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San Diego council votes unanimously to remove Commission on Police Practices member after EEIO findings; Beyer says he was denied due process
Summary
After an EEIO investigation found evidence supporting EEO-policy violations, the City Council held a public hearing and voted 8-0 to remove Commissioner Alec Beyer from the Commission on Police Practices; Beyer disputed the investigation and said he was denied necessary evidence to defend himself.
The San Diego City Council voted unanimously to remove Alec Beyer from his District 2 seat on the Commission on Police Practices after a public hearing in which city personnel summarized an Equal Employment Investigations Office inquiry that staff said found sufficient evidence of EEO-policy violations and breaches of the commission's bylaws.
Vicki Joas of the council president's office introduced the item and summarized the procedural basis for the hearing, including municipal-code removal provisions and the Commission on Police Practices' adopted bylaws. Joas said the EEIO investigation found sufficient evidence to support violations and that council action could remove the commissioner for cause or lift the suspension.
Commissioner Beyer told the council he had not been given adequate time or access to materials needed to prepare a defense. "I have not had adequate time to prepare," Beyer said. He said his city laptop and account were locked after suspension and that he only received a redacted report on Jan. 5 after months of requests; he denied the allegations and asked for mediation or a fuller process.
Council member Campbell moved to remove Beyer for cause, citing documentary evidence provided to the council and the investigator's findings; Council member Whitburn seconded the motion. Council member Von Wilpert read passages from the investigative report into the record summarizing staff's conclusion that Beyer created an "intimidating and oppressive work environment" for commission staff and that multiple staff members recounted instances of dismissive behavior toward women on the commission.
Several members of the public and commissioners spoke during public comment. Emani Robinson told the council she believed Beyer acted "with integrity" and expressed concern about preserving the commission's independence; other speakers called for due process and transparent procedures. Personnel and EEO staff said the investigation followed the city's formal processes and that the city attorney's office reviewed the municipal-code steps for removal.
After council deliberation the motion carried 8-0 with Council member Campio absent. Council President Joe Lacava said the office of the council president would continue working to support the commission's independence and noted the council expects to present a candidate for an executive director role in the coming weeks to stabilize the office.
The removal is effective by council action; the city did not place the matter into a fuller evidentiary forum such as arbitration or court. Beyer said he would pursue other remedies and reiterated his objections to the process.
