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Council votes to remove Commission on Police Practices member after EEO investigation
Summary
The City Council voted 8‑0 to remove Commissioner Alec Beyer from the Commission on Police Practices after an Equal Employment Investigations Office report concluded his conduct toward staff violated city EEO policy. Beyer denied the findings and said he was denied adequate access to evidence.
The San Diego City Council voted unanimously on Monday to remove Alec Beyer from his District 2 seat on the Commission on Police Practices after the city's Equal Employment Investigations Office (EEIO) reported sufficient evidence that Beyer's conduct toward commission staff violated the city's Equal Employment Opportunity policy.
"Based on the documentary evidence before the council, I move to remove Alec Beyer from his District 2 seat," Council Member Campbell said when he moved the motion; Council Member Whitburn seconded it. The council recorded an 8‑0 vote in favor of removal, with one member absent.
Council members cited the EEIO's finding that Beyer's behavior had created "an intimidating and oppressive work environment" for CPP staff, and that female staff members reported being "weary of working with him." Council Member Von Wilpert read passages from the report and said the testimony of staff supported the finding that Beyer's pattern of conduct violated the EEO policy.
Beyer addressed the council before the vote and disputed the investigation's process and conclusions. He told the council he had been "denied the opportunity to defend myself" and said he had been cut off from access to documents and email following suspension. "I deny them utterly and completely," Beyer said, arguing the investigator did not review recorded meetings and did not follow up on key questions.
Multiple members of the public spoke during the hearing. Several called for due process and transparency; others defended Beyer's record on civilian oversight. One remote caller used racially charged language while speaking in support of Beyer; that caller's remarks were part of the public record but were cut off when the clerk closed public comment. Public commenters also raised procedural concerns about how the complaint was handled within CPP's bylaws and asked the council to ensure commissioners receive full information and peer review.
Council President LaCava thanked personnel, EEIO and the city attorney's office for handling a difficult process and said an executive director candidate for the CPP had cleared background checks and would be brought for council consideration soon. Under municipal code section 26.1106, council removal is permitted for cause; the council acted after the EEIO investigation and staff briefings.
The removal is effective immediately per the council action. The council said it will continue outreach to ensure the commission can perform its oversight duties while a new executive director and other structural steps are put in place.
