought to make their community safer.  In the end, the Nordells may have saved many lives by being vocal and active in the administration of their City’s police services.

Fourth, the Fullerton Police Department has listened to the public and made changes that will protect officers and the public.  This shows that the Department is willing to look at new ways of serving the community.    

I commend the Nordells for coming forward publicly and holding the Police Department and City Council responsible.

Editorial - Toxic Waste Dump In Fullerton

By Joe Sipowicz for FullertonsFuture.org 10/1/2011

In yesterday’s OC Register, Councilman Pat McKinley, the chief architect of the Fullerton Police Department ‘s profound culture of corruption, responded to the news that KFI’s John and Ken are coming to Fullerton to promote his recall.

“They are toxic people who create problems for a lot of folks. I wish they would stay away.”
More PR gold from the man who ran the FPD into a moral cesspool during his 16-year stint as Chief of Police.

Oddly, McKinley has offered no public opinion as to the comparative toxicity of:
1) police officer sentenced to jail for fraud to support his pill habit.
2) police officer arrested in Miami airport for iPad theft.
3) police officer who smashed recording device on jail wall to avoid complicity in jail suicide.
4) police officers beating up and falsely arresting Veth Mam.
5) police officers lying on the witness stand about Veth Mam.
6) police officer beating up and falsely arresting Edward Quinonez.
7) police officer sexually assaulting a dozen women in the backseat of his patrol car, with recording device turned off.
8 ) police officers issuing traffic citations to harass protesters.
9) police officers ambushing and murdering a helpless homeless man.
10) police officers turning off recording devices during murder.
11) police officers colluding to falsify reports about said murder.
12) superior officers coaching said falsification.
13) return to street of said miscreants.
14) police officer spokeshole deliberately issuing lies to the media to misdirect, temporize, stall and otherwise obscure said murder and cover up.
15) councilmembers insulting protesters as “lynch-type mob.”
16) councilmembers discounting injuries of murder victim.
17) etc., etc. etc.

Good God! What a litany of toxic behavior, and the really scary part is that this is only the stuff we know about. And the chowderhead McKinley has the nerve to call anybody else on the planet “toxic?” The level of denial of responsibility is remarkable. Of course being given a $215,000 a year pension may create an unavoidable attitude of arrogance and self-entitlement.

However, Mr. McPension has a generous streak, to be sure:
“Councilman Pat McKinley said he supports the radio hosts right to stage a rally, but the former Fullerton police chief certainly disagrees with the pair’s opinions…”

Well, thanks awfully, Pat. You support the First Amendment. Well, you support it when people are watching, obviously. No elaboration about what he specifically disagrees with John and Ken about.

Keeping Tabs On Your Community

 

Here are some links and contacts to help you stay informed with what is going on in Fullerton. Thanks to Community Development Director Al Zelinka who forwarded this to me to share with you.

• ELIST. Please follow this link to subscribe to the Fullerton eList (email and/or text notifications on a variety of topics of interest to you): http://www.cityoffullerton.com/about/citizen_support/elists.asp (this link also connects you with the Police Department’s iWatch service).

• FULLERTON GENERAL PLAN. Please following this link to learn more about The Fullerton Plan (as Zelinka noted, the first public review draft general plan is being reviewed by the City’s many commissions and committees for comments – except the Planning Commission; in October, The Fullerton Plan will begin the public hearing process with the Planning Commission and then City Council): http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/dev_serv/general_plan_update/default.asp 

• DOWNTOWN CORE AND CORRIDORS SPECIFIC PLAN. Following is the link to this project. As noted, it has not officially kicked off due to the uncertainty of redevelopment. Please review this site to get an understanding of the project. More will be posted on the website over the next several weeks. The City will be outreaching to the community to announce opportunities for involvement as soon as the project is kicked off. http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/dev_serv/development_activity/downtown_core/default.asp

• COLLEGETOWN. Following are two links with more information on Collegetown; additional information will be posted in the coming weeks. http://www.cityoffullerton.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6775 and http://www.cityoffullerton.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6770

• CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION & PUBLIC NOTICES. Please check regularly the following link to learn of the upcoming (and past) items on the agenda of the Planning Commission and City Council – your participation in these decision-making meetings is welcomed and encouraged: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/about/meetings_live.asp#bodyTop . You can also follow the attached link regarding public notices: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/weblink8/Browse.aspx?dbid=1&startid=380557 

• GRAFFITI REMOVAL. The following link provides information on the City’s graffiti removal services: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/maintenance/graffiti_removal.asp You may also report graffiti to: GraffitiH@ci.fullerton.ca.us and (714) 738-3108.

