Francine Kirich, director of the Office of Police Oversight for the city of Long Beach, told the San Rafael Police Advisory Committee on Wednesday that “transparency means openly sharing information, policies, decisions, and outcomes with the public and oversight bodies.” Kirich said that clear, accessible reporting on use-of-force, complaint outcomes and stop data strengthens public confidence and helps reduce crime by encouraging cooperation between residents and police.

Mark Wilson of Burke, Williams & Sorensen then summarized the legal framework that governs officer personnel records in California, noting the general rule under the Penal Code that “all police officer records are confidential” and describing the exceptions created by recent changes often called the Right to Know provisions. Wilson said those changes require disclosure of records after sustained findings for conduct such as discharge of a firearm, use of force causing great bodily harm, prejudice or bias tied to a protected class, and certain unlawful searches or arrests. He added that an officer’s records become disclosable once discipline is sustained and final, and that agencies must report serious-misconduct discoveries to the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) agency, often within 10 days.

Committee members asked detailed questions about timelines and triggers for disclosure. Wilson and staff clarified that much disclosure is triggered by a public records request or PRA litigation, that the Right to Know framework does not automatically require agencies to post all records online, and that POST maintains a public roster of decertified officers. On an apparent slide about a 45-day disclosure window, presenters said the disclosure typically follows a request and the department’s internal process; agencies still have an independent duty to report qualifying incidents to POST.

Members and staff also discussed operational steps inside San Rafael: investigators produce a report, division commanders review and concur, and the police chief makes the final finding; before discipline is final, an officer typically receives a Skelly hearing and often remains on paid administrative leave while the department investigates. Wilson answered that arbitration or subsequent reinstatement does not erase previously disclosed sustained findings from the public record.

Kirich urged PAC members to move beyond meeting-room engagement and gather neighborhood perspectives through surveys, small-group outreach and direct visits, saying oversight must reflect what residents actually experience. “You are a key piece of representing the people who may not have as loud a voice or the platform to speak it,” she said.

The presentations concluded with committee members seeking the presenters’ cited studies and with staff offering to return materials and follow-up slides. The PAC did not take formal action on the topic; staff said the committee’s questions and feedback would inform future agenda items and outreach plans.