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Advisory board recommends revocation of Torrance officer Brian Kawamoto over racist messages
Summary
The advisory board voted unanimously July 16 to recommend revocation of POST certification for former Torrance Police Department officer Brian Kawamoto after the division presented text-message evidence the division said demonstrated racial bias.
The Peace Officer Standards and Accountability Division presented evidence July 16 that it said showed former Torrance Police Department officer Brian Keith Kawamoto sent multiple racist text messages to coworkers, and the advisory board voted unanimously to recommend revocation of Kawamoto’s POST certification.
Law‑enforcement consultant Robbie Bringoff told the board that the division had concluded by a clear‑and‑convincing standard that Kawamotodemonstrated bias under Penal Code section 13510.8 and Commission regulation 12.05 when he sent and responded to multiple racist and demeaning text messages between 2019 and 2022. Bringoff read multiple excerpts from the internal‑affairs record, including exchanges in which Kawamoto agreed with or shared racist epithets and imagery referencing violence and lynching directed at Black people. In his interview with Torrance internal affairs, Kawamoto acknowledged some of the language was offensive, the division said.
The divisionpresented the Board with examples it said supported a finding that Kawamoto’s messages would lead a reasonable person to conclude he could not fairly and impartially perform law‑enforcement duties when interacting with protected classes. The division recommended suspension or revocation of POST certification.
Board members asked for public comment; the record shows Kawamoto’s counsel had been provided hearing notice but was not present to address the board. The board voted on a motion to revoke. Roll call recorded the following votes in favor: Clavo; Crawford; Dudley; Glaser; Johnson; Lara; Pena. The motion carried unanimously.
The board’s action at this initial hearing was a recommendation on certification. Under POST’s process, further adjudication may occur if the officer appeals or by administrative procedures described in statute and regulations. The division said in its presentation that a notice of intent had been sent and that the finding met POST’s standard of clear and convincing evidence.
Ending: The advisory board recommended revocation; the transcript shows the board concluded its business for lunch after the vote and resumed later in the afternoon for additional cases.