• CODE ENFORCEMENT. Information on the City’s code enforcement services may be found at: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/dev_serv/code_enforcement/default.asp You may also report code enforcement issues to the Code Enforcement Complaint 24-hour Hotline (714)773-5704. As noted last night, confidentiality is maintained for all who report issues.

• CITY SERVICE NEEDS. The following link is a central clearinghouse to assist the community in reporting issues. Please bookmark this link as it is a great resource for you to report a wide array (from abandoned shopping carts to broken sidewalks) of issues that may need attention by the City: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/about/citizen_support/service_requests/default.asp#bodyTop . Please always remember that City staff are here to serve you – by serving as additional eyes and ears of your neighborhood, City staff is more effective at addressing important quality of life issues.

• PROJECTS. Following are several links regarding projects. A) Engineering projects in construction: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/engineering/projects_in_construction/default.asp B) Engineering projects in design: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/engineering/project_development_n_design/default.asp C) Development activity: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/dev_serv/development_activity/default.asp

• SIGNALS. Several community members voiced concerns about traffic signals. Please follow this link to learn how to share your concerns with the Engineering Department. http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/engineering/traffic_engineering_n_signals/signal_complaints.asp You may also call: (714) 738-6899 or (714) 738-6845

• STREET CONDITIONS. Following is a link to the current street improvement projects. http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/engineering/projects_in_design/streets.asp Also, please see the Capital Improvement Program for the approved budgets for different capital improvements, including street improvements (any question re: the CIP can be directed to the Director of Engineering, Don Hoppe, at (714) 738-6845) http://www.cityoffullerton.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=7459 You can also report potholes and other street issues at the “City Service Needs” link above.

• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. As was discussed at the "Community Dialogues", there is much the City needs to do to proactively address economic development. Zelinka says the City, Chamber of Commerce, CSUF, and many other organizations and individuals have been focused on creating a strong proactive economic development program. The City economic development coordinator is Nicole Bernard – please call her at 714-738-4102 with any ideas you have. Some of the available resources pertaining to economic development include: A) EDAT – Economic Development Action Team (see http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/eco_dev/edat/edat.asp) B) “Fullerton’s Most Wanted Businesses” survey – please provide your input: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/eco_dev/edat/retailsurvey.asp#bodyTop C) Commercial and Industrial Property Search tool - http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/eco_dev/realestate.asp

It's easy to sit at home and post comments on blogs and complain on Facebook.  It takes character, concern, and desire to get up, step up, speak up, and offer up solutions for what most will agree is a broken and neglected community.  It's up to us.

Bankhead Speaks Up, Sort of

The "No Recall" camp released this half-hearted statement from our Mayor Pro Tem, Don Bankhead the other day.

“At the outset, I offer my apology to the Thomas family. Your son spent many safe nights on the streets of our city – on July 5th two rogue police officers failed Kelly and the God fearing residents of Fullerton. Today is one of the darkest days in Fullerton’s history. I spent 31 years on the Fullerton police department, retiring in 1988. It’s an organization that I cherish – however today I believe two officers have disgraced the department and our city. I reviewed cases where lawful force was used during my extensive career and understand their complexity. The D.A. has initiated the legal process by charging Officers Ramos and Corporal Cicinelli, a judicial process that makes America the best in the world. May Kelly Thomas rest in peace and may God bless his family.”

Bankhead was one of the council members who hired former Fullerton police chief Pat McKinley.  McKinley readily admits, almost as a badge of honor, that he was responsible for hiring the officers charged in the murder of Kelly Thomas. This trail of bad decision-making is long.  

Bankhead's statement that "Your son spent many safe nights on the streets of our city" is shockingly insensitive.  Bankhead assumes that one unsafe night is not so bad when compared to many safe nights!  He assumes that Kelly actually had many safe nights, a fact which remains to be proven.

Bankhead also uses the term "rogue officers".  I take exception to that term because it implies that these two officers are the only bad apples in a tree of perfect fruit when in fact here have been many cases of significant police misconduct within the ranks of the Fullerton PD in just the last 3 years.  I don't think these officers are alone in their attitude toward their job or the way they fulfill their mission.  I believe the Fullerton Police Department employs several officers with the same sort of callous disregard for humanity and lack of respect for life and liberty.

That said, not all of Fullerton's police officers are bad.  Just how bad the problem is remains to be seen.  I've heard some say that 99% of Fullerton cops are great.  Just based on the number of pending criminal and civil cases against Fullerton cops for on- and off-duty behaviour, that percentage looks a lot more like 85% might be great.  Regardless of the numbers, we can hope that Michael Genaco's investigation will help make Fullerton a better place for us to live and work.

Genaco's investigation has the potential to close down the FPD or clean it up.  In the end, the public trust in law enforcement must be restored.