Public Safety Oversight Commission

Purpose, Scope, and Duties

The Public Safety Oversight Commission is an advisory body created to assist the City Council on public safety related issues. The Commission also facilitates intra-governmental and intra-community communication and promotes community awareness of public safety related issues. The City will retain its current system of complaint resolution with the City Manager retaining responsibility for determining if an outside investigator is needed and retaining such services.     

The scope and duties of the Public Safety Oversight Commission shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

1. Review and analyze issues and make recommendations to the City Council in the areas of public safety which includes crime and fire prevention, fire protection, traffic safety, emergency preparedness, emergency medical services, homeland security, public safety related code enforcement, and other issues impacting public safety; and
2. Increase awareness of community public safety needs by improving communication between the community, City Council, and public safety agencies.
   • Oversight of both Police and Fire Departments.
   • Oversight/review responsibilities to review closed investigations that are disclosable pursuant to Government Code Section 6254(f), SB 1421, or any other applicable state law. The Commission will conduct a review in accordance with the terms herein, and only upon receiving a written request by any member of the public or City Council.
     • The Commission shall designate one qualified Commissioner to be Chairperson. For purposes of this section, “qualified” means someone who has basic investigative skills and experience in reviews/auditing.
     • The Chairperson will select one other member of the Commission, and together, they will be responsible for requesting, receiving, and reviewing closed investigation cases pursuant to subsection (B)(2), and make recommendations to the City Manager and Police/Fire Chief, as appropriate.
3.  Separate from the filing of formal complaints submitted to the Police or Fire Department, the Commission will be available to address informal complaints of a general nature as to policy or procedure. The Commission will listen to and attempt to resolve the informal complaint and may vote to forward the issue to the pertinent department Chief for review and consideration. After reviewing such complaints, the appropriate Chief will provide an update to the Commission at the next scheduled commission meeting. If complaints are made about individual Police or Fire employees, the Commission should not hear the complaint, but the complainant should be provided a copy of the City complaint procedure and complaint form and advised as to how to file the same with the appropriate department or with the City Manager.
4. The Commission will prepare a formal annual report to be presented to the City Council. The report should provide data regarding the cases reviewed and an evaluation of the City’s Police/Fire policies, personnel rules and regulations and a recommendation to the City Council, as appropriate. Proposed changes may be considered by the City Council and rejected, modified, or implemented, in full compliance with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, labor negotiations.
5. The Commission will coordinate with the Police department and Fire Department training officers and prepare quarterly training status reports for City Council review.
6. The Commission will work with public agencies to develop a community outreach program to help build community trust and transparency. 

Meeting Times

The Commission meets the 4th Monday of every other month at 4 p.m.

Membership

1. The Public Safety Oversight Commission consists of five (5) members. In addition, the Commission may appoint a Rio Vista High School student who will be a non-voting member. The River Delta School District may nominate a student or several students for consideration as the student member of the Commission. The student member shall be appointed by the Commission.
2. Commissioners serve four-year (4-year) terms. The Student Commissioner serves a term of one (1) year.
3. The City Council will appoint Rio Vista residents who have a background in public safety and/or auditing to serve on the Commission. 

Agenda

See below